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I am using almost exclusively EVO fret wire - I purchased quite a bit from LMI before they closed down. This harder material is tougher on tools. (I also have recently purchased good amount of the StewMac version).

I had been using the StewMac flush cutters and also the fret nipper. Neither have survived the EVO wire - the cutting surfaces have distorted and chipped and are now beyond regrinding or reworking.

I purchased these flush cutting pliers via Amazon and they work great and have survived several fret jobs with no issues or obvious damage.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJ2KRLC7?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

At $9.59, these are about 10% of the cost of the StewMac nipper. I use them for flush cutting, and for nipping for bound fretboards. The flush side tucks well under the crown while clipping the tang off. The grip is ergonomic enough and comfortable to use.

I'm happy to share this successful tool trial. I have a backup pair in my cart, but the originals are holding up well.

Good to know. I have an expensive pair for cutting cryogenically treated stainless because I kept breaking my old ones which still work for regular stainless.

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I have never heard of anyone doing fretwork with side cutters. Is that the right link with the yellow handles?

Yes, the link is to the flush cutters I purchased. These are designed to flush cut.

And now they are on sale at $7.49 !

(edited to add images)

Thanks! Sure could use an upgrade from the little crappy things I’ve got!

Sorry the photos are so oversize - not sure how to correct that when attaching them....

That’s good for me dull old eyes!

At that price, even if the tool is destroyed after a few refrets, it's made the shop money. Thanks for the tip and link, and I will order a couple pairs for both shops to evaluate.

I have the Summit tang nipper as well as the older LMI fret tang filing jig, and prefer the LMI tool, although it seems - like most repair work - to be purpose built for destroying an expensive manicure. Given I am no longer a hands-on clinician, that's simple vanity at work, but let's be honest and simply say that no working instrument repair person should count on income from part-time hand modeling gigs.

The Summit did a nice job on all wires when new, but is now suitable only for smaller wire sizes, and only after re-stoning cutting face. For quick jobs, I like the Hosco/Three Peaks fret end cutters from Philadelphia Luthier Tools... and pretty much everything else about those people - very accommodating to provide nickel-plated humbucker covers without the copper layer which is the bane of those relic-ing to match older guitar hardware (which raises the question as to whey customers feel the need to swap out perfectly lovely repro PAF's with active noise generators). The Hoscos are true flush cutting Japanese tools that seem to hold up well to stainless and EVO and fetch about $45 delivered. I still prefer the dead-flat underside of the fret crown that comes off the LMI filing jig, but not a functional necessity for every fret job.

Ordered from Amazon on Friday, and they arrived on Sunday. I will test them out this afternoon.

Well, the first nip was a disaster.

Wow! What were you cutting? Must have been an obvious defective one, or, I got blessed and the two sets I purchased were the good ones...

I laughed so hard at the pic of the trash can.


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Mike curious about order of operations…do you cut towards the bottom of the fret and then clip the tang lengthwise, or visa versa, or does it matter?

I cut at the bottom of the crown first, as shown in the photo. Most of the time the section of the tang pops off on it's own and if not, it's easy to clip the bit of tang that's still connected.

BTW, I nip off the tang ends for all fret jobs, both new and refrets. For unbound fretboards, I rub some ebony filler into the exposed fret slots. It gives a cleaner appearance and eliminates any sharp tang ends to deal with when filing, dressing ends, etc.

This may be like saying water is wet, but an important step in buying products made in China is to factor in some quality control over here. Not every unit is going to be made well. Many will be, and the percentage of duds is smaller than it used to be, but still, a significant percentage of the units will not meet standards.

There's a great maker of microphones in Portland, OR, called Ear Trumpet Labs. You have all seen these mics. Well, the builder buys the capsules in bulk from Asia, then tests them over here before putting them into use. Lots of the capsules are crap. But they find the good ones, and put them to use.

Since these nippers are so cheap, it makes sense to me that a person would want to buy a number of them, and just assume that one or more of the bunch will be crap. The good news is that the rest will probably be pretty good. If you just buy one pair, the risk of a dud is unacceptably high. If you buy ten, it becomes way more manageable.