Tool for cutter the steel wire of SWA cable

[JuniorSparky]

Hi everyone,

I was thinking that it may be quicker if I cut the steel wire straight instead of junior hacksaw and twisting method. But I was wondering how hard is the steel wire in SWA cable! Is it similar to piano wire?

I guess snips will always do the task, but can I use side cutter or heavy duty side cutter?

Thank you

 

[sparkdog]

Less bother with a hacksaw.Not as hard as piano wire,you can snip them one at a time.

 

[Andy78]

Hacksaw with a sharp blade is the best way by far. You're only going to get into bother snipping the armourings. When you snip them they are less likely to line up with each other properly. When they do that, they can end up not being held by the gland properly.
Take your time and practice the skill. You shouldn't need to twist the wires, just a simple bend should snap them off when you have ringed them properly.

 

[Brendan976]

Hacksaw every time, by far the best IMHO if you take your time.
Ben

 

[Geordie Spark]

Here in Geordieland where men are men, women are glad of it and the barmaids eat their young, we just use our teeth.

 

[specs]

tried it once with side cutters, never again, its important to get all the strands the same, if you do it with cutters the cut ends will stick out at diff angles and probably diff lengths making it difficult to fit the gland properly, use a hacksaw. mark it with tape if you need a guide.

 

[Geordie Spark]

tried it once with side cutters, never again, its important to get all the strands the same, if you do it with cutters the cut ends will stick out at diff angles and probably diff lengths making it difficult to fit the gland properly, use a hacksaw. mark it with tape if you need a guide.

Or a Jubilee type hose clip ??

 

[shanky887614]

if your struggling with hacksaw just hold the blade in hand and use that

 

[44ALLAN]

' snip them one at a time' !!

That was a joke................wasn't it?

 

[YoungBart]

Can you not get them stripper tools (like plumbers use for cutting pipe) to do it? or do they just cut the black outer sheath?

 

[Geordie Spark]

Can you not get them stripper tools (like plumbers use for cutting pipe) to do it? or do they just cut the black outer sheath?

Yes, there is one, though I've never used it.

The general consensus among sparkies seems to be that they are crap.

I would not recommend using one like we use for cutting copper tube as the cutting wheel isn't up to the job of cutting steel wire.

 

[specs]

Or a Jubilee type hose clip ??

yep can't think of a reason that it wouldn't work, and would probably make it easier to snap off strands when they are scored and keep them together. never tried it, but I will.

 

[trev]

The jubilee clip trick is ancient, I thought everyone knew it.

 

[Geordie Spark]

The jubilee clip trick is ancient, I thought everyone knew it.

Howayman Trev ....... they're not all Geordies on here !!!

Some of them went to skyules that weren't approved ......

 

[specs]

The jubilee clip trick is ancient, I thought everyone knew it.

Trev I thought that everyone new how great Mrs T (Maggie to her mates ) was, but you didn't. Jubilee clips is a new one for me, and judging by some of the replies I've read i'm not the only one. I thank Geordie Spark for his input on this because I have learnt something, and as you have confirmed his advice I thank you as well. I won't hold my breath for you to thank me for the education I gave you about Maggie, but that's the kind of guy I am.:smilewinkgrin:

 

[SirKit Breaker]

If you only do the odd one here and there and the OD is less than 19mm, i can highly recommend a Wickes ratcheting pipe cutter, works a treat till the blade goes blunt, but you will get a hundred or so cuts if you don't rag it to death, not bad for a tenner.

 

[JuniorSparky]

Thanks for all the replies. I will do some more practice with hacksaw, so I can improve my technique and speed then.

I haven't thought about jubilee clip. It sound like a good alternative to the tape. Whatever you have in hand.

 

[Geordie Spark]

Thanks for all the replies. I will do some more practice with hacksaw, so I can improve my technique and speed then.

I haven't thought about jubilee clip. It sound like a good alternative to the tape. Whatever you have in hand.

There is now way on God's earth that you're getting what I've got in my hand bonny lad !!!

 

[shanky887614]

There is now way on God's earth that you're getting what I've got in my hand bonny lad !!!

you should know better and leave your toys at home, you will scare the customers

 

[44ALLAN]

Thanks for all the replies. I will do some more practice with hacksaw, so I can improve my technique and speed then.

I haven't thought about jubilee clip. It sound like a good alternative to the tape. Whatever you have in hand.

Small tip for you JS and very handy believe me
Before you take the hacksaw to the sheath/armour make sure (for all cables up to 35mm'ish) that you put the final bend in the cable to the gland position first.
Meaning..............if you do your cut on the armour then 'snap' them off............then bend the cable into position..........you'll find the armour on the outside bend radius is significantly shorter that the rest.
Then you get the snips out lol