# Wire fence cutters **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 22, 2019, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wire-fence-cutters/837471 "2019-07-22T20:09:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2019, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wire-fence-cutters/837471/1 "2019-07-22T20:09:43Z")
There’s a wire fence in the back yard. The wire rectangles are about 3 inches by 1.5 inches. The wire is thicker than chicken wire, but not as thick as hog wire. I want to remove the fence, but I’m not sure of the proper tool. I could use my diagonal cutters (‘dikes’), but I’d rather only use those on electrical wires. I don’t want to damage them by using them on the fence. I’ve used my large bolt cutters, but they’re a bit unwieldy. Suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2019, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wire-fence-cutters/837471/2 "2019-07-22T20:12:37Z")
> **[TEKTON 8 in. Bolt Cutter 3386 - The Home Depot](https://www.homedepot.com/p/TEKTON-8-in-Bolt-Cutter-3386/205585550)** > > Cut bolts, chain, threaded rod, and heavy gauge wire up to 3/16 in. Dia. with the TEKTON 8 in. Mini Bolt and Wire Cutter. Forged and hardened alloy steel jaws driven by a compound hinge deliver superior ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2019, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wire-fence-cutters/837471/3 "2019-07-22T20:12:40Z")
How is it attached to the posts? I’ve just used strong pliers and pulled out the brads that attached the wire to the posts, and then just rolled up the wire from the whole section of fence. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2019, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wire-fence-cutters/837471/4 "2019-07-22T20:14:25Z")
Fencing pliers (available at most hardwares) are the tool you’re looking for. They have shearing cutters that will go through barbed wire size wire without difficulty, and are much more wieldy than bolt cutters. > **[DEWALT 10.75 in. Fencing Pliers DWHT70273 - The Home Depot](https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-10-75-in-Fencing-Pliers-DWHT70273/202723433)** > > Expedite wire fence installation and dismantling with these 10-3/4 in. Fencing Pliers from DEWALT. This multi-tool lets you swiftly extract or insert fence-post staples and can cut, splice or stretch wires to simplify fence fixes. The hammer strike... ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2019, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wire-fence-cutters/837471/5 "2019-07-22T20:18:10Z")
You can get small bolt cutters, like [this](https://www.amazon.com/TEKTON-8-Inch-Mini-Cutter-3386/dp/B000NQ4OYO/ref=sxin_2_ac_d_pm?keywords=small+bolt+cutters&pd_rd_i=B000NQ4OYO&pd_rd_r=ed04d4b9-85e5-4bed-9beb-9ffac7d68523&pd_rd_w=BSaA8&pd_rd_wg=BOAZ9&pf_rd_p=be5d8dec-444e-4770-91df-1e16a8c46da8&pf_rd_r=W6283MQ759DJDQKDE7AC&qid=1563826500&s=gateway). I’d do that before I took a chance on dulling my dikes. ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2019, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wire-fence-cutters/837471/6 "2019-07-22T20:43:20Z")
> [@Bumbazine](#): > > You can get small bolt cutters, like [this](https://www.amazon.com/TEKTON-8-Inch-Mini-Cutter-3386/dp/B000NQ4OYO/ref=sxin_2_ac_d_pm?keywords=small+bolt+cutters&pd_rd_i=B000NQ4OYO&pd_rd_r=ed04d4b9-85e5-4bed-9beb-9ffac7d68523&pd_rd_w=BSaA8&pd_rd_wg=BOAZ9&pf_rd_p=be5d8dec-444e-4770-91df-1e16a8c46da8&pf_rd_r=W6283MQ759DJDQKDE7AC&qid=1563826500&s=gateway). > I’d do that before I took a chance on dulling my dikes. Check out the second post in this thread… ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2019, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wire-fence-cutters/837471/7 "2019-07-22T20:53:23Z")
If you have one, angle grinder. If don’t have one, buy one. They’re awesome! ---
**Author:** ![Rough\_Draft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@Rough\_Draft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rough_Draft)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2019, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wire-fence-cutters/837471/8 "2019-07-22T21:07:26Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > If you have one, angle grinder. > > If don’t have one, buy one. They’re awesome! Excellent suggestion. I have DeWalt’s smallest angle grinder and it’s so powerful that it’s kinda scary. ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2019, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wire-fence-cutters/837471/9 "2019-07-22T21:13:52Z")
Small is fine, but you’ll have that tool for years. Why get something that will be useless after that one job? Get the ‘Big’ bold cutters instead. Pay the money once & get many jobs out of it. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wire-fence-cutters/837471/10 "2019-07-23T00:33:33Z")
