I am putting up a length of 1/8″ wire rope (also called aircraft wire?) for a climbing plant. I have determined the correct length and need to cut the excessive off. I know ordinary wire cutters will not do the job cleanly. The big box stores use a rachet type of cutter. What are my options?
Thanks,
Richard
Replies
Do you have a 4" grinder?
One of the thin, cut-off wheels (marked for metal) will do the job.
Wrap the cable with electrical tape and cut through the taped area.
Takes longer to type than to cut.
Jim
Thanks to all who have responded. I will use my 4" angle grinder with its diamond blade to 'zing' thru the taped wire cable.
BTW - I do have a Big Funkin Hammer, too.
No GO on the diamond, you'll ruin it. Diamond is for cementy stuff.
Use an abrasive disc meant for ferrous metal.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"If Brains was lard, you couldn't grease much of a pan"Jed Clampitt
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Thanks for the clarification...
I use a bolt cutter for that stuff. Works pretty well.
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
Everything fits, until you put glue on it.
I don't know what wire rope is, but an 1/8" of steel should be pretty easy to cut with a hack saw.
If it's cable, then a hack saw would leave a very rough edge and a right-angle grinder would work better.
You need 4 things.
Trailer ball or stepbumper
Cold chisel
BFH
and
Whack
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"If Brains was lard, you couldn't grease much of a pan"
Jed Clampitt
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Sounds like a plan.
Da ya' think he has a BFH? or knows what it is? :=)
Jim
Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
They make a hand tool specific to the job. This brand is the one I have. It is kind of pricey but other brands are a little cheaper. They can usually be found in Home improvement stores.
http://www.amazon.com/Knipex-9561190-2-Inch-Wire-Cutters/dp/B000X4KPSA/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1251805918&sr=1-4
Webby
Edited 9/1/2009 7:54 am ET by webby
grinder and tape will leave the best looking edge.
yeah, those are the best.
I use these to cut chain, cable and staples in demo work. They say they will cut piano wire so they should be good for just about anything you can get between the jaws.
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We used a lot of 5/16 cable where I worked in construction. Tools of "choice" were #1, bolt cutters with the cable tpped up, #2, a "Quickie-saw" or a cut-off saw with a ferrus blade on board, and in a "pinch", my Channel-lock pliers I used to cut wire-ties for rebar work. " Although I have the right to remain stupid, I try not to abuse that right"
I think so, when they are sharp they leave a nice edge. After all its what they are made for.Webby
Unless I'm putting a poured zinc thimble on a cable (where you need to spay out the ends) I always use a welder to cut wire rope as it leaves a nice finished end.
For 1/8", an old hatchet on a piece of hardwood works ok too - very energetic single swing.
Only 1/8"? An ordinary pair of diagonal cutters or linesmans pliers will do the job quite well.
Edited 9/1/2009 11:47 am ET by renosteinke
An ordinary pair of diagonal cutters or linesmans pliers will do the job quite well
You use yur dikes or lineman pliers once to often like that and the cable will do a job on the cutters quite well also <G>
(dont ask how i know <G>)
the Klien D2000-9NE's seem to take the abuse no problemo and come back for more...
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Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
Ahh .... I forgot .... there are crappy cutters out there that will be damaged cutting steel. Some of them are even made by Klein.
Modify my comment to read: Use the Klein 2000 series, Klein Journeyman series, the latest versions made by Channellock, or Greenlee, and you should have no trouble cutting the cable"
Otherwise, specialty cutters are made by Knipex, Porter, and a few others.
There is a special scissor-type cutter that is designed for cutting multi-stranded steel wire. Anything else will mangle the end.
If this is one-off my suggestion is to go back to the store and use their cutter. Otherwise, you can do an OK job using a pair of diagonal cutters, carefully cutting one strand at a time. If you try to cut the whole cable at once with "dikes" you'll mangle it.
That was what I was thinking. Take it to the box store or a good local hardware store and have them cut it for you. Might be a small fee but I doubt it. Quick and easy.
for 3/8 to 1-1/2 and above use electrical tape and a guillotine cable cutter 5/16 and below the ferros metal wheel on a grinder with taped ends. also DO NOT let used cable of any size, slide though gloved or ungloved hands unless you want to know what a shish- cabob feels like.
Like DanH said, there are cable cutters made for this:
http://cableorganizer.com/klein-tools/cable-cutters/cable-cutter-coaxial.htm
BTW - If you wire with romex, these things cut through it with very little effort - MUCH easier than linesman's pliers.
1st thing I would reach for is a Dremel with a carbide cut off wheel.
Hmm, where is my Dremel?
I'll stay closed minded <G>
- dont care what anybody says, I'll continue to use 6011 rod for cutting cable, abrasive chop saw for zinc cast eyes.
>>>"I'll stay closed minded <G>- dont care what anybody says, I'll continue to use 6011 rod for cutting cable, abrasive chop saw for zinc cast eyes. "<<<I've used my welder to cut alot of stuff, crank up the heat and got to it!But another option for me would be my trusty, 'Flame cutter'/'Flame Wrench'!Hey can you tell me why it's bad to weld on a summer night, after dark?I found out the first day I had my welder.
Yelm does not have all the bugs that KY has?
Kinda high powered bug zapper, huh?
Yo, Junkhound!I guess it's been way so many years since I've been out that way, that I didn't realize the diff in the bug populations!But yes the first time I tried to weld at night it was like a squadron bombarded me!!! Down me shirt, in my helmet, geeez I was covered it a second or two.It's a good survival trick tho, if you're in need of some nutrition, and the local Quickie mart is closed! Great late night snack too! :-)
Old double bit axe, buried in a stump, BFH to apply the muscle.
