What do you use to cut and strip tails or chunkier cables?

[ppelec100]

Hi, hope everyone is well.

I’m looking to buy some cutters to strip and chop 10mm cables and above, mainly domestic use.

I was thinking of either getting

1. CK cable cutter 240mm, these are the biggest version which would give me more leverage to easily cut with barely any effort.

https://amzn.eu/d/05BbS6yL

2. Knipex step cut, saw these at elex show in Alexander place and they seemed alright, but I’m not too keen on how wide the open or that you need to open them completely to get some cables in and they are small and I have small hands so leverage is not great for me.

https://amzn.eu/d/03ZCC45y

3. Knipex step cut XL, basically the same as 2 but the bigger version at 225mm which would be easier for me to use. Didn’t get to see these at elec show.

Knipex 95 18 225 StepCut® XL VDE Insulated Cable Shears Cutters Step Cut 225mm | eBay

95 18 225 KNIPEX StepCut® XL High-leverage joint, long handles and optimisedcutting edges: noticeably easier cutting than with compact cable shears. Dual cutting areas: Stepped cutting edge holds small and larger cables close to the joint during the cut; the front cutting edge cuts very large...

www.ebay.co.uk

4. Knippex cable shears 200mm, these have good ratings, seems like they would cut well. Didn’t get to see these at elec show.

https://amzn.eu/d/0guNyfwB

Anyone own any of these and would be able to tell me which one cuts through tails or more easily or if you got any other recommendations

Thanks

 

[nicebutdim]

Option 1 is more than adequate and will cut 10mm T&E with ease. I've cut 70mm cut quite often with them, although that requires a bit more effort. You mention this is primarily for domestic use, so the biggest cable you'll encounter regularly will be 25mm meter tails and that's not going to stress them the slightest bit.

 

[davesparks]

I've got a pair similar to option 1 but by a different brand for medium sized cables and ringing cable sheaths

And then a set of ratchet cutters for bigger cables.

 

[Marvo]

Any of the options you mention will go through a 10mm Flat Twin cable or a 25mm meter tail like a knife through butter regardless how small your hands are.

If I'm working with lots of large CSA stranded battery bank wiring (similar to your UK meter tails I'm guessing) my go to tool is an NWS wire cutter, I just like it for clean cutting and stripping of fine stranded wire where ferrules are used afterwards. For large flat twin or Surfix cables up to 16mm CSA I'd just use my normal knipex 200mm side cutters.

For domestic you're only going to use it for this purpose once in a while so I'd suggest just go with the cheapest option. I can personally recommend the standard sized Knipex step cut and the 200mm cable shears as good tools as well.

 

[ppelec100]

Any of the options you mention will go through a 10mm Flat Twin cable or a 25mm meter tail like a knife through butter regardless how small your hands are.

If I'm working with lots of large CSA stranded battery bank wiring (similar to your UK meter tails I'm guessing) my go to tool is an NWS wire cutter, I just like it for clean cutting and stripping of fine stranded wire where ferrules are used afterwards. For large flat twin or Surfix cables up to 16mm CSA I'd just use my normal knipex 200mm side cutters.

For domestic you're only going to use it for this purpose once in a while so I'd suggest just go with the cheapest option. I can personally recommend the standard sized Knipex step cut and the 200mm cable shears as good tools as well.

I went ahead and bought the ck 240mm cutters as they were about £25. They should do the job. I get too excited when it’s time to buy a new tool and start looking at everything I want but don’t need

 

[Simon47]

Those CK cutters are great, and as said are good for ringing insulation as well as cutting. I even cut 6mm and 8mm copper pipe with them !

 

[nicebutdim]

Also good for cutting strands of cable armour, although I try to restrict their use to copper.