The complete guide
Choosing the right cutter for fencing wire and mesh
A dedicated cutter earns its keep the first time you try to finish chicken wire with kitchen scissors. Here is how to pick and use one.
Matching the cutter to the wire
boenfu small bolt cutter 210mm is 210mm (8in) compact bolt cutter. Lighter wire cutters like this handle chicken wire and standard mesh cleanly; if you are working with thick welded panels, fencing staples, or padlocks, step up to a full-size bolt cutter instead — trying to force a small cutter through thick steel just rounds off the blades.
Getting a clean cut
Cut at the join between two strands of wire where possible rather than mid-strand — it leaves a neater edge and less sharp wire sticking out where animals or hands might catch it. Wear gloves; cut ends of galvanised wire are sharp enough to cut skin as easily as they cut wire.
Looking after it
Wipe the blades dry after outdoor use and add a drop of oil to the pivot occasionally. Garden tools left wet in a shed rust at the cutting edge first, which is exactly where you need them sharp.
The short version
Buy the cutter sized for the wire you actually have, cut at the joins, and keep it dry between jobs.