Cable Cutters

doubleforwards

Hey there.

I'm fitting a new brake cable (V-Brake) but can't bring myself to spend 20 notes on cutters. Last time I used a junior hacksaw with limited success. Is there a cheaper alternative a can mybe purchase from B&Q or the like that will cut the cable cleanly?

Thanks

DF

Chunkers1980

In short not really!

Good B&Q wire cutters are at least 15 notes, but more versitile than bike specific ones.

Mad_Malx

Heat the cable in a flame for a few seconds before cutting. Even with cheap pliers the cut is much better.

cooldad

£5 on Ebay or Halfords.

Northwind

A cutting disc in a grinder or dremel works. Heating also works.

But, good cutters don't have to be expensive, my best set were about £3 on Ebay. Way better than my Park ones- the Parks are good at outers but not that good at inners.

coursemyhorse

I need some too, let's have some links please people?

cooldad

coursemyhorse wrote:

I need some too, let's have some links please people?

You may have heard of those miracles of the interwebs called Google and Ebay. Try it.

supersonic

http://www.wittons.co.uk/product_info.p ... B003ZXOU46

coursemyhorse

Reason I asked is I thought bike cable cutters might have had to be special type or something. From the link above they look to be basic cable cutters which I already have at home. So all that they need to do is be able to cut through a thick cable efficiently and neatly?

delcol

So all that they need to do is be able to cut through a thick cable efficiently and neatly?

they are called CABLE CUTTERS for a reason :P

could it be because people use them to put their pedals on,, or is it to cut the excess cable.. :roll:

sorry had to beat cooldad with that cheecky one.. :P

cooldad

Just giving you the juvenile pleasure of playing with your smileys.

delcol

thanks obi-wan..

you have taught me well.

supersonic

Depends on the type of cable cutters - bike cutters scissor around the cable progressively and do not crush the metal inner.

andyrm

Search ebay for 'wire rope cutters' - a bike cable is just a thin wire rope. Most cutters, even the cheap ones, will cut at least 5mm rope so are perfect. They have the correct 'parrot nose' to prevent deforming the cable. Got mine 3 years ago and they are at least as good as any bike branded version. But as usual, that's because it is easy to rebrand an existing product as 'special for cyclists' and quadruple the price.....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/Pages/SearchResul ... er&emvcc=0

Northwind

These are the exact ones I use:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190MM-WIRE-RO ... 2a142e6903

If you want to spend more, you can buy the exact same cutters branded as Draper Expert for £15