Compact, convenient, and surprisingly heavy-duty, the Tekton 3386 is a fantastic mini bolt cutter. It is designed to snip quickly and effortlessly through a whole range of materials, and it’s a cut above the average (pun intended). In fact, I’d go so far as to say it’s the only mini wire cutter or bolt cutter you will ever need.
The TEKTON 3386 8-Inch Mini Bolt Cutter is part of a wide range of cutters from the same brand and is the smallest in the collection. Despite its compact dimensions and relatively lightweight properties, it’s nonetheless capable of slicing through wires and chains up to 3/16-inches in diameter. Trust me when I say that’s way more than you’d get from a generic mini cutter – especially when expecting change from $10.00.
More importantly, the manufacturer claims that the Tekton 3386 is anything but a disposable bolt cutter. Rather than fading after a few snips, it’s been designed to get the job done over and over (and over) again. Another reason that £10.00 price seems almost too good to be true.
Check out the full details of my Tekton 3386 review to find out whether this thing is indeed the real deal.
Features of TEKTON 3386
The TEKTON family of bolt cutters features an extensive range of tools to suit all purposes and pockets. This TEKTON 3386 8-Inch Mini Bolt And Wire Cutter is the smallest entry to the collection, with specifications outlined by the manufacturer as follows:
- Product Dimensions – 8.5 x 2.2 x 0.5 inches
- Item model number – 3386
- Item Weight – 9.1oz
- Size – 8
When you pick up a cutter that costs $10 or less, you almost expect lackluster performance. Nevertheless, TEKTON is adamant that the Mini Bolt Cutter 3386 packs a serious punch for its price. Key feature and selling-points (as published by the manufacturer) being as follows:
Versatile Mini Bolt and Wire Cutter
Despite its compact size and lightweight properties, the TEKTON 3386 is able to cut bolts, chains, threaded rods, and wires up to 3/16-inch.
Compound Hinge Design
The cutter’s compound hinge design, combined with super-strong drop forged hardened alloy steel jaws guarantee exceptional cutting power and consistent long-term performance.
Comfortable Grips
The tubular steel handles feature soft rubber grips, providing non-slip comfort when dealing with even the most difficult jobs.
My Experience With the TEKTON 3386
Again, I wouldn’t expect anyone else to get too excited about a mini bolt cutter. It’s not as if they’re the most exciting tools on the planet. Nevertheless, find yourself in a situation where you need one of these things, and you’ll realize how important it is to buy a quality cutter.
I put my TEKTON 8-Inch Mini Bolt Cutter 3386 to the test with a pretty extensive gardening and fencing project. From 17 gauge galvanized electric fence wire to 11-gauge woven fence wire, they performed well beyond my expectations. They may be somewhat limited in capacity, but for jobs like mine, they were pretty much perfect.
My advice – carefully consider your requirements before deciding which cutter to go with. I noted most of the negative feedback attached to these things came from buyers who’d used them for jobs they simply aren’t built for. Seriously – you can’t expect to buy a $10 mini-Cutter and use it or snip through heavy bolts and shanks like a knife through butter!
If the TEKTON 8-Inch Mini Bolt Cutter 3386 isn’t big enough, its bigger brothers and sisters have you covered.
Pros
- Excellent build quality
- Comfortable to hold
- Surprisingly powerful cutting
- Exceptional value for money
- Lightweight and easy to use
Cons
- Not suitable for thicker wire
Final Thoughts
Given the fact that these things sell for less than $10, I can’t think of any mini cutters on the market right now that represent better value for money. The name itself might be a little misleading, as they’re more ‘heavy-duty wire’ cutters than ‘bolt’ cutters.
Hence, you need to carefully consider your requirements before deciding which size to go for.For smaller jobs where you simply need a reliable cutter, the TEKTON Mini Bolt Cutter 3386 won’t let you down.
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