Cutting the ends of Derek Moran/Jim Lee line clips???

[Steve Helmick]

I made a variety of line clips on my Jim Lee/Derek Moran clip bender today. I am apparently rusty at doing these. I can bend them, but clipping the ends, not so bueno. I have a hook cutter that should work well, but it's in my fishing buddy's boat, some miles away. I've been using the Dremel with "Danger Discs", but it's hard to see exactly what's going on, and I lost about 50% by nicking the wire where it would not be so good.  What's your method?     Steve

[Brett Buck]

I made a variety of line clips on my Jim Lee/Derek Moran clip bender today. I am apparently rusty at doing these. I can bend them, but clipping the ends, not so bueno. I have a hook cutter that should work well, but it's in my fishing buddy's boat, some miles away. I've been using the Dremel with "Danger Discs", but it's hard to see exactly what's going on, and I lost about 50% by nicking the wire where it would not be so good.  What's your method?     Steve

   I have some Knipex hardened wire cutters that will cut right through 1/8 music wire if your hand is strong enough. I use that to cut it, then clean it up with a Dremel cut-off wheel.

     Brett

[Tim Wescott]

I pre-cut lengths of wire with a Dangerous Disk.  For the ordinary range of clip sizes, I just need one length (it's between 3 and 4 inches, but I couldn't tell you exactly what it is).  It never occurred to me to do otherwise.  I keep my clip bender and spare blanks in my flight kit, in case I need a custom clip.

If you're making it from one continuous piece of wire, wedge a scrap bit of 1/32 or 1/16 plywood between the wires and use a Dangerous Disk -- that should give you plenty of room if you drink just enough firewater to still the tremors, but not enough that you get sloppy.  Scrap bits of brass or tinplate sheet work well, too.

[Brent Williams]

Xuron 2193F Micro-Shear® Flush Cutters. 
 
This is the best cutting tool I have used for cutting a 90° edge in music wire.   I have made up at least 100-150 .051" stainless wire clips using the Xuron cutters and they are great.

There is a retainer on the jaws which holds the wire perpendicular as it is neatly sheared.  Effortless to cut the wire.   Cuts music wire up to 0.060", 14 AWG (1.6mm)

Cuts clean. 

The best $20 you'll ever spend for this specific task.

https://xuron.com/index.php/main/consumer_products/3/19

[Target]

I usually cut the wire and dress the end before I make the last bend around the pin.
Works for me.

R,
Target (Chris Behm for those that are so bothered by screen names).

[Dave Harmon]

I do it the easy way.
For a 1" clip measured across the outside of the pins....cut the wire to 81mm before you start bending.
If you want a different length clip....all you have to do is set the nut for whatever length you desire....then measure across the outside of the pins and add or subtract to the 81mm default length.
Use a .300" overhang and it comes out right every steenking time!
Nuttin tuit!

I should also mention....I use a suicide disk for all cuts and put a 60 degree angle on both ends of the wire before bending. (180 degrees apart)
This avoids all the monkey motion of trying to cut the wire after the thing is already bent.

[Steve Helmick]

Xuron 2193F Micro-Shear® Flush Cutters. 
 
This is the best cutting tool I have used for cutting a 90° edge in music wire.   I have made up at least 100-150 .051" stainless wire clips using the Xuron cutters and they are great.

There is a retainer on the jaws which holds the wire perpendicular as it is neatly sheared.  Effortless to cut the wire.   Cuts music wire up to 0.060", 14 AWG (1.6mm)

Cuts clean. 

The best $20 you'll ever spend for this specific task.

https://xuron.com/index.php/main/consumer_products/3/19

Did anybody else notice that the Xuron tool picture/diagram shows 2.2mm opening as being equal to .85 somethings, presumably inches? Somebody slipped a decimal there...2.2mm would be around .085".     Steve

[RknRusty]

...If you want to use a cut off wheel just put a piece of sheet steel between the clip.

I usually cut the wire and dress the end before I make the last bend around the pin.
Works for me...

Both of those answers, in the order posted, get my vote.

[Steve Helmick]

I retrieved my "D-Barb" hook cutters and found they didn't work well until I indexed the carbide cutting inserts...which I had never done before. They have been recently mentioned on the bass fishing forum I frequent, and I got a url for the source. It looks like the price has come down more than 50% since I bought mine. Also discovered they're hecho en China. Frankly, I'd think cobalt tool steel inserts would work a lot better than carbide.    https://justcastnets.com/products/d-barb-cutter    Steve