Arduino: A Quick-Start Guide, 2nd Edition

Learning How to Use a Wire Cutter

When working with breadboards and through-hole parts, you often have to shorten wires. Sometimes you have to cut plain wires that you need to connect parts in your circuit. Other times you have to cut the wires of a component like a resistor to make it easier to handle.

For these purposes, a wire cutter is indispensable.

Using a wire cutter is like using a pair of scissors. The only difference is that you usually cut different types of material. When cutting metal wires you should always wear safety glasses. Often, when I cut wires, the part I cut off flies right into my safety glasses.