Bicycle Mechanics - What kind of wire cutters for brake cables?

Upon attempting to replace my rear brake cable, I realized that I have no decent pair of wire cutters. I have some things that kind of look like tin snips, and I have the little sharp inner part on the inside of a pair of needle-nose pliers. Both things succeeded only at mashing the cable around and making it even harder to work with. SOOOOOOOOO........

I'm stoppin' by Home Depot after work tomorrow, what should I get??

You need cable cutters - wire cutters will mash the cable like you found out.

Cable cutters have a "V" notch that cradles the cable.

channellock 338. use wire rope cutters(felco c7 or similar) for derailer housing

Here's a way to simulate what cable cutters look and work like. Make 2 "L"s with the thumbs and forefingers of each hand. Now pass one over the other to form a diamond which shrinks to zero as they pass.

That's what makes a cable cutter. The shrinking diamond shape as the jaws pass each other trap the multi-strand wire holding it together until it's cut by the shearing action. This is different than a solid wire cutter which would tend to crush the wire before cutting it, most likely causing some fraying.

You can spend anywhere from $15 to $65.00 or more for quality cable cutters. For recreational users probably the best value is the JagWire or Shimano cutters which are really the same under different brands.

BTW- cheap self promotion warning. I still have a few JagWire cable cutters in stock. Cost would be $16.75 including postage delivered within the USA if anybody is interested.

A pair of Linesman Pliers will give you a good clean cut.
Good for cutting both cables and housings.
$10 - $15 for something of half decent quality.

237180

If having the finest tool is important to you, Felco cutters (mentioned above) are the best there are. I've never regretted buying mine.

A pair of Linesman Pliers will give you a good clean cut. Good for cutting both cables and housings. $10 - $15 for something of half decent quality.]
I agree these are fine for cutting spiral wound brake housing if you are careful to work the jaws between two adjacent coils. Plan on filing the ends flat and smooth after making the cut. I disagree they are good at cutting either derailleur housing or any inner wire. For those, a real cable cutter does a much better job.

If you are planning to do your own work most of the time these are a great investment. Their are a lot of places to get them so this may not be the cheapest deal.

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/product-accessories/2012-Park-Tool-CN-10-Professional-Cable-Cutter-887.51.1.html?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Google%2BBase&utm_campaign=Datafeed

Here's the same Park Tool CN-10 at a lower cost:

http://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cgi?id=792628311353&d=single&c=Tools&sc=Cable-and-Housing&tc=Cutters&item_id=PA-CN10
http://www.amazon.com/Park-Tool-Professional-Housing-Cutter/dp/B000OZBINY/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1329097255&sr=8-5

Both Bike Tools Etc and Amazon also sell the Felco cable cutter, generally agreed to be the finest made but at a comensurate price:

http://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cgi?id=792628311353&d=single&c=Tools&sc=Cable-and-Housing&tc=Cutters&item_id=FE-C7
http://www.amazon.com/Felco-C7-wire-cutter-ea/dp/B0006229UQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1329097335&sr=8-2

I've been using an older version Park (CN-4) for 20 years with great satisfaction but I only work on a few bikes. If you need a cutter for daily shop use, the Felco is well worth the premium price.

I like Pedro's cable cutter.

If you're using less expensive galvanized cables you can solder them first and then cut through the solder with any side cutter.

Besides the JagWire I also have a few Park and Pedros cable cutters to clear out. Either are $27.50 inc. postage in the US.

I have always used a Dremel tool with a cutting wheel.

channellock 338. use wire rope cutters(felco c7 or similar) for derailer housing

Another vote for the Channellocks, that's my usual cable-cutting tool too.

High leverage diagonal wire cutters will work. Not the 6" long variety, they'll crush down on the cable and ruin it. 8-9" long Channellocks is what I have and snaps cable and housing cleanly.
Klein, Channellock, high leverage cable cutters also are good, with curved blades for a clean cut.
A small wire rope cutter is about the same price, and made for the job. Some for $20 instead of top of the line for $60.

channellock 338. use wire rope cutters(felco c7 or similar) for derailer housing

Hey thanks for the idea/link! while I agre the OP should get bike related cutters, I am looking for something to cut seals at work and you link lead me to the Channellock websitea nd I found these. they should be prefect for cutting most heavy wire/cable type trailer seals

http://www.channellock.com/data/default/images/catalog/original/911_lg.jpg (javascript:self.close())

I use a pair of mini bolt cutters from ace hardware that I had laying around.
http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3549595&kw=bolt+cutters&origkw=bolt+cutters&searchId=60283147633

They were $5 in a clearence bin, work great so far!

