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The official how to cut cables and housing without a cable cutter thread

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The official how to cut cables and housing without a cable cutter thread

Old 12-11-07, 02:12 AM
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The official how to cut cables and housing without a cable cutter thread

You don't need to buy special tools. Take a pair of lineman's pliers, or any other wire cutters, I would assume, and place them on the ground with the levers perpendicular to the floor. Place your cable/housing, not both at the same time, inside the cutting surfaces. Give a purposeful whack with a deadblow hammer or a rubber mallet. A clean cut every single time. No filing or other work needed. You are good to go.
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Old 12-11-07, 02:23 AM
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I just squeeze real hard. Man up?

Sometimes it works better (with regular cutters) to work my way across the cable/housing rather than try to cut it all the way across at once.
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Old 12-11-07, 02:25 AM
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if you have a dremel with a cutting wheel (but somehow no wire cutters) that works great.
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Old 12-11-07, 02:37 AM
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Who has brake cables?
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Old 12-11-07, 02:48 AM
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There are special tools for cutting cables housing?
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Old 12-11-07, 07:19 AM
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Originally Posted by evictionsurplus
You don't need to buy special tools. Take a pair of lineman's pliers, or any other wire cutters, I would assume, and place them on the ground with the levers perpendicular to the floor. Place your cable/housing, not both at the same time, inside the cutting surfaces. Give a purposeful whack with a deadblow hammer or a rubber mallet. A clean cut every single time. No filing or other work needed. You are good to go.
I'm gonna have to try this. I always use electrical wire cutters by hand, and I always mangle the cables. And $40 seems kinda expensive for something I use like, once a year. Thanks for the tip!
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Old 12-11-07, 10:19 AM
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bolt cutters.
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Old 12-11-07, 10:22 AM
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Lump hammer + anvil + cold chisel.

Not a set of tools to take with you on the road mind you.
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Old 12-11-07, 10:28 AM
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I used a combination of wire cutters and kitchen shears. I then filed with a regular ******* file (I bet it won't even let me say ******* file, but that's what it's called) and opened the end with a nail. It worked out great.
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Old 12-11-07, 10:36 AM
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Originally Posted by Mos6502
There are special tools for cutting cables housing?
$13, love 'em. https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=4202
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Old 12-11-07, 11:31 AM
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Originally Posted by goodall
Nice!

I do it with linesman pliers, but I put an old cable inner in the housing to keep it from getting smashed and mangled. Then I carefully work my way around the housing, making nice clean cuts till it's all done. Most of the time they turn out great, sometimes I have to do it again or clean it up with a file.
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Old 12-11-07, 11:38 AM
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Note: Regularly cutting cables and housing in the way that the original poster described may result in additional wear and tear on your wire cutters.

Personally, I finally caved and bought some cable cutters. They make nice, clean cuts on cables without needing dremel bits, mallets, or hack saws. As an added bonus they are pretty good at cutting housing, with only a little of work sometimes needed to clean up the housing ends.
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Old 12-11-07, 02:48 PM
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Originally Posted by deathhare
Who has brake cables?
Deathhare, you are fast becoming my favorite devil's advocate.
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Old 12-11-07, 02:57 PM
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i typically just cut housing with normal wire cutters and then re-open the end with an awl. works really well.
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Old 12-11-07, 06:53 PM
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Originally Posted by iamarapgod
Deathhare, you are fast becoming my favorite devil's advocate.
woot!
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Old 12-11-07, 07:07 PM
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Bench vice + side cutters. easy
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Old 12-11-07, 07:19 PM
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reciprocating saw. easy.
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Old 12-11-07, 07:21 PM
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The small shearing edge on the bottom of my multi-tool's needlenose works great.
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Old 12-11-07, 07:39 PM
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+1 dremel. incredibly clean cut
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Old 12-12-07, 05:49 AM
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I just bite it in twain with my teeth, then file it smooth on my beard stubble.
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Old 12-12-07, 07:27 AM
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Hahahaha twain.


I just use dikes (diagonal cutters).

I use them to cut all kinds of metal stuff all day at work, so why should this be any different?
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