Cable cutters,suggestions please

[pioneer]

Morning all, as above. Been meaning for ages to get some decent cable cutters and after a recent faff with a cable, had better get some. The heavy duty pliers that I've had for years have at last lost their edge. Any recommendations for quality/ease of use,value please?

[fausto99]

I think you'd have to do a lot of research to find anything to beat Park tools. I'd unreservedly recommend the Park CN-10 http://www.parktool.com/product/profess ... tter-cn-10 .

[Sweep]

I have the Park Tools one.

Not used it a great deal but it is very good.

Expensive though - can't help thinking that other cheaper ones may be effectively as good, but maybe others could point to them ....

[pioneer]

Thank you, that's just the sort of thing.

[profpointy]

I'd be inclined to buy one from a proper tool maker rather than Park tools. Park may be fair enough for bike specific tools, but cutters are mainstream. Look for "piano wire cutters". Best are Lindstrom - but I don't think they still do heavy duty cutters - which is annoying as I lost mine. Facom or Gedore also probably pretty good. Do not buy anything by Draper ever.

[Indeboat]

After trying without success to cut one of the more modern outer cables with all sorts of pliers /side cutters ,the outer ended up squashed and distorted.
The best tool for the job IMO is a small angle grinder( available cheaply from local cheap DIY) fitted with a 1mm slitting disc.( also useful for many other tasks).
Cuts cleanly through any cable inner or outer,no distorted/squashed outer.
Being and engineer for many years, i use to have hydraulic hoses made locally and they use to cut the stainless steel reinforced rubber hoses with a similar bench mounted tool.

[reohn2]

I think you'd have to do a lot of research to find anything to beat Park tools. I'd unreservedly recommend the Park CN-10 http://www.parktool.com/product/profess ... tter-cn-10 .

+1,whilst I've not used mine extensively,they appear to be good quality kit IMHO .

Do not buy anything by Draper ever.

Whilst I'd agree Draper aren't synonymous with quality, I have a small pair of Draper side cutters that I bought for trimming guitar strings back.
I've cut hundreds of brake and gear cable inners with them and they're still cutting as good as the day I bought them,careful inspection of the cutting edge reveals they aren't in anyway worn .

[LollyKat]

I have some piano wire cutters and while they are great for cables, they are not so good for the outers - these need a bit of cleaning up afterwards.

[Mick F]

Whilst I'd agree Draper aren't synonymous with quality ..........

Am I not right is saying that Draper were a very good back in the 1960s?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draper_Tools

[pioneer]

Well I've done a bit of research now, and the Park cutters get the best reviews so far.

[Mick F]

I bought a pair of Lifeline cutters, a bit cheaper than Park, but work very well.

When I use them, I wonder how I ever managed before!

[Benethi]

I have the lifeline ones (I don't think they're available any more) and I've found it pretty much impossible to cut outers without crushing the ends, and have been considering buying the Park Tools ones to replace them. But I've put off doing so due to the very strong possibility of it being a case of poor workman blames his tools.

[Mick F]

Agree that they crush the outers, but you can mitigate that by inserting a cut inner inside and cutting though both of them at once.

[Benethi]

I tried that...still couldn't get anything but a very messy cut

[Mick F]

Someone suggested using a Dremel for neat outers, and for cutting inners too.
Dunno personally, I've never owned one.