Hakko CHP-170 vs Xuron 170-II Flush Cutters

Who this comparison is for

This page is for anyone choosing a small flush cutter for a printing bench: snipping filament ends, clipping strings and brim remnants, and trimming small support nubs. We compare the Hakko CHP-170, the standard part with no safety clip, and the standard Xuron 170-II, without a lead retainer or ESD grips. Both makers sell those other versions under separate part numbers, which we cover below. If supports are fusing to your parts so badly that you need a cutter to get them off, start with hard-to-remove supports troubleshooting, since slicer settings usually matter more than the tool. For other bench tools, see the 3D printing tools shortlist.

How we compared them

This is a research-based comparison. Every figure below comes from Hakko USA's product page, catalog, and warranty policy, and from Xuron's product page, blog, and FAQ, all listed in the sources. We haven't cut anything with either tool, so nothing here is a measured result of ours. Where a maker describes its own product, such as "One of the most popular cutting tool," we label it as the maker's claim.

The two makers rate capacity differently. Hakko gives a maximum copper wire gauge and notes that "Max cut is determined with copper wire." Xuron gives a gauge and a diameter and names soft plastic in the rating on its blog. Neither maker publishes a cut test with filament or support material, so there's no test table on this page.

Side-by-side specs

Rated capacity: copper wire vs soft plastic

This is the biggest difference between the two.

• Hakko CHP-170. Hakko's page lists "Max Cut: 16 AWG copper wire" and adds, "Max cut is determined with copper wire." Its catalog lists the CHP-170 under medium cutters as an "Excellent general use tool. 16 AWG max cut." Neither says anything about plastic or filament. Hakko's catalog does describe other cutters for plastic, such as the TR-30-B ("Suitable for cutting plastic") and the TR-5000-PG ("Plastic gate"), and it says nothing like that about the CHP-170.
• Xuron 170-II. Xuron's product page gives "Cutting Capacity: 18 AWG (1 mm) soft wire" and "Note: Not for use on hardened wire." Its blog post on the 170-II series widens that to "soft copper wire, component lead wire and soft plastic up to 18 AWG (1mm) diameter," and the product page lists plastic sprue, plastic de-gating, and monofilament among the materials it's for.

On the wire-gauge scale, a smaller number means a thicker wire, so Hakko's 16 AWG rating is the larger of the two. But Hakko's figure is for copper only, and Xuron's 1 mm figure is the only one of the two that includes plastic. Neither rating tells you how either tool handles a filled filament such as carbon-fiber or glass-fiber, and neither maker claims it does.

Filament ends and supports

Of the pages we checked, only Xuron's write about 3D printing. Its 170-II series post lists 3D printing among the markets the cutter now serves. In a 2015 post, Xuron says filament "should be trimmed so the end is flat and it can feed properly — this is the perfect task for our Model 170-II Cutter (it cuts cleanly with no burr)." Its 2024 post says the same: "Before inserting the filament into the extruder, it's nice to have a flush cut on the end because it makes it easier to feed. Our Model 170-II Flush Cutter does a great job here. You can also use it to trim the wispy bits of filament remaining on the printed part."

The 2024 post refers to "plastic filament," but neither post names a diameter or a specific material. Common 1.75 mm filament is thicker than the 1 mm Xuron rates the cutter for, and Xuron doesn't say whether trimming it is within that rating. We report both and can't settle it for you. For breaking off support material, Xuron's 3D printing posts point to its Model 450 TweezerNose pliers rather than the 170-II.

Hakko makes no 3D printing claim for the CHP-170. If you use it on filament or supports, that's outside what Hakko rates it for.

Hardness, steel, and how they cut

The two makers give near-identical blade hardness: 56 on the Rockwell C scale for Hakko, and 54–56 Rc for Xuron.

Hakko's catalog says its CHP precision cutters "are stamped from 2.0 - 5.0 mm carbon steel and then precision ground to exact specifications," heat treated "for longer tool life," and parkerized "to prevent glare." It doesn't give the thickness for the CHP-170 alone. Hakko lists a cutting force of 5 kg for the CHP-170 without saying how it's measured.

Xuron builds the 170-II around what it calls a "Micro-Shear® blade by pass cutting method," which it says it patented. Its FAQ says the shearing cut, "with the by-pass cutting edges slicing cleanly through the metal," "requires only about half the effort to cut a wire as compared to conventional compression type wire cutters." That's Xuron's general claim for its cutters, not a measured figure for the 170-II, and Xuron publishes no cutting-force number for this model.

Size, versions, and catching offcuts

Xuron gives the 170-II an overall length of 5 inches (127 mm), and its FAQ gives a weight of 1.9 oz. Xuron also says it's "Ergonomically sized and shaped to fit comfortably in the hand" with an "Ultra slim profile." Hakko publishes no length or weight for the CHP-170 on its page or in its catalog.

Both makers sell versions that catch the cut-off piece, which matters when a snipped wire end or filament tip can fly.

• Hakko sells the CHP-170-A with a "Safety clip for holding wire scraps securely after cutting," and the CHP-170-D with dissipative handles for ESD-sensitive work.
• Xuron sells the 170-IIF, whose "Low profile lead retainer holds cut- off pieces of wire to help prevent foreign object damage." It also sells the 170-IIAS with ESD-safe grips and the 170-IIASF with both, and lists a 170-IIA "Full Flush" version on its site.

The products compared here are the plain CHP-170 and plain 170-II, with neither feature. The red grips in our Hakko catalog record come from the Amazon listing we link to. Hakko's page doesn't mention a grip color for the standard part.

