Those cheap fiber cleavers on Amazon are a total scam.

I bought one for $35 last month. Figured it'd be fine for a few jobs. First cut actually looked okay. By the third cut it was leaving jagged edges everywhere. Tried to adjust it but the blade was already loose. Had to re-terminate 12 connectors because of bad cleaves. Wasted almost 2 hours and $20 in extra connectors. Buy a real cleaver or borrow one from your shop.

2 comments

2 Comments

adam_baker13d ago

Tried the exact same thing and learned that lesson hard. Spend the money on a Fujikura or Klein cleaver and save yourself the headache of re-doing terminations.

linda_reed13d agoMost Upvoted

Cheap cleavers have their place if you know what you're doing and don't mind a little extra cleanup work. A good field termination is more about technique than the tool anyway, I've seen guys make perfect cuts with a $20 amazon special and a steady hand. Spending big on a cleaver won't fix bad habits like not cleaning the blade or rushing the cut. Plus those pricey cleavers get lost or stolen on job sites just as fast as the cheap ones.