They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.
I dealt with this on a daily basis in poulrty houses . Most every thing is hung off cables or chains .
Dan mentioned what we kept in our tool belt but theres several styles. Theres actually a cable cutter especially for this size cable. Its a bypass cut with a hole to hold the cable in place for the cut. Reminds my of a guillitine . Always did .
A normal cut off blade on a grinder is choice with out that tool. A hammer and a whack doesnt get you where its hanging but will do if its loose to get at it .
I love grinders! Even a dremel or an air cut off tool will make simple work of it .
I would probably reach for my battery grinder that has a cut off blade on it all the time since I dont carry a pair of those cutters on the truck.
Tim
Boss-
I may be wrong, but I think the cutters you linked are not hard enough for steel or SS.
I use the cutters made by ARM (Japanese) that are supplied by Cablerail for their railing system. It has hardened bypass cutters and will do 1/4" and smaller.
They are practically identical to the Felco C7 cutters, carried by a lot of marine supply houses for rigging work:
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Those work great on bike cables and housings, too.;o)..Electric bike...
Getting there is not the goal. Enjoying getting there, is..You are always welcome at Quittintime
Exactly. I use them on my bikes mostly.View Image
I think I almost bought a pair of those, once. Just especially for bike cables.=0)..Electric bike...
Getting there is not the goal. Enjoying getting there, is..You are always welcome at Quittintime
Yeah, I've got a pair of lightweight cable shears for bike cables. Anything else will destroy the cable end so you can't get it through the little holes in the clamps.
As I stood before the gates I realized that I never want to be as certain about anything as were the people who built this place. --Rabbi Sheila Peltz, on her visit to Auschwitz
Hi, Dan-The Felco type cut housing well, too. You still have to ream out the open ends and sometimes file/grind a bitView Image
Best price I found on Felco C7 cutters is at Cambriabike:http://www.cambriabike.com/shopexd.asp?id=40932&page=FELCO%20C-7%20CABLE%20HOUSING%20CUTTERMost places sell 'em for like $70-$80.I use this search site for all lot of my bike stuff:http://www.qbike.com/
Edited 9/1/2009 10:51 pm by kenhill3
First choice should be BFH
Second choice is abrasive wheel of some kind.
I have done it with dykes and it works but is not the best,
For the reasons stated.
Listen to the experts. Sphere and others.
Larry
View ImageFelco cutter ... but they are $200-$300!
vice grips
I can't believe there are over 40 responses for this.
Go to home depot and buy a cable cutter, it is meant for cutting round cable, such as what you are looking to cut, it won't fray the ends or flatten them like dikes or linemans pliers.
Just put it in the cutter where you want it and squeeze. Done.
Also you can find them in any bicycle shop as well. Probably prices starting around $15.
I agree!
123956.6
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B000X4KPSA/sr=1-4/qid=1251805918/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=228013&s=hi&qid=1251805918&sr=1-4
Can't do with out em for cutting garage door safety cable.
Webby
Edited 9/3/2009 7:55 am ET by webby
Edited 9/3/2009 7:56 am ET by webby
Do you or a buddy have a cutting torch?
A dremel tool and cutoff wheel works for the small size you have there. Also an ordinary cold chisel reasonably sharp will cut through 3/8" with a good whack from a hammer, so you could just baby tap it and be done. The quality of cut will depend on what the chisel is cutting against and how sharp it is.
My bare hand, with one chop.
Or sometimes, I just rip it in half.
Or bite it with my teeth.
Chuck Norris
"Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words." - St. Francis of Assisi
No, I didn't vote for him; but he IS my president. I pray for the his safety, and the safety of his family every day. And I pray that he makes wise decisions.
Edited 9/3/2009 8:55 am ET by SteveInCleveland
The $15 bike shop cable cutters are junk.View Image
I just used a pair of 18" bolt cutters, since I needed the bolt cutters when I worked with 6x6 welded wire mesh for floor pours. The cable we were cutting was 5/16", and all we did was tape the area we were cutting, and then grab the bolt cutter. Worked just fine." Although I have the right to remain stupid, I try not to abuse that right"
As others have indicated, don't confuse the cable cutters for copper/aluminum with those intended to cut steel wire rope. In my youth, I tried to cut some bike cable with a pair of cable cutters similar to the Klein that BossHogg listed and ended up with a nice "U" shape indented in the blades and a nearly intact piece of cable.
The Knipex are good for smaller cable. For something larger, the standard seems to be these that can be whacked with a small sledge. I have a couple of them and they work well:
http://www.ematerialhandling.com/materialhandling/tools/impact_cable_cutters/impact_cable_cutters.htm
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Hey, can you don your cape and fly here and perform your miracle technique?
Oh what, you're NOT Superman. funny guy.
I did chuckle (a little).
Hey, richardi!Did ya ever get it cut?You've gotten' plenty of ideas!pb
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Thanks to everyone who responded (even the few comedians in the crowd).
The cable was successfully cut with a metal cut-off wheel on my Dremel!!
OK, ya convinced me (esp after the 'closed mind' thread.
You can also use 6010 rod on reverse dc <HG>
You can use any kind of rod if you get the amps up high enough.
After working in aircraft maintenance for nearly 40 years and dealing with cables, do yourself a favor and get yourself some cable cutters. It also would not be a bad idea but not absolutely necessary to solder the spot where you want to cut as that will prevent any ends fraying.