Wurth Zebra Heavy-Duty Side Cutters (071401599)

Get Standard and High-Leverage Cutting from One Tool Using Wurth Zebra Heavy-Duty Side Cutters

Wurth Zebra Heavy-Duty Side Cutters take the traditional side cutting plier and add an extra joint to give you some extra leverage when you need it. Wurth isn’t the first to give you a higher-leverage option and we took some time to see how it compares to other designs.

Pros

• Simple push-button change from standard to high-leverage cutting
• No painful “snap shock” while cutting
• Comfortable, ergonomics handle design
• Smooth operation

Cons

• Button cap rotation may be disconcerting to some users
• You may need to finesse the handle to get the button in the proper position for leverage changes
• A bit pricey at $75

Wurth Zebra Heavy-Duty Side Cutters

2-in-1 Design

Traditional side cutting pliers make the shift from standard to high leverage by shifting the joint position and extending the handle length. Others use a compound joint to increase leverage. To create a 2-in-1 design, Wurth takes advantage of multiple joint positions.

To make that happen, one of the handles gets split into two pieces between the cutting jaw and the handle. A button connects or disconnects the those two pieces to determine which joint configuration it uses.

In its standard mode, the pliers use only the top joint. Pressing the button for higher leverage (noted by a power button symbol), it works with both joints to give you a mechanical advantage.

The button operates very easily and the joints are super-smooth. However, you need to line up the handles correctly to switch between modes. It’s not right at the point where the jaws are completely closed, so you may need to open them a fraction to get the mechanism lined up.

It may be a little disconcerting that the button caps spin, but we haven’t had any issues with them popping off.

Once in a while, the button slips between the two positions during travel or in your tool belt, but it’s a relatively minor inconvenience to reset it when you pull the tool out.

Comfortable Grip

I’m battling some tendonitis in both hands and some cutting pliers are pretty uncomfortable for me. Wurth uses their 2K handles for these pliers and they provide a comfortable, ergonomic grip.

Even better, they absorb the snap shock when I complete a cut. There’s still the classic snap once the material gives way, but the vibration doesn’t transfer into my hands.

Why Not Just Carry High Leverage for Everything?

Having the option for higher leverage on the tool is great, but then why bother carrying a standard pair of cutters at all?

It’s all about higher capacity. The jaws open wider and with less handle movement in the standard position. Since most of the really hard stuff you’re going to cut (screws, nails, piano wire) is small enough to fit between the jaws in the high-leverage position, you can make the switch when you need it and stick with the wider opening when you don’t.

The Bottom Line

Wurth Zebra Heavy-Duty Side Cutters do a nice job of replacing two types of side cutters with one tool. They just don’t come cheap. Being able to easily switch between standard and high-leverage settings is really helpful, and we really appreciate the snap-absorbing comfort grip handles. The next time you need to replace your side cutters, give Wurth’s high-quality design a look.

Pick up a set from Wurth for around $75.

Wurth USA runs promotions, so be sure to check to see if this product is on special!

Wurth Zebra Heavy-Duty Side Cutters Specifications

• Model: Wurth 071401599
• Length: 8 in. / 200 mm
• Soft Wire Max: 5 mm diameter
• Medium Wire Max: 4.5 mm diameter
• Hard Wire Max: 3.5 mm diameter
• Piano Wire Max: 3 mm diameter
• Price: ~$75