cutters are made entirely from solid tungsten/cobalt alloy steel. This material is machined and formed at the Tronex factory to high dimensional tolerances with exceptionally sharp cutting edges and a solid joint design. The cutters undergo a special furnace-hardening process to achieve a hardness of 66 to 68 HRC on both cutting edges. (Cutters made of carbon steel have maximum edge hardness of 62 to 63 HRC.)

Class W cutters have a finer edge finish than Class T cutters. This property enables Class W cutters to cut thinner wire and to cut more flush than Class T cutters. Also CLASS W cutters can be made with smaller, more pointed heads. Cutting edges of CLASS W cutters are less brittle than cutting edges of CLASS T cutters.

cutters are made from precision machined cutter blanks in which solid tungsten carbide material has been silver brazed in the cutter jaw. Diamond grinding then forms the head shape and sharpens the cutting edges. This tool design, with its dual material construction, combines the high yield strength of carbon steel with the intense localized hardness of tungsten carbide. Cutting edges of CLASS T cutters have a hardness of 79 to 81 HRC.

CLASS T cutters can cut thicker hard wire than CLASS W cutters. Handles and jaws of CLASS T cutters are tougher than those of CLASS W cutters.