Bicycle Mechanics - my cable cutters are crap.

I have the park model cable cutters, and I would like to report that they are crap. I think they are the CN-3 or something like that. When recently overhauling my bike, I noticed that when I cut a cable, there would be one or two loose strands of wire sticking out of the cable. I made every effort to cut them straight, but now my rear derailleur, front derailleur, and rear brake cables are frayed.

Trying to cut housing is even worse. it totally crushed the housing and sprayed little wires everywhere from the compressionless housing. I think I might have to get new cables and housing AGAIN. man, I'm going to feel like an idiot walking into the bike shop AGAIN for the second time this week.

So ladies and gents, I would just like to keep you all informed. I think this is the one tool out of many good tools that park just did a bad job on.

does anyone use cable cutters that work? My shop said that they use felcos (elco?) or something? they also said that they are 80 bucks...has anyone tried the shimano cutters? how about the pedros?

I use a cable cutter, they are for cutting aircraft cables. If you can get to a trade supply store, some place that sells industrial fasteners, you probobly can find something that will work better than the park cutters. the ones I have dont have the cute little crimpers built in, but using a pair of pliers will work if you use the blades gently or a crimp tool for soderless lugs.
Good luck.

Scoob

I been using my Park cutters for over ten years now. I don't remember the model # but I noticed it started to go bad once I started cutting cable housing. I found out that it was not meant for cutting the housing.....but cables only....

George

pedro's work nicely. felcos are great but damn expensive.

I haven't had any problems with my Park cutters. In fact, I haven't had problems with ANY of my Park tools. (Besides regular wear and tear).

The Shimano ones I've used were a bit "weak" and dulled pretty quickly.

I haven't used the Pedro's ones, but the few Pedro's tools I do have/have used have been top quality as well.

L8R

One word, Felco

The CN-3 cable cutters are several generations old, have not been made for a long time. The current model is the CN-10. See http://www.parktool.com/tools/CN_10.shtml
Previous editions were made as a stamping, ground, and then heat treaded. The CN-10 are forged, and then ground. The cutters will cut cables and housing. These act to surround the cable or wire and then by shearing it.

My experience is the exact opposite of 2psychonut's. I've experienced several sets of Park cable cutters (don't know the model number but they're about a $20.00 version) that left one uncut strand and I've had very good luck with several different sets of Shimanos.

I suppose I'll get excommunicated from the Church of Park for saying this, but I also prefer the Shimano cassette lock ring tool and the Shimano cartridge bottom bracket tool.

I've always used a hacksaw & vise for my housings. A couple of passes with a file and neat 'n' tidy.

For cabling, I've always cut before installation. Find a pair of linesman pliers/cutter and a big rubber mallet give me a nice clean cut. Stick the wire in, rest the nose of the pliers on the work bench and give it a good solid whack.

But I'm a cheap bastard.......cut my own cone wrenchs using a waterjet. Nothing like using a million dollar machine to avoid a $10 expense.

Park cutters are, ahem, not the sharpest tool in the box. Invest in a pair of Felco C-7's and they'll last you for years, and can be sharpened should they ever go dull. Try www.felcostore.com for prices/description.

I've used my fishing cable cutters with good success. Use cable cutters on cable only! Use diagonal cutters (dikes) on the housing. LINK (http://www.1stopfishingshop.com/SevenstrandGTool.html)
You can find the G-Tool at any good fishing tackleshop (Turner's in So Cal).

Get Felcos if you can afford them. Otherwise i think Pedros are good.

I have used Vice-Grips for years with out much trouble cutting cable.
Housing always gets mangled for me but I cut it a little long and use a shop grinder to square up the end anyway, the reward is much firmer brakes.

Anybody use a dremel cutting wheel for cutting their housing?

well...I tried that the last time I changed cables, before I got the ****ty park cutters. the problem is that the cable makes it so that you have to cut it at an angle, becuase the body of the dremel is where the cable should be? are you visualizing this? maybe when I change cables again, I will use the park cutters, and cut the cable about an inch too long and then use the dremel. good idea, rural roadie and bobsled.

Anybody use a dremel cutting wheel for cutting their housing?

Well I thought I was the only one; Dremel does an excellent job on my
cable housing cuts.

Thats my two cents worth. :)

I've used my fishing cable cutters with good success. Use cable cutters on cable only! Use diagonal cutters (dikes) on the housing. LINK (http://www.1stopfishingshop.com/SevenstrandGTool.html)
You can find the G-Tool at any good fishing tackleshop (Turner's in So Cal).

Those G-strand look a lot like the Shimano Cycling cutters, but Shimano Fishing doesn't have a similar cutter! Good price though, it's whether they stay sharp that's the real test.

I've started using my Dremel with a cut-off wheel for cutting housing and am happy with the results. Regular cutters don't seem to do much except crush modern STI/Ergo housing but the Dremel cuts clean and fast. I think Sheldon Brown's website is where I got this idea from.

I think my current snips are Pedro's and they work fine but they never touch housing.

OTOH, my one experiment with cutting cable with a Dremel was unsatistactory (frayed ends).

"Modern" bikes increase the need for tools it seems ( a bit of retro-grouching here).

I cut a housing for the first time the other night with my Park cutters...squished the end and left a hanging metal thread. I had to use a small screwdriver to ry open the housing to pass the cable through.

My brother has Shimano and they work very well.

PJ

Anybody use a dremel cutting wheel for cutting their housing?

Yep I have a dremel to cut housing and a bench grinder that use to square off the ends. I do have a Park cutter, but I just use it for the cables.

I have a Shimano cutter that does just fine on cables and housing.

My cheap Lifu ones do an okay job, but I doubt they'll stay sharp enough for long.

After putting up with old Park cutters for years, this thread fired me up to order some criminally expensive Felco cutters. They arrived tonight and I'm sorry to report that they absolutely MANGLE brake cable housing. Twenty attempts and twenty mashed housings. For sale cheap. I'm getting Shimano.