Cutting a cable with the outer sheath

[Jupiter01]

I’ve been using a pair of pliers and a side cutter to cut 2.5mm T&E cable. It’s often hard work and gets harder with even larger cables. Am I using the wrong tool for this job?

 

[Taylortwocities]

Use cable shears. Lots of different sizes and prices in Screwfix, toolstation, etc

 

[Jupiter01]

Would love a recommendation from you pros.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Well, you are asking a question much like:
What is the best car to buy. So I would say a Bugatti Veyron.
But you may only want to take a few local trips and don’t have £5million to spend.
So looking at cable cutters. There are some excellent ones that will easily cut cable up to 250mm²
CLICK
That come it at about £100. They have nice long handles and you can use them all day, every day.
If you only want to cut regular domestic cables (including meter tails) then THESE
will be adequate.

 

[333rocky333]

Using cutters, with larger T+E dont try cutting in 1 go , do two cuts

 

[opps]

I am not an electrician but my cheapo VDE side snips from Wickes are fine with 2.5mm.

How old/abused are yours?

 

[Jupiter01]

Well, you are asking a question much like:
What is the best car to buy. So I would say a Bugatti Veyron.
But you may only want to take a few local trips and don’t have £5million to spend.
So looking at cable cutters. There are some excellent ones that will easily cut cable up to 250mm²
CLICK
That come it at about £100. They have nice long handles and you can use them all day, every day.
If you only want to cut regular domestic cables (including meter tails) then THESE
will be adequate.

Okay let me qualify this. I’m not a professional or do this for a living. I am a keen DIY enthusiast and don’t mind spending a few more quid for something that will last. I often work with cables up to 6mm. Hoping that provides some more context.

 

[Jupiter01]

Seen these in quite a few good reviews.
https://www.toolstation.com/ck-cabl...wx1ghLtan9FXYvH922EaArPhEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Any experience or thoughts on these please?

 

[Taylortwocities]

Its not the ones I have, but the reviews are fine. i'd go with the user's recommendations if its in your price bracket.

 

[Sureitsoff?]

if its just for occasional diy use something like these would probably be adequete
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224332130914?_trkparms=amclksrc=ITM&aid=1110006&algo=HOMESPLICE.SIM&ao=1&asc=20201210111314&meid=04485f3e18234756975ee5f2b0944713&pid=101195&rk=3&rkt=12&sd=153240425592&itm=224332130914&pmt=1&noa=0&pg=2047675&algv=SimplAMLv9PairwiseWebMskuAspectsV202110NoVariantSeed&_trksid=p2047675.c101195.m1851&amdata=cksum:22433213091404485f3e18234756975ee5f2b0944713|enc:AQAGAAABIIIp3bTCXFAKw6S9crk9CpCrrtOgadqFiC10NVPbN0936eprYVB4SXfDa52e1mbPLF5%2BvQoMWvSuon8rF2nBInsFVPp4MyQEMAD9TWjx%2Bn5IsaD4706kDGPzGrV91vbvTbCjvUCMqfJ8Ux1L5%2Bvx%2F6XyESR1O5ourbwlKS78%2BdvLlferBwVS%2Ffv%2BhwE2d3QSvItdE8uNiz8NumXC3xFvQIXM9lRmEME3ogKMhLHbZp%2BkT%2FIahN2NXiLc%2F49mQB6OLR5jHhU6lKP4DIBmaEUxX1azNUpTdPbGDYWDKwl6ZUfkLOD8BfXdhKBuFs%2BpdEtP67M%2B8SnhYnt4cUFyKbu9yYqrnBSbYfJT7KB6Dhkm4rjfY4i%2BS6gM75NcnobCvWDG%2FA%3D%3D|ampidL_CLK|clp:2047675&epid=1259744744

edit: I actually bought a couple of pairs of side cutters from Lidl and they are now my go to cutters!! £2.99 a pair if I recall correctly as well.

 

[JohnW2]

I am not an electrician but my cheapo VDE side snips from Wickes are fine with 2.5mm.

For what it's worth, the same here.

In fact, although I do have cable shears, I very rarely use them for any T+E less than 16mm² (and, to be honest, they';re not very good with 16mm T+E), maybe 10mm² - in fact, I usually only use them for tails/singles of 16mm² or above. With 2.5mm², 4mm² or 6mm² T+E, I have no problem with side cutters (two or three snips, when necessary).

Kind Regards, John

 

[SUNRAY]

edit: I actually bought a couple of pairs of side cutters from Lidl and they are now my go to cutters!! £2.99 a pair if I recall correctly as well.

Yep they are pretty good when new, obviously at the price one doesn't expect them to last as long as a decent pair, and they don't, but AFAIC I'm happy to use them for half ayear and dump when showing signs of wear. Avoid the black handled version though.

 

[Sureitsoff?]

the red and yellow handled ones were the ones I got and for the money they are excellent and marked IEC60900 just the same as my CK cutters
and i have just seen that lidl are doing these from next sunday
https://www.lidl.co.uk/p/diy/parkside-long-drill-bit-chisel/p51843
ideal for getting down behind a skirting board. I think a set of each will be required for my tool box!

 

[Jupiter01]

the red and yellow handled ones were the ones I got and for the money they are excellent and marked IEC60900 just the same as my CK cutters

Which red and yellow handled ones are you referring to. Also, which CK cutters do you own and do you have a view on them? I was looking at these CK ones:
https://www.toolstation.com/ck-cabl...wx1ghLtan9FXYvH922EaArPhEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[JohnW2]

Which red and yellow handled ones are you referring to. Also, which CK cutters do you own and do you have a view on them? I was looking at these CK ones: https://www.toolstation.com/ck-cabl...wx1ghLtan9FXYvH922EaArPhEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Others may disagree, but for very occasional DIY use I would personally not pay that much for a cable cutter!

Kind Regards, John