Dikes are diagonal cutters: pliers whose cutting edges sit at an angle to the handles and run right out to the tip, so they can trim wire or a cable tie flush against a surface. Electricians use them on control wiring, cable jackets, zip tie tails and small conductors, and save heavy cuts for lineman's pliers or cable cutters. The name is a clipped form of diagonals.
Heard on the job
Use the dikes on those zip ties and cut them flush, not the Kleins.
Also heard as
- dykes
- diagonals
- diagonal cutters
- diags