Bicycle Mechanics - Cutting Cable Housing.... (rookie question)

Does anyone have any advice or tips on cutting cable housing? Everytime I cut the housing (using Park Cable cutting tool) I seem to smash the housing on the end that I cut... not allowing the cable to slide through very well.

It seems to me I am missing something or doing something wrong...?

Suggestions would be appreciated as I am going to trimming on cables housing tonight.

Thanks.

Cable cutters, Park's and every one else's, work very well on cable wires and on shift cable housing. They work less well on brake cable housing. For that, I use regular side cutter pliers, being careful to work the jaws between adjacent coils, then file the cut end flat and square. I also file the cut end of shift cable housing to smooth it up but this is less of an issue.

In all cases, both shift and brake housing, you will probably have to ream out the cut ends to round them up again. I use a large needle or a small nail for this.

To cut housing the only way to go is to use a Dremel tool. Fast, easy and clean.

Yup, you gotta either dremel it or file it when you're done. Easiest way to file it is to get a rat tail file (6" mill file if you have to buy one, should be $5), put it on a flat surface with the tail pointing away from you, and then file by holding the housing and pushing it away from you down the file.

I use housing cutters but brake housing especially still gets mangled. I find myself trimming sharp edges with a hefty wire cutter, and use a cutoff spoke that I have sharpened to a point for reaming out ends of housings (both brake and shifter).

Thanks for all the suggestions! This will definetly make this process easier for me this time.

Use the dremal cut off wheel to cut, then use a small, pointed grinding stone to radius the ID. Omit the latter step for SIS shifter housing.
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Couldn't you just stuff something in the housing before cutting?

It HELPS, but is not a cure-all, to put a piece of brake cable in the housing before cutting. It gives the housing some support and reduces some of the mashing that takes place. You'll still need to clean it up, though with a file or some trimming.

It HELPS, but is not a cure-all, to put a piece of brake cable in the housing before cutting. It gives the housing some support and reduces some of the mashing that takes place. You'll still need to clean it up, though with a file or some trimming.

+1. That's how I do it.

Bob

Couldn't you just stuff something in the housing before cutting?

My god I'm an idiot. After countless cable housings, I have never thought of just sticking an old bit of cable in to keep the shape. It's so obvious!!!
I'm putting the stabilisers back on my bike.