Bicycle Mechanics - Recommendations for cable/housing cutter

I am looking to buy a good cable/housing cutter. The Shimano Dura-Ace SIS housing is steel lined and a regular diagonal cutting pliers does not do a good job (it smashes/flattens the housing). I looking at the park CN-10. Anyone have any experience using this tool or have any other recomendations ? Thanks.

I have both Park and Wrench Force cutters, but I prefer to use these on housings:

http://www.superkleendirect.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=3752

Dremel moto-tool (or similar) with a cutoff wheel. 1001 uses elsewhere....

Dremel moto-tool (or similar) with a cutoff wheel. 1001 uses elsewhere....

Dremel +1

felcos. The wrench forces are actually decent copys of the felcos. The old park one sucks, never used the newer one.

The newer park ones are alright.

Felco C7 for me.

i have a new park cutter. have found that if i put an old piece of cable in the housing, then cut it helps to prevent vrushing of the housing. john

i have a new park cutter. have found that if i put an old piece of cable in the housing, then cut it helps to prevent crushing of the housing. john

dremel

Another vote for the Felco, that is, if you don't mind spending $50 for a lifetime tool. There are other brands that use the same bypass cutter design. I have one branded 'ARM' that is of Japanese manufacture. Marine supply and cable rigging suppliers are the best source. None will be cheap.

Dremel .... :)

Dremel .... :)

And Dremel.

I use my electrical bypass cable cutters. Kept sharp.

One more vote for the Dremel. I used to slip in a piece of cable while cutting but it still gets crushed and I have to reopen the housing with an awl. No such problems with a Dremel. Just wear goggles when using it as sparks will fly.

i have a new park cutter. have found that if i put an old piece of cable in the housing, then cut it helps to prevent vrushing of the housing. john

John,

How do you then get the remaining piece of cable out of the housing?

you feed the cable in from the opposite side you are cutting.

I've used the Shimano and the Pedros cutters. I like the Shimano cutter better but its a little pricey.

Edit: I guess the Pedros cutter are Felco C7's

i have a new park cutter. have found that if i put an old piece of cable in the housing, then cut it helps to prevent vrushing of the housing. john


Good tip. I have a cheapo Nashbar cutter that I use for the housing, and some regular old diagonal cutters for the cables. Both work superbly. I also highly recommend filing your housing ends. Once I started doing that, my braking and shifting became so much smoother.

i prefer Park, having used Felco, Shimano, and Pedro's. Park feels better in my hand, and perform just as well as the Felcos. the locking lever on the Felco is easier to use.

I use wire cutters (http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/5661/0/0/wire%20cutter/All_2/mode+matchallpartial/0/0)designed for sail boat rigging. Mine are made by S&F Tools. They were under $20 at the local West Marine store as I recall, but this was a few years back. If you have a good ships store close by you may give them a look.

Nothing wrong with a decent set of side cutters. They have worked for me without fail for eons. Make the cut, then use the jaws to squeeze the oval back to round. If the inner plastic is squished, use a nail to clean it up. Takes seconds.