cutting cables

[crasher]

Can I just cut XTR shift cable outers with a good set of sidecutters

Also any tips would be appreciated as its first time I am cutting cables I have a small file etc to clean them up looks pretty straightforward but better for me to check now before I bugger them up.

 

 

[deanbean]

I use sidecutters, cut cleanly with max force, then I use a sharpened spoke to make sure that the hole is clean.

Good luck.

 

[Johan Bornman]

Yup, you can do if you are strong enough. Of all the four "cable types (brand and gear innner and brake and gear housing), the gear housing is the most difficult to cut with sidecutters. It's a hard squeeze.

 

Dont pop a vein.

 

 

[kosmonooit]

Dedicated cable cutters are the business for cutting cables I have found: they have strong and sharp cutting edges with good leverage: effortless and clean cuts so you might want to invest in one at some stage.?

[HeartCoppi]

I've found that aviation tin snips make life real easy when cutting through the reinforcements of cable outers.

[jugheaddave]

my park tool cable cutters are one of the best tools in my box, worth EVERY cent!!

[DownhillingKing]

Jup park tool cutters are the best

[Schwynn]

I use a Dremmel tool. Nice clean cut, no frayed cables.Schwynn2010-02-14 03:28:34

[Minion]

 

my park tool cable cutters are one of the best tools in my box' date=' worth EVERY cent!!

[/quote']

Interestingly, my Park cable cutters are probably the worst tool in my toolbox. I've cut about six cables and housings and they can no longer make a clean cut.

 

[droo]

Cable cutters FTW. You'll pull a poepstring cutting gear outers with sidecutters.

[Procrates]

 

 

 

 

Heat the spot that you want to cut with a lighter just before you cut, take the sidecutters, press hard, and wiggle the side you want to break off.

[kosmonooit]

jeez watch out for melting plastic with above method lol ?

Another ?comment on using side cutters to cut steel gear and brake cables: they are really designed to cut copper not tough steel cable (Which is often stainless and hard) so you stand a good chance of messing them up: if you look at cable cuttes like Park and others they have quite dik and flat cutting faces c.f side cutters which are more knife-edged, thats for a reason.

Outers are less tough, more mild steel so will genter on your side cutters, you can also use the cutters in large pair of flat pliers. Then squish it bit on the elongted edge to ?un-flatten the cut, even round the inside with a small star screwdriver, and clean flat with a file if its not a nice cut.?

[Tumbleweed]

my park tool cable cutters are one of the best tools in my box' date=' worth EVERY cent!! [/quote']
Interestingly, my Park cable cutters are probably the worst tool in my toolbox. I've cut about six cables and housings and they can no longer make a clean cut.

 

where's bornman now? one of the guys at the lbs only uses the pedro, another will only use the park tool. i've noticed no difference, and just reach for the nearest one.

[AndreZA]

I use my trusty PRO one. It cost me about R90 a few years ago and I got my monies worth out of it.

[Guest Big H]

Any cable cutter will do. Like any tool it need maintenance, especially a tool that exerts a lot of effort to cut steel. My no name brand cutters that I bought at Builders Warehouse is dressed every now and then with a porcelain stone (Lansky Tool Sharpening Extra fine Stone) to ensure they stay sharp. Any appy or pro whrench that assumes these tools will stay sharp forever is not so sharp in the cranium department!!!!!!!

 

I also use the lighter with the sidecutter trick. It works well ON CABLES not on the brake sleeves.

 

My Dremel cuts the cables and the sleeves the best. Cleanly without any burrs. Also use a sharpened spoke as a awl to open up the hole in the sleeve. I have also use a angle grinder with a cutting blade. Just becarefull!!!!! and wear protective glasses.

[kosmonooit]

Those thin steel cutting blades you get for angle grinders now are very useful, that also struck me as an option and will make a nice clean cut. But bit more of a hassle getting that all out and since I do my bike mainteance in my living room its not such a good idea, mess and pong-wise. Also would be a plan to clamp cable or outer in a vice firmly before cutting and yes, always wear some sort of safety glasses.