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Hi all,

My GW clippers, after 10 years have finally worn out. Age, neglect, whatever the answer they are just not up to the task any longer and I am now in the market for a new set.

Given how much I use them, I’m in the market for a good pair, accurate cuts etc. The GW ones look nice but they are expensive and they might be crap for all I know. I don’t mind paying that but only if they are worth it.

Any suggestions? Is there some kind of gold standard out there?

GW generally gets good quality tools and then rebrands them. The thing is their current clippers are obscenely overpriced. Nice, but at £20 for a single pair that is, honestly, a rip off (and normally I'm not "that" harsh with GW prices on things).



Honestly plastic/white metal/resin/lead are all really soft materials so almost any of the hobby clippers on the market will do the job. The only real strains are if you start cutting brass and other harder metal and that's typically only done for pinning.

I don't think there's any kind of "gold standard" I'd just head to ebay and search for hobby/model clippers or a local hardware store or any major game retailer that sells hobby tools and such.

Heck I've got the old yellow set from GW and the ONLY thing that broken on them in over 10 years was the spring in the middle - the actual blade works great still.

We had a similar discussion recently, check it out:

https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/794435.page

Which GW clippers did you have? The newer ones with the brown / metal handles? Those ones are pretty good, but expensive.

I've swapped to Xuron which are similar quality but cheaper.

There is a thread a few posts back on this exact subject

https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/794435.page

I still use the Finecast clippers, I use them for everything and they still work although the spring is dead they do get frustrating to use when they don't spring open,
The closest one's to them seem to be the tamiya ones, they have the same cast cutting head with squared jaws.

 Overread wrote:
I don't think there's any kind of "gold standard" I'd just head to ebay and search for hobby/model clippers or a local hardware store or any major game retailer that sells hobby tools and such.

Nah, there is definitely different levels of clippers. GW's clippers or Xuron clippers are better than what you'll typically find in a hardware store. "GodHand" used to be the gold standard, but I've heard they've had some quality control issues which left some disappointed customers.

I have a pair of wire cutters that belonged to my grandad that are made of sheffield steel. I think they're over 40 years old at this point and they have never done me wrong. I would suggest a hardware store as opposed to a hobby store for something that will do the job.

AllSeeingSkink wrote:
We had a similar discussion recently, check it out:

https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/794435.page

Which GW clippers did you have? The newer ones with the brown / metal handles? Those ones are pretty good, but expensive.

I've swapped to Xuron which are similar quality but cheaper.

I think mine are the generation before last. Grey on dark grey.

Sumilidon wrote:

AllSeeingSkink wrote:
We had a similar discussion recently, check it out:

https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/794435.page

Which GW clippers did you have? The newer ones with the brown / metal handles? Those ones are pretty good, but expensive.

I've swapped to Xuron which are similar quality but cheaper.

I think mine are the generation before last. Grey on dark grey.

Ah okay, those weren't as good as the current GW clippers, they were basically just rebranded craft store clippers, and if you get something like Xuron clippers it should be a big upgrade on what you had even when they were new.

Other folk recommend Tamiya also, but I've not tried them to compare to the Xurons or GW cutters.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Olthannon wrote:
I have a pair of wire cutters that belonged to my grandad that are made of sheffield steel. I think they're over 40 years old at this point and they have never done me wrong. I would suggest a hardware store as opposed to a hobby store for something that will do the job.

I think any tools that were made over 40 years ago and are still around today are likely better than what you buy from a hardware store now, lol.

My problem with hardware store clippers has been variability, I got one set that was great, another set that was mediocre and another set that was just junk. And buying 3 sets of clippers before finding a decent pair is more expensive than getting something from a well reviewed brand like Xuron or even GW's current offering.

If you can get something not made in China it'd probably be more likely to be decent quality and less variable quality, though these days I'm not sure how much I'd trust something made in Australia anyway, it's probably made in Australia from parts imported from China anyway, lol.

AllSeeingSkink wrote:

I think any tools that were made over 40 years ago and are still around today are likely better than what you buy from a hardware store now, lol.

Meh, depends on your store. I know a couple near me who stock good gear. Honestly it depends, but Lindstrom cutters are worth it.