What's you Cable Tie Cutter - For Nice Flush Cuts..

[mobiledynamics]

If I'm working on something a bit more focused....like bundleing cords, I'll grab the small electroncic cutter. Always gives me a nice flush cut on zip ties.

More often than not, I'll just grab whatever diag I have at hand and just attempt to cut it flush. It's a give or take on whehter I leave a sharp edge if I'm not paying attention to how I place the plier on the zip tie.

Disclaimer....I have the fancy schamncy $400 specialty tie gun somewhere in my stash, but it's just too bulky for my use.

I'd be curious if you guys have some special cable tie tool cutter I'm not aware of....

 

[nahuebsch82]

Re: What's you Cable Tie Cutter

My "go-to" to cut just about anything

 

[Throbbin Rods]

Re: What's you Cable Tie Cutter

Bought a ty-wrap gun for $15 at a yard sale, works great!! Smaller than most of the ones I have seen

 

[Oldbear]

Re: What's you Cable Tie Cutter

I just snap it off... we had very poor ties at work. I've since replaced them and just use my Leatherman

 

[Farmall 1066]

I use my pliers and twist them off. They almost always break off flush.

 

[Bryanthegreat]

I use a pair of Xcelite
S475NJS flush cutters. There are similar items by various manufacturers. It snips them off clean.

 

[mobiledynamics]

Depends on the application.
Don't want to do the twist off with Low voltage

 

[Builder302]

Williams makes a nice small cutter and channel lock full size side cutters are good too.

 

[JonnFX]

I use a fairly small pair of Snap-On flush cuts. Its snout is plenty narrow to get in tight places, but plenty sharp and strong to cut large tie wraps.

I once worked at an off-road (Baja type) fab shop and we were nearly fired if we didn't cut them flush. Usually with the flush cut dykes or a razor or box knife.

I've used the automatic ones, but they are often just too bulky.

I have seen some injuries from the tie wrap stubs and they weren't pretty.

Yep, I also, have a set like what Bryan... listed.

 

[HTGTS350]

Its all in the technique, when you start the cut put one blade of your cutter on the edge of the lock tab and just kind of cut the corner of that off and as the other blade slides across to the lock tab( because that blade has the most resistance) the shearing action makes the cut end smooth. Hope that makes sense.

 

[coljar]

If I want a nice flush cut against the locking tab, I use a Stanley knife.

 

[Joe69]

If it doesn't matter, I use dykes. If it does matter, I use a utility knife, it can make a clean, flush cut if done properly.

Joe

 

[Gradyhd]

Razor knife/utility knife

 

[rixtrix1]

Re: What's you Cable Tie Cutter

My "go-to" to cut just about anything

Me, too!

 

[MP&C]

There's a tool for that... (I have one of each, they work well)

small and mediums....

heavy duty....

They have adjustable tensions that will trim the tie flush after reaching the set tension..

 

[Ohmthis]

I'm an electrician by trade and have used cable ties by the hundred thousands over my career. I use my side cutters, and twist them. I've used this same technique on large wire, cables, cat3,5, and 6, coax, and even fibre optics. Ive never had any problems using them this way.

 

[rburke65]

For a flush cut, I use a knife. Never used a tie cutter that gave me a flush cut.

 

[torqueman2002]

I never have problems cutting tie wraps with side cutters.

I flush cut them with Xacto/utility knives to prevent scratching and cutting hands and arms on improperly cut tie wraps on vehicles I/or anyone will work on.

To speed up and give an accurate/repeatable flush cut, I now use these.

~$61
http://www.amazon.com/Greenlee-45300-Cable-Heavy-Duty/dp/B001VXY5HY

 

[Regnar]

I was shown a great tool awhile ago by the oldest guy on the Hanger. When I asked him who made the tool he said Revlon. Scratching my head and walking away I Google searched it when I made it home. Turns out it is a Cuticle cutter. A trip to Wal-Mart and 3 dollars later it cuts nice and flush. For **** I don't care about Dykes are my goto.

 

[torqueman2002]

I was shown a great tool awhile ago by the oldest guy on the Hanger. When I asked him who made the tool he said Revlon. Scratching my head and walking away I Google searched it when I made it home. Turns out it is a Cuticle cutter. A trip to Wal-Mart and 3 dollars later it cuts nice and flush. For **** I don't care about Dykes are my goto.

Does it look like these?

http://www.amazon.com/Revlon-Cuticle-Nipper-Full-Jaw/dp/B000H3GCXY/ref=sr_1_cc_3?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1388806980&sr=1-3-catcorr&keywords=Cuticle+cutter

 

[fivespdcat]

Electronics cutters:

 

[Regnar]

Torqueman, that is it. I didnt pay that much for them though. This was a few years ago too. Here are some pics

 

[Spareparts]

I got a couple pair of Gate cutters that are used in cutting the plastic gates off injection molded pieces, a little more heavy duty than the revlon type and cut flush, mine are more than 290 yrs and going strong. Should be available at any industriay tool supplier.

