## Common ground
All options describe non-electric, hand-operated tools used for cutting vegetables and fruits.
## Options at a glance
**8205.51 – Hand tools of base metal**
- **Defining trait:** Made of base metal (e.g., steel, iron) and designed primarily as handheld cutting tools without mechanical assistance.
- **Typical examples:** Handheld vegetable peelers, small knives, manual slicers with no moving parts.
- **Best fit when:** The tool is simple, manually operated, and lacks a mechanical mechanism (e.g., no gears or springs).
**8210.00 – Mechanical appliances under 10 kg**
- **Defining trait:** Uses mechanical action (e.g., gears, levers, springs) to assist cutting, even if hand-powered. Weight must be ≤10 kg.
- **Typical examples:** Manual juicers with screw mechanisms, rotary vegetable slicers, hand-cranked choppers.
- **Best fit when:** The tool has moving parts that amplify or automate the cutting motion via mechanical advantage.
**8214.90 – Other cutlery (non-standard shape, two-handed use)**
- **Defining trait:** Designed as a specialized kitchen tool with an unusual shape (not a standard knife), often used with one or both hands.
- **Typical examples:** Cleavers, meat mallets, kitchen choppers with a large blade and handle, garlic presses.
- **Best fit when:** The tool resembles a cleaver or chopper in form and function, not a typical knife.
## Key differences
| Feature | 8205.51 (Hand tools) | 8210.00 (Mechanical appliances) | 8214.90 (Specialized cutlery) |
|-----------------------|----------------------|----------------------------------|-------------------------------|
| Mechanism | Manual, no moving parts | Mechanical (gears, levers) | Handheld, non-standard shape |
| Weight limit | No limit | ≤10 kg | No limit |
| Shape | Standard or simple | Variable | Unusual (e.g., cleaver-like) |
## How to choose
- Does it have moving parts that assist cutting (e.g., gears, springs)? → 8210.00
- Is it shaped like a cleaver, chopper, or garlic press? → 8214.90
- Is it a simple handheld tool with no mechanical action? → 8205.51
## Overlaps & pitfalls
- A hand-cranked slicer (mechanical) may also be considered "cutlery" if shaped like a cleaver — prioritize **mechanism** over shape.
- A large, two-handed chopper could fit both 8210.00 and 8214.90; use **mechanism** as the deciding factor: mechanical → 8210.00, non-mechanical but shaped unusually → 8214.90.
- If unclear, base classification on the product’s **main function**: cutting via mechanism vs. manual hand use vs. specialized form