Before I had shop access, I used a pair of middle quality side/**** cutters. Never had an issue. I'd pick up a new pair every couple years. The only adjustment to my style I needed was when cutting housing I had to make sure I had a sacrificial piece of cable in there to keep things round.

Lol, swear filter. "dike" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diagonal_pliers) Huh, didn't know it was "semi" derogatory. Guess that's what I get learning tool vocabulary in a auto repair shop.

Knipex....
http://www.knipex.com/fileadmin/site/knipex/scripts/mediando/images/KNIPEX/Produktfotos/web/zoom/95611904k.jpg

...link lead me to the Channellock websitea nd I found these. they should be prefect for cutting most heavy wire/cable type trailer seals

http://www.channellock.com/data/default/images/catalog/original/911_lg.jpg (http://javascript<b></b>:self.close())
FYI, these type of cutters are best suited for soft metals like aluminum and copper, plus they are very good on nylon and rubber tubing. Their cutting edge is too thin for cutting steel wire without causing damage to the jaw blades.

Felco C-7 is my recommendation to the OP.

After much back and forth and not wanting to buy the Park Tool / Pedros ones, I determined that wire cutters do not work, bolt cutters do not work, dikes do not work, but a Dremel with a diamond wheel works perfectly.

Knipex....
http://www.knipex.com/fileadmin/site/knipex/scripts/mediando/images/KNIPEX/Produktfotos/web/zoom/95611904k.jpg

i have these, awesome

Another vote for Felcos.

I have always used a Dremel tool with a cutting wheel.

THIS.

A Dremel works great for cutting housing too.

THIS.

A Dremel works great for cutting housing too.
A Dremel has to be used slowly and the housing kept cool or the cutting heat will damage the plastic outer coating. That plus the simplicity and speed of a decent cable cutter make the Dremel overkill. Even if you have to file the cut housing end flat, the Dremel still takes longer. I tried the Dremel a couple of times and decided it wasn't worth the hassle.

FYI, these type of cutters are best suited for soft metals like aluminum and copper, plus they are very good on nylon and rubber tubing. Their cutting edge is too thin for cutting steel wire without causing damage to the jaw blades.

Felco C-7 is my recommendation to the OP.

Absolutely. I broke a chunk out of a tool like that trying to cut a brake cable.

237465These tin snipes are readily available at most hardware stores and work very good at making a clean cut on Bicycle cables. Find them anywhere between $5-$15

Never had any trouble using the park tool cable cutters
http://www.parktool.com/product/professional-cable-and-housing-cutter-cn-10

It works every time. Plus it has a nice crimper for your end caps as well.

237465These tin snipes are readily available at most hardware stores and work very good at making a clean cut on Bicycle cables. Find them anywhere between $5-$15

True, but they're tin snips. Mine are Wiss. I like them for cuttings housings. I use them for cables when I can't find my cable cutters.

A Dremel has to be used slowly and the housing kept cool or the cutting heat will damage the plastic outer coating. That plus the simplicity and speed of a decent cable cutter make the Dremel overkill. Even if you have to file the cut housing end flat, the Dremel still takes longer. I tried the Dremel a couple of times and decided it wasn't worth the hassle.

Sure, if you're cutting housing every day I can see the need for a dedicated tool.

I cut housing twice a year at most. I already have a Dremel. I don't want (or need) to buy yet another set of specialized cutters dedicated to one task.

I think I spent all of 2 minutes making a half-dozen cuts with my Dremel, and there were no issues with heating up or damaging the outer casing either.

Call me cheap, but this works great for me and I don't need to waste space or money on a tool that gets used two times a year.

I never bothered with try alternative solutions and just grabbed Park CN-10.

I have never noticed the outside cable housing get damaged by using a Dremel, however I usually need to kind of rout out the end with a large nail because the inner coating seems to melt a bit.

I agree these are fine for cutting spiral wound brake housing if you are careful to work the jaws between two adjacent coils. Plan on filing the ends flat and smooth after making the cut. I disagree they are good at cutting either derailleur housing or any inner wire. For those, a real cable cutter does a much better job.

+1 While on some tools, you can use various generic tools to get by, a cable cutter is not one of them. If you are on a strict budget, a Spin Doctor/Nashbar cutter works pretty good (and they often are on sale). If you are able to spend more, then the Shimano cutter is great (I have a TL CT10, has been replaced by a TL CT11).

True, but they're tin snips. Mine are Wiss. I like them for cuttings housings. I use them for cables when I can't find my cable cutters.
Mine as Wiss also. Make a clean cut on cables and housings. Housings need to be checked though , it pinches a bit.

Why do some have issues with the cable cutters for brake cable? Is is due to the diameter of the housing or what? It sounds like most wire rope cutters work great on the cable and shift cable, but not so much on brake cable.


Tom