 

[bartz32tt]

Re: What's you Cable Tie Cutter

My "go-to" to cut just about anything

The one in the picture will leave a sharp edge. You can buy snips that are completely "flush" in the back. You don't want one with a "v" where the two sides meet like the picture shows.

 

[DOUGD]

Large toe nail clippers!

 

[JayCrash450]

I pride myself on doing things with precision and as clean as possible. However, am I missing something by not making sure my zip ties are cut nice and flush? (That's kind of a serious and fececious question at the same time). I have always and for everything cut my zip ties with a pair of dikes. C'mon my fellow garage junkies, what am I missing? Only thing I can gather is the small potential that someone will cut themselves on an uncircumcised...ah em...uncut...ah em...non flush cut tie.

Regardless, I do like the look of those revlon eyebrow/cuticle/nail/toe hair cutter. I could see that having many uses. Kind of like the hair dryer I just swiped from my wife. Perfect for those jobs where just a little heat is enough.

 

[fivespdcat]

The left over stubs can definitely cut you. Usually is not when you first put them on but when you need to go back to that same location. They leave a pretty nasty gash, you will only do it one time, then you'll learn why we all want flush cuts.

 

[Harrison2]

I use side cutters and agree that they slice you like a ***** if you leave a sharp edge but that doesn't stop me lol

 

[racingtadpole]

My "go-to" to cut just about anything

I have been known to throw those out the window of the car or drop them down wall cavities when I catch apprentices using them to cut cable ties... if my finding of said poorly finished cable tie results in injury to my person I will throw out the cutters AND give said wayward apprentice one warning before I gouge their eyes out with the nearest blunt butter knife...

There's a tool for that... (I have one of each, they work well)

small and mediums....

heavy duty....

They have adjustable tensions that will trim the tie flush after reaching the set tension..

These are the ONLY way to tension and cut cable ties if you are in an industrial environment (they were actually mandatory at one of my former employers). For non industrial use, electronics cutters are OK.

 

[DIC]

I think most electricians twist them off ..It leaves a real smooth end that will not scratch or cut you

 

[nahuebsch82]

I suppose in my line of work, as a diesel mechanic, it has never been a huge concern to cleanly cut a zip tie. Heh

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[KPSquared]

I have a couple sets of small electronics flush cuts that work awesome. NIce and small, easy to work with in tight places. If you're up under a dash it's nice not to have to get anything bulky in there.

 

[mobiledynamics]

The reason I don't use the Gun is because it's too big and bulky for my needs.
It's a AWESOME tool to have the correct TENSION on a bundle that is consistent across the run. For me, it's just one offs.....

Was just online looking to add to my tool ***** stash...
Current cutter is a stamped xcelite

Hmm. Knipex 77 22 115 I think I'm leaning on. I like the fat grips.
Need to play around with their catalog to see if there is a flush cut head with a nice long handle. That would be even better

 

[Schwartz Inc.]

I also use large toe nail clippers. Leaves a nice cut and has a small radius.

 

[Davefr]

The reason I don't use the Gun is because it's too big and bulky for my needs.

Then try the Panduit GTS. It get's into tighter spots:

 

[AJH]

As a bicycle mechanic in the shop and on-site at races and events, I've used zip ties for all kinds of purposes.

I use a 4th hand cable puller to get them tight. REALLY tight if that's what you want. This tool's original purpose was to hold tension on brake and derailleur cables while you use the other hand to tighten the pinch bolt. It might be a bit expensive to buy solely as a zip tie tightener, but it works like nothing else. There are ratcheting versions out there, but the non-ratcheting ones are actually better for this use.

A $2.00 "micro flush cutter" from Menards is used for cutting, which is important when they're attached to the frame of a bicycle. A sharp end sticking out of a zip tie will easily draw blood.

 

[RaptorDuner]

I suppose in my line of work, as a diesel mechanic, it has never been a huge concern to cleanly cut a zip tie. Heh

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I'm an equipment mechanic and it's very important in our shop. For our company, it would be no different than making a cover and leaving sharp edges for operators/mechanics to cut themselves on.

 

[kgorman]

+1 for these

Electronics cutters:

 

[3798j]

My favorite. It draws the tie with a two finger pull, then with a simple twist of the wrist, it cuts flush. www.grainger.com/product/THOMAS-BETTS-Cable-Tie-Tool-3KH51?opr=APPD&pbi=3KH53

 

[mobiledynamics]

I don't have a larger profile head, but I took my trust Xcelite and just did some test cuttings.

Just do the thinsess of the stamped variant, do you think a *bigger head-still flush cutting* will produce similar results on cable ties...

http://www.knipex.com/index.php?id=1216&L=1&page=group_detail&parentID=1367&groupID=1484


Just thinking outloud, but I'm not sure if the thinner head plays a role on how flush it gets..to the quality of cut