Knipex CoBolt Bolt Cutters in Two Compact Lengths, Compound Action, Induction Hardened Edges and Plastic Coated Handles

Cutting bolts, wire, and hardened strands close to the work is the job of these Knipex CoBolt bolt cutters, a compact bolt cutter design with a special compound action. Excellent cutting performance comes out of a modest squeeze here, so wire rated up to 2000 N/mm² tensile strength gives way in fabrication shops, maintenance departments, installation work, and site tool kits.
The 160 mm (6.3 in.) model works as a mini bolt cutter for pouches and small kits, while the 200 mm (7.9 in.) model adds capacity for thicker wire. Both share the same construction and differ only in reach and rated limits. Rated diameters for piano wire, medium-hard steel, and soft steel sit in the capacity table below, length by length.

Key features:
• Chrome vanadium electro-steel body: drop-forged and oil-hardened for long service
• Edge hardness: induction hardening brings the cutting edges to approximately 64 HRC for clean cuts in hard wire
• Plastic coated handles: secure grip over a chemically blackened body
• No return spring: the jaws stay where you leave them between cuts

Specifications by model:
Overall length | For soft steel wire up to | For medium-hard steel wire up to | For piano wire up to
160 mm (6.3 in.) | 5.3 mm (0.2 in.) | 4.4 mm (0.2 in.) | 3 mm (0.1 in.)
200 mm (7.9 in.) | 6 mm (0.2 in.) | 5.2 mm (0.2 in.) | 3.6 mm (0.1 in.)

Which compact cutter handles spring-hard wire?
Piano wire falls inside the CoBolt range, and both lengths take soft and medium-hard steel wire too, in a frame short enough for a belt pouch.
Applications: fence and mesh maintenance, site repair kits, cabinet and panel work, piano wire trimming, fabrication trimming, steel wire cutting, jobs typically given to 8 inch bolt cutters.
Industries: construction trades, electrical and mechanical installation, maintenance and repair operations, metal fabrication, manufacturing.
Users: site service crews, installers, fabricators, maintenance technicians.

Where should the wire sit in the jaws before you squeeze?
Open the jaws fully, seat the wire as deep in the cutting edges as you can, and squeeze with steady pressure until the cut completes. The Knipex CoBolt compound action multiplies your grip force, so let the leverage finish the cut instead of twisting the head or working it back and forth. Check the wire class first, because spring-hard strands carry lower capacity limits than soft steel.

Are small bolt cutters strong enough for piano wire?
Yes, within their ratings. Piano wire capacity runs to 3 mm (0.1 in.) on the shorter model and 3.6 mm (0.1 in.) on the longer one. These small bolt cutters carry separate ratings by wire class because harder wire demands a smaller maximum diameter. Check the capacity table for each length and pick the larger size when your work sits near those limits regularly.

What separates these from heavy duty bolt cutters?
Size and working style separate them. Traditional heavy duty bolt cutters use long twin handles and two-handed swings on rebar-class stock. The CoBolt design puts a 2000 N/mm² wire rating into a hand-sized frame instead, so it rides in a pouch rather than over a shoulder and still gets through fence wire, mesh, and hardened strands in tight spots.

Application
For wires up to 2000 N/mm² tensile strength.

Material
Chrome vanadium electro-steel, drop-forged and oil-hardened.