Wire Rope Cutters MUST match the tool to the wire rope’s thickness and hardness. To choose the right cutter for steel wire rope, match the tool to the rope’s thickness and hardness. Stronger wire rope cable cutters or shear-cutters (parrot beak cutters) have encircling blades made with hardened-steel. This blade format uses the collapsing trapezoid principle to contain and compress the wire fibers for a neat and clean cut. Never use standard bolt cutters, as they will flatten and fray the metal strands.
Match your Cutters to your Job
- Consider Core and Coating: Steel wire rope is measured/sized primarily by its core diameter (e.g. 3.2mm) and if coated, then its overall diameter which includes the core AND the coating may be specified (e.g. 3.2mm/4.6mm). Always check the manufacturer’s maximum cutting capacity remembering the jaws of the cutter must also accommodate the coating.
- Recommended Practice: Choose a balanced, cutter that is comfortable in your hands and rated for a slightly larger diameter than you plan to cut so that your tool is not “maxxed-out”. This both extends the life of the blade and provides the user with additional physical advantage when applying force. As well, all blades need to be made of high-quality metals—like high-carbon steel, chrome vanadium, or manganese steel. Better blades that have been heat-treated (quenched) to a high hardness rating (e.g., HRC 60 or higher) so the blades do not dull or chip quickly.
Choose an Appropriate Format:
- Single Handed Wire Rope Cutters: Best for wire rope cables up to about 4mm and usage requiring high portability. Their parrot beak blades shear through the cable smoothly without crushing the ends. Their single hand use and size allow one to trivially ‘line up’ for a cut.
- Two Handed Wire Rope Cutters: Best for wire rope cables from 4mm to about 10mm and usage requiring some portability. Again, their parrot beak blades shear through the cable smoothly without crushing the ends and their longer format gives you much greater mechanical advantage. Unfortunately, their size makes it harder to ‘line up’ for a cut.
- Bench Mounted Wire Rope Cutters: Best for wire rope from 1mm to about 8mm with zero portability required. Once secured well, these tools offer an excellent repeatable level of accuracy with minimal expenditure of effort. Additionally, the good ones have interchangeable heads and offer adjustability to compensate for wear over time.
- Powered Bladed Cutters: Good for heavy, industrial use requiring cold cuts with usage requiring limited portability. These cutting heads require a power source such as a hydraulic pump to generate high pressure to cut larger cables. Extremely common with electrical cables but of limited use with steel wire rope. Look for replaceable blades in this level of cutter. This allows replacement of dull or broken blades instead of buying a completely new tool when it stops cutting cleanly.
- Powered Disc Cutters: Excellent for heavy, industrial use tolerating hot cuts with usage improved by high portability. These replaceable disc cutters cover the range of drop saws, cut-off wheels, and angle grinders. These have excellent applicability with steel wire rope. Ensure that your cutting disc/wheel is designed for the material you are about to cut. Just tape the wire rope tightly, clamp in place, mark clearly and cut carefully.
For tips on how to prepare your cable and use the cutter for a fray-free finish – try Cutting Wire Rope