cutting zip-ties

[mdbeck1]

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

It's probably pretty close to the look my wife gave me when I told her I had just bought a ****** wrench and ****** pick.

I waited a few minutes before I told her it was for my black powder pistol.

 

[ServiceWithIntegrity]

Of all the different ways i've tried to cut zipties, these pliers are the "Cadillacs" of ziptie cutters "http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...group_ID=19714&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

 

[larry_g]

If your using any kind of a cutter try cutting across the tail from side to side instead of from flat to flat. Cutting across the width at most leaves a small pip in the middle instead of a knife all across the width. I spent many years in industry and have installed thousands of tywraps. I always tried to keep a new sharp pair of cutters just for tywraps so they would cut and not pinch the tail off.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[metal4130]

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.

Those look EXACTLY like a set of Snap On flush cut pliers I once had.

 

[2manytoyz]

In a pinch, I'll use some flush cut wire cutters. At work, I have $$ Panduit tie wrap guns. They stretch the tie, cut it, and when the tie relaxes, it's slightly recessed if not flush. No worries of having a sharp edge. At home, I have the cheap Walmart version. It's very picky about having the toothed part of the tie wrap down, but works well otherwise.

I use these on the 6" and 8" tie wraps. On the tiny 4", I just use the cutters.

FWIW, I do a LOT of electrical work at home and work. I buy tie wraps in bags of 1K, so these guns get a lot of use, even the cheapie one.

 

[Greatbear]

Flush side cutter.

 

[Wesley B]

lol, you guys can go on for 3 pages talking about cutting zip ties?

 

[rebelram]

When you spend many years as I have working on equipment that has heavy application of zip tie use, you learn to cut them off flush. I have spent many years working in computer racks and improperly cut zip ties will rip you up worse than bushwacking through thorn bushes. So yes, having the proper zip tie cutters is a must. I use Xcelite flush cutters S47-5JS. They aren't cheap, but they are affordable compared to some other brands. Harbor Freight has flush cutters as well and they are fine for occasional use. Home depot has a two plier set (Model # S2KS5) http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...P_PARENT_ID&storeId=10051&Ntpr=1&ddkey=Search
That is also a good set to use for zip ties.

 

[Cryo Gal]

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?

Stop using so much lotion and making your hands so soft!

 

[Notwerk]

I just use side cutters. Though, where I'm worried about a sharp edge (such as on a bicycle), I just take a small file (or even emory board) and round off the nub.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I've got a pair of those Xcelite cutters too. They are really nice.

 

[mrholeshot]

If you are worried about getting cut by a zip tie You get your man Card Revoked, a pair of lace work gloves and some Kotex brand bandaids. You will be sadated and the words Girly Man tattooed on your forehead. You will then be banished to Fabios home as his personal assistant and hair brusher.

 

[Notwerk]

If you are worried about getting cut by a zip tie You get your man Card Revoked, a pair of lace work gloves and some Kotex brand bandaids. You will be sadated and the words Girly Man tattooed on your forehead. You will then be banished to Fabios home as his personal assistant and hair brusher.

Well, it's not just about you. If you're working on something for a client, and they get cut, you may lose a client or worse.

Additionally, in certain cases, sharp edges on zip-ties are a bad idea. For example, when installing a bike computer on a bicycle, I have to use a lot of zip ties. For obvious reasons, you don't want sharp edges sticking out all over the place. It only takes a minute or two to file them down to a safe, round edge.

For me, it's simply a matter of attention to detail.

 

[caseyjw]

Well, you can certainly tell the difference between the hack mechanics and the industrial electricians in this thread.

Industrial electricians: use flush cutters, or a zip tie gun, and never leave a sharp edge. This should be the correct answer regardless of what you are working on. Leaving a tang on zip ties is amateurish at best.

Mechanics: use "dykes" or, you aren't a man... <--- lol


on the dykes thing... it's a colloquial term... Diagonal cutters --> Diags for short, people hearing and not reading interpreting as dykes, a new colloqualism is born. It's as bad as people saying xxxx rpms.... revolutions per minutes?

but hey, I digress... for what it's worth I use the T&B gun and when I can't get the gun in place I use Erem flush cutters

Even then, as a general rule using zip ties is not preferred. Panduit is better.

 

[kissmeimgerman]

Well, it's not just about you. If you're working on something for a client, and they get cut, you may lose a client or worse.

Additionally, in certain cases, sharp edges on zip-ties are a bad idea. For example, when installing a bike computer on a bicycle, I have to use a lot of zip ties. For obvious reasons, you don't want sharp edges sticking out all over the place. It only takes a minute or two to file them down to a safe, round edge.

For me, it's simply a matter of attention to detail.

Or you have a ton of thin video and data cable in a rack that short if the insulation gets severed...

 

[jeffmoss26]

^Been there, done that!

 

[Frank The Plumber]

You take a small cheap soldering gun and touch each of the cuts and melt away the sharps. This way when you put your arms into a bundle of tie wrapped cables or etc you know that you won't get cut. You can dress 50 of these in a minute. Have done it on the hoses for bag and box installations in restaurants for 20 years. Yeah, I'm that guy. The nut who leaves the soda lines sharps less.

 

[dittle fart around]

Even then, as a general rule using zip ties is not preferred. Panduit is better.

Panduit is the lazy electricians way out. The switchboard shop I worked at used to use square stacked solid wire with an asbestos cover. Now those were real men.

 

[kc-steve]

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.

That's worth re-posting!

Thirty years in electronics and I've used everything including dykes, but those guns work well and quick, with the right amount of tension.

Steve

 

[Benji]

Side cutters.

 

[greasemonkey44]

Well, you can certainly tell the difference between the hack mechanics and the industrial electricians in this thread.

Industrial electricians: use flush cutters, or a zip tie gun, and never leave a sharp edge. This should be the correct answer regardless of what you are working on. Leaving a tang on zip ties is amateurish at best.

Mechanics: use "dykes" or, you aren't a man... <--- lol


on the dykes thing... it's a colloquial term... Diagonal cutters --> Diags for short, people hearing and not reading interpreting as dykes, a new colloqualism is born. It's as bad as people saying xxxx rpms.... revolutions per minutes?

but hey, I digress... for what it's worth I use the T&B gun and when I can't get the gun in place I use Erem flush cutters

Even then, as a general rule using zip ties is not preferred. Panduit is better.

so not to critique you but you are 90% off base; most mechanics are using dykes not because they are hack or sloppy workers
they are using dykes because most of the stuff they are ziptieing is not in some control panel that will have to be serviced but on plastic components and wire loom on cars
as far as your diacs vs dikes vs dykes; its call phonetic spelling, they are spelling it the way you hear and say it and making a bit of a joke.....

 

[TWX]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004F7MVKG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

These are my favorite cutters. Xcelite. Not very expensive, good for wire, staples, and a bunch of other little things. Works great for zipties.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Those are in my bag of electronics/sound tools!!

 

[lynam]

 

[nhmercracer]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004F7MVKG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

These are my favorite cutters. Xcelite. Not very expensive, good for wire, staples, and a bunch of other little things. Works great for zipties.

Agreed, they even come with a blue "antistatic" grip version. They stay sharp, and wear well. Just stay away from steel wire, and large gauge copper, as there will tend to damage the edges.