## Common ground
All options describe non-electric, handheld tools used for cutting or peeling, typically made of metal and intended for manual operation.
## Options at a glance
**8205.51 – Non-electric hand tools of base metal**
- **Defining trait:** Made of base metal (e.g., steel, iron) and designed primarily as general-purpose hand tools (like wrenches or screwdrivers).
- **Typical examples:** Screwdrivers, pliers, hammers.
- **Best fit when:** The peeler is a simple, basic tool made of base metal with no specialized cutting edge or ergonomic design for food prep.
**8210.00 – Non-electric mechanical appliances weighing 10 kg or less**
- **Defining trait:** A mechanical device (not a hand tool) that performs a function via motion or mechanism, even if handheld and under 10 kg.
- **Typical examples:** Manual meat grinders, hand-cranked juicers.
- **Best fit when:** The peeler has moving parts (e.g., rotating blade or screw mechanism) and functions more like a small appliance than a simple tool.
**8214.90 – Other articles of cutlery**
- **Defining trait:** Designed specifically for food preparation with a cutting edge, often shaped like knives but not standard in form (e.g., cleavers, choppers).
- **Typical examples:** Kitchen choppers, mincing knives, vegetable slicers.
- **Best fit when:** The peeler is clearly intended for kitchen use and resembles a knife or cutting tool with a blade, even if non-standard.
## Key differences
| Feature | 8205.51 | 8210.00 | 8214.90 |
|-----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------------|----------------------------|
| Material | Base metal (e.g., steel) | Any material, but mechanical | Typically cutlery-grade steel |
| Function | General tool use | Mechanical action | Food cutting |
| Design | Simple, non-specialized | Mechanized (moving parts) | Knife-like, ergonomic |
| Weight | Not specified | ≤10 kg | Usually light |
## How to choose
- Is it a simple metal tool without moving parts or food-specific design? → 8205.51
- Does it have a mechanism (e.g., rotating blade, crank)? → 8210.00
- Is it shaped like a knife and used for cutting food? → 8214.90
## Overlaps & pitfalls
A peeler with a rotating blade might fit both 8210.00 and 8214.90. If the product is primarily a kitchen tool, 8214.90 takes priority. If it’s a mechanical device (e.g., hand-cranked), 8210.00 may be better. The defining trait should be the **main function**: food cutting vs. mechanical action vs. general tool use. No clear hierarchy is given—choose based on primary purpose