> [@ThisSpaceForRent](#): > > Check out the second post in this thread… There wern’t any posts in this thread when I typed that. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wire-fence-cutters/837471/11 "2019-07-23T01:13:02Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > How is it attached to the posts? I’ve just used strong pliers and pulled out the brads that attached the wire to the posts, and then just rolled up the wire from the whole section of fence. The wire just slips into protrusions on the [metal posts](https://express.google.com/u/0/product/4195377853614237201_14828074488151124579_5826936?utm_source=google_shopping&utm_medium=tu_image&utm_content=eid-lsjeuxoeqt%2Ceid-wuakzuqbuq>im=CNXb-cK_pMj55QEQoK7KtN7slcgmGNCX6BQiA1VTRCiQlo7qBTD40uMC&utm_campaign=5826936&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-ojb8e3J4wIVldlkCh2GyQq7EAQYCCABEgJwNPD_BwE). But it’s overgrown with blackberries, ivy, and other weeds. It’s easier to remove it eight feet at a time. > [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](#): > > Small is fine, but you’ll have that tool for years. Why get something that will be useless after that one job? Get the ‘Big’ bold cutters instead. Pay the money once & get many jobs out of it. I have big bolt cutters, but they’re a bit unwieldy. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wire-fence-cutters/837471/12 "2019-07-23T02:49:50Z")
I always used a heavy set of lineman’s pliers for stuff like that. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wire-fence-cutters/837471/13 "2019-07-23T08:57:42Z")
Use what you got. It’ll be fine. I’ve cut a hundred miles of Field Fence with regular wire cutters. They don’t care. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wire-fence-cutters/837471/14 "2019-07-23T12:50:56Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > I always used a heavy set of lineman’s pliers for stuff like that. Yeah, me too. Sounds like ‘Horse Fence’. Have some along with Hog fence to make an area for my dogs. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wire-fence-cutters/837471/15 "2019-07-23T16:18:16Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Use what you got. It’ll be fine. I’ve cut a hundred miles of Field Fence with regular wire cutters. They don’t care. Yeah, this. I’ve but plenty of fencing like that with my diagonal cutters with no issue. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wire-fence-cutters/837471/16 "2019-07-23T16:31:10Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > Fencing pliers (available at most hardwares) are the tool you’re looking for. They have shearing cutters that will go through barbed wire size wire without difficulty, and are much more wieldy than bolt cutters. > > [https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-10-75-in-Fencing-Pliers-DWHT70273/202723433](https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-10-75-in-Fencing-Pliers-DWHT70273/202723433) Yes, these type of fencing pliers are what you need if you are dealing with any type of fence. Will cut, splice, tighten, remove fencing staples, etc. Other wire cutters will work, but _will work_ does not mean it is the best tool. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wire-fence-cutters/837471/17 "2019-07-23T17:55:56Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Use what you got. It’ll be fine. I’ve cut a hundred miles of Field Fence with regular wire cutters. They don’t care. I hate to take the chance. I mean, my dikes are only Craftsman; but I like them. I do see some dikes at Harbor Freight that say ‘Cuts ACSR, screws, nails and most hardened wire’. I could get those. > [@Gorsnak](#): > > Fencing pliers (available at most hardwares) are the tool you’re looking for. They have shearing cutters that will go through barbed wire size wire without difficulty, and are much more wieldy than bolt cutters. > > [https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-10-75-in-Fencing-Pliers-DWHT70273/202723433](https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-10-75-in-Fencing-Pliers-DWHT70273/202723433) Harbor Freight also has fencing pliers, and they’re half the price of the dikes. I’m guessing you put the wire in the semicircular slots on the pivot? ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wire-fence-cutters/837471/18 "2019-07-23T18:38:27Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I hate to take the chance. I mean, my dikes are only Craftsman; but I like them. I do see some dikes at Harbor Freight that say ‘Cuts ACSR, screws, nails and most hardened wire’. I could get those. > > Harbor Freight also has fencing pliers, and they’re half the price of the dikes. I’m guessing you put the wire in the semicircular slots on the pivot? Yup. The antique ones I grew up using on the farm cut barbed wire with no issue, except the cutting slots only fit one strand so for two-strand barbed wire you had to cut the strands individually. These look like they might have space for cutting both at once. With the shearing cutting action they go through steel wire much, much more easily than dikes will. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wire-fence-cutters/837471/19 "2019-07-23T19:07:05Z")
I bought [fencing pliers](https://www.harborfreight.com/10-inch-fence-pliers-stapler-puller-with-tpr-grip-99817.html) and [long-reach diagonal cutters](https://www.harborfreight.com/11-in-long-reach-diagonal-cutters-64086.html). Both have a ‘lifetime warranty’, and the total cost, including tax, was $17.59. ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wire-fence-cutters/837471/20 "2019-07-24T00:34:14Z")
Yeah…Good post Johnny I now REALLY want the tool Dallas Jones posted ! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wire-fence-cutters/837471.md?page=2)