Warranty

Hakko USA's warranty policy gives "a (90) ninety-day limited warranty against defects in material and workmanship for all HAKKO and CHP brand products," and says no warranty applies to "any product or component part that is subject to normal wear during use," listing blades among its examples.

Xuron says it "will repair or replace any item that fails due to a defect in material and/or workmanship," and that this "does not cover normal wear, misuse or third party modifications." Xuron doesn't give a time limit. It also says that if you buy on Amazon or another marketplace "and you have a warranty issue with the product, you need to contact the seller first," and that it "will not warranty any product we suspect is counterfeit."

What each maker says it's for

• Hakko CHP-170. Hakko calls it "One of the most popular cutting tool" and, in its catalog, an "Excellent general use tool," rated for copper wire.
• Xuron 170-II. Xuron says it was first used "for trimming component lead wires for through-hole printed circuit board manufacturing," and now serves wire processing, harness and cord set manufacturing, home electronics repair, and 3D printing.

Hakko

Hakko CHP-170 Medium Cutter (Single cutter, red grips (part number CHP-170))

Best for

Clipping strings, brims, and small support nubs at the part surface; Hakko rates it for copper wire up to 16 AWG only.

Skip this if

You need to cut steel wire, zip-tie heads in bulk, or thick parts.

Specs, strengths, and limitations

Maker notes

Hakko specs: Part Number CHP-170; Cutting Force 5 kg; Max Cut 16 AWG copper wire; Rockwell Hardness (RHC) 56. Hakko notes that 'Max cut is determined with copper wire.' Hakko describes it as a 'Tool for a flush cut with very sharp cutting edges'. Variants: CHP-170-A (with safety clip) and CHP-170-D (dissipative handles). Hakko does not rate it for any specific filament. Its rating is for copper wire. Hakko's CHP catalog lists the CHP-170 under Medium Cutters: 'Excellent general use tool. 16 AWG max cut.'

Strengths

• Manufacturer states it is a flush-cut tool with very sharp cutting edges.
• Manufacturer lists a maximum cut of 16 AWG copper wire and blade hardness of 56 HRC.
• Manufacturer states a low cutting force of 5 kg.

Limitations

• Hakko rates it for copper wire up to 16 AWG only and gives no rating for hard or steel wire.
• Hakko makes no claim about cutting filament or support material. Its rating is for copper wire only.

View on Amazon ↗ (opens Amazon in a new tab)Details checked 2026-10-06 against the manufacturer. Price and availability are on Amazon.

Xuron

Xuron Micro-Shear Flush Cutter 170-II (Model 170-II, standard (no lead retainer), single)

Best for

Fine trimming of soft plastic supports, stringing, and small sprues on PLA or PETG parts.

Skip this if

You need to cut hardened wire, or materials thicker than its 1 mm rating as part of regular work.

Specs, strengths, and limitations

Maker notes

Xuron specs: overall length 5 inches (127 mm); Rockwell hardness 54–56 Rc; cutting capacity 'soft copper wire, component lead wire and soft plastic up to 18 AWG (1mm) diameter'. Xuron makes the 170-II series in four configurations: 170-II, 170-IIF (lead retainer), 170-IIAS (ESD-safe grips), and 170-IIASF (both). This record is the standard 170-II. Xuron states the 170-II series is made at its factory in Saco, Maine, USA. Product page: '18 AWG (1 mm) soft wire'; 'Not for use on hardened wire'. Weight 1.9 oz (FAQ).

Strengths

• Manufacturer states it cuts soft plastic as well as soft copper and component lead wire.
• Manufacturer states its by-pass cutting edges slice 'cleanly through the metal', with about half the effort of compression cutters.
• Manufacturer states it is made in Saco, Maine, USA, with blade hardness of 54–56 Rc.

Limitations

• Rated up to 18 AWG (1 mm) soft wire and soft plastic, below 1.75 mm filament diameter. Xuron's 3D printing blog posts nonetheless recommend it for flush-cutting filament ends before loading.
• Light-duty tool: Xuron rates it for soft materials only.

View on Amazon ↗ (opens Amazon in a new tab)Details checked 2026-10-06 against the manufacturer. Price and availability are on Amazon.

Verdict: which should you buy?

Choose the Hakko CHP-170 if…

• You also cut copper wire up to 16 AWG, the larger rated capacity of the two.
• You want a safety-clip (CHP-170-A) or dissipative-handle (CHP-170-D) version from the same part family.
• You're happy that Hakko rates it for copper wire only and says nothing about plastic or filament.

Choose the Xuron 170-II if…

• You want a cutter whose maker names soft plastic, sprue, and monofilament in what it cuts.
• You want a published length, weight, and US-made tool.
• Your trimming stays within Xuron's 1 mm rating, such as strings and small sprues, or you accept Xuron's blog advice on filament ends without a rating behind it.

Safety and limits

How this page was checked

Every rating, dimension, material, and warranty detail above comes from the Hakko USA and Xuron pages and documents in the sources section, retrieved on 2026-10-11. We haven't cut anything with either tool for this page, so nothing here is a measured result of ours. Hakko's product page now titles the CHP-170 a "Medium Cutter," and its catalog lists it under medium cutters. We searched Hakko USA's page, catalog, and warranty policy and found no length, weight, plastic rating, or country of manufacture for the CHP-170. Xuron's product page rates the 170-II for "18 AWG (1 mm) soft wire," its blog adds soft plastic to that rating, and its 3D printing posts recommend it for filament ends without naming a diameter, so we've reported all three. The red grip color for the Hakko comes from the Amazon listing we link to, not from Hakko. Read more in our editorial standards and affiliate disclosure.

Tools: what to check before you buy ↗