cutting zip-ties

[solitaire]

Whats the best tool to cut zip-ties nice and flush so you dont leave a nasty edge that will slice your hand? Flush cuts? Zip-tie cutters? What do you guys prefer?

 

[canuckian]

I just use regular side cutters mostly. Never left an edge that wild cut me yet!

 

[Salem747]

Ditto on side cutters.

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

Flush cut end nippers.

 

[89GLH]

Theres a 90° cutter for zip ties? Thought it was common sense not to cut it sharp? If you do, don't impale yourself on it. If you do, post about it here.

x3 on the side cutters.

 

[Slip_Kid]

Use linesman's pliers and twist it off flush with the zip tie.

 

[Dustin Crawford]

If you buy the good nylon not cheap plastic zip ties you can put a set of square ended dikes straight down to the head and 1/4 turn the zip tie end right off. After you are done there is nothing protruding from the head at all.

 

[MAD]

I have generally found end nippers to be better than side cutters for flush trimming the tag ends from zip ties.

 

[kissmeimgerman]

flush side cutters

 

[Biomed]

I use side cutters however I have found that if you apply slight pressure on the end of the zip-tie when cutting the cut end seems to withdraw into the zip-tie. (If that makes sense. )

I worked at a few manufacturing places that had zip-tie cutters like this:

Seems to me the side cutters worked just as well.

 

[t100]

Whats the best tool to cut zip-ties nice and flush so you dont leave a nasty edge that will slice your hand? Flush cuts? Zip-tie cutters? What do you guys prefer?

Panduit, not cheap:

 

[dittle fart around]

Worked at a switchboard panel shop and we had tie wrap guns. Been using them for years the type I used cost about 200 bucks. You can get cheaper ones. They tighten the wrap and cut them flush never a chunk hanging out. When the welders on the shipyard cut my temporary cable runs down I used dykes to trim the ties, it left hundreds of sharp edges to cut your hands on.
View media item 12099

 

[Stick]

I use a zip tie installer. Tighten the zip tie with it, and then twist it 1/4 turn while tightening it some more, and it's cut nice and flush.

T&B WT1-TB and T&B WT2-TB, around $30/ea.

It also helps to use good zip ties, like T&B or Panduit and not the cheapest ones you can get your hands on.

Edit: Beaten like a red-headed stepchild.

 

[warmpancakes]

Nail clippers

 

[Davo3]

I use little flush-cutting nippers from Radio Shack, $5.

 

[DOUGD]

+1 on a large pair of nail clippers (the flat ones not the curved).

 

[mrb]

i use the small flush cutters like a xuron 170

 

[richtersrodz]

So does no one call them 'dikes' anymore? (side/diagonal cutters)
I use my dikes all of the time... or is it dykes...?

 

[Outlawmws]

I still call them Dykes. I also get funny looks from time to time...

 

[fr0mastaj]

Use linesman's pliers and twist it off flush with the zip tie.

My cousin in the electrical union was taught to do this as well. Twist it off, dont cut it - No sharp edges.

 

[warmpancakes]

So does no one call them 'dikes' anymore? (side/diagonal cutters)
I use my dikes all of the time... or is it dykes...?

because if i had a pair of dikes in my box Id get nothing done

 

[njride]

twist em off with sidecutters.

 

[ishiboo]

i use the small flush cutters like a xuron 170

I use a cheaper generic version of the same thing for cutting my ties. I pull them out a bit as I cut, and as the previous poster said it falls back in so it's recessed.

I tried the Harbor Freight wire tie gun, it does not work... can't grip the tie at all and the cutting function was useless. I like HF but it's definitely not one of usable tools.

 

[thesilverone]

dykes over here

 

[BlindViper]

I use a pair of wire cutters I modified. Normally the cutters have a bevel on the bottom. I ground the bevel off so the cutting edge is exposed. So when used to cut the zip tie its flush.

 

[earlthegoat2]

When I was a marine technician we used a lot of zip ties and had to make sure we cut them nice and flush so customers would not come back complaining with a hole in their hand. (I got caught by the sharp end of a zip tie cut off once and I probably needed stitches)

Anyway, we all had a product made by none other than Snap On.

Here they are.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...group_ID=20118&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

Any of the SNap On electronics cutters will work though. THe bigger ones can be handier.

Spendy buggers but since we used them all the time they were more than worth it. Dont use them for general wire cutting though like you would with normal side cutters. They are made for thin copper wire which cuts easily. Their jaws come to fine points unlilke normal side cutters which have a nice broad point and a flat edge against which the cutting is done.

These are also handy because they are spring loaded. Nice when you need to cut something in a tight spot and cannot muster the mobility to open the plier.

 

[t100]

using a professional tie wrap gun isn't just for cutting the tabs flush, the main reason is to cut the tie wraps at a specific tightness, consistently.

the Panduit gun is used mainly by aviation and racing mechanics, just to make sure the zip ties are tight, but not over tightened to pinch the wiring insulation. same way a torque wrench used by automotive techs.

 

[greasemonkey44]

dykes; cant say ive ever been cut or punctured by a zip tie

 

[chris fresh]

I still call them Dykes. I also get funny looks from time to time...

same here,told the wife i had a pair of dykes once,then the neighbor ran off with them and i haven't seen them since.

 

[zer0cell]

lol well i vote for the dykes too

 

[slob]

Midwest makes a tension tool for nylon cable ties. I used it frequently when I was a tin knocker for attaching flex duct to diffusers, and I use it constantly at my current job.

http://www.brocktooldetroit.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=563

 

[NUTTSGT]

I usually use a pair of dykes but have used a razor blade a few times.

 

[kissmeimgerman]

Have to use flush cutters, I am in broadcast/it engineering - we have a few of those tie wrap guns and they just get in the way or don't fit in tight spaces. Cutters I can use for more than just cutting the zip tie. My co-workers don't use flush cutters, reaching into a rack with sharp zip tie ends is not fun.

 

[flyingdog]

My cousin in the electrical union was taught to do this as well. Twist it off, dont cut it - No sharp edges.

I'm a sparky and this is how we are taught. It leaves a nub, but it won't cut you...

FD

 

[CAOS]

I was always brought up with calling them dags and not dykes!

 

[jeffmoss26]

I use my Klein dikes.

 

[rlitman]

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...group_ID=20118&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog. . .
Spendy buggers but since we used them all the time they were more than worth it. Dont use them for general wire cutting though like you would with normal side cutters. They are made for thin copper wire which cuts easily. Their jaws come to fine points unlilke normal side cutters which have a nice broad point and a flat edge against which the cutting is done.

If you think that is spendy, you should check out Lindstrom:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0058EDC1M/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Flush cutters are the BEST tool for this job. If you twist off, you're weakening the tooth in the tie (even if you use ties with a metal tooth), and there's a better chance that the tie will fall off. Dykes leave that dangerous piece behind.

 

[bert.]

hard to explain but i just use regular side cutters.put one jaw on the tail to be cut above the locking tooth. and the other jaw against the back of the locking part then squezze and it will shear the tail off dead flush
only thing is you need to use decent side cutters with minimal wear in the pivot

 

[oldwino]

I use my Klein dikes.

thought you could only use kleindykes in Alaska

 

[earlthegoat2]

thought you could only use kleindykes in Alaska

chortle