Tip-cutting tools allow precise cutting from above.

A tapered head fits more easily in tight spaces but is less durable than an oval head.

Cut profile refers to the amount of pinch left on the tip of the wire after it has been cut. Pointed cutters produce a deeply pointed, pinched end. Use for electrical and general applications. Semiflush cutters are the most widely used for electronics assembly and produce a slightly pointed, pinched end. They are generally more accurate than pointed-cut tools. Flush cutters produce a cut with virtually no pinch, creating clean connections for easy soldering. Flush-cut tools don’t last as long as pointed and semiflush.