exmechanic89

I use a set of Pedro's clippers. Work great, very precise cut. The parks are good too though, IME.

Roadlizzard

I just use a Dremel grinder with a cut off disc Which I had in the tool box already

f4rrest

I've used dog nail clippers a few times.

canklecat

Ditto, Jagwires. No problems so far cutting cables and housing. Cuts are clean enough I haven't really needed the awl to straighten the housing cuts.

deacon mark

I got Master Force Cutters at Menards for $9.99. 8 inch cutters have used for past 3-4 years. Way cheaper than bike specific cutters and much better more durable. These slice through cables not a bit of fray like razor sharp.

timsmcm

I just purchased a pair of Knipex cutters from kc tool. That is a really great tool. And kc tool
is a great place to buy bike tools.

speedevil 

You won't be disappointed with those cable cutters, in my opinion Knipex tools are the best you can buy.

himespau 

I do like their pliers wrench.

WalterVandervor

I think Park Tool is a professional cable cutter even though they are a bit expensive. But if you want a cheaper price and still have quality you can check out Klein Tools 63050

Leinster

I was working on some project bikes and cutting more cable than usual, so went to my LBS and asked what they used. The tech was working with the SRAM cutter at that very moment. I bought it. It's very nice.

Moe Zhoost

I have a set of XLC cutters at home. I have to admit that I use them more for cutting spokes than cables but they still (after that abuse) cut cables cleanly. I've used most of the major brands at the local Co-op and can't say that I can tell any difference between them.

Ogsarg

The first time I did cables I looked in my toolbox and found some Thomas and Betts crimpers. The cutter on these worked great so never went and got a task specific tool. The crimper works for the cable ends as well.

urbanknight

Someone once suggested a Dremel w/ cutoff wheel, and it seems to make cleaner cuts than anything else I've ever tried.

Greatestalltime

Jagwire>Park tool& Shimano?

A Dremel is the best?

himespau 

Do you use that for cables too? I've only used it for housing and will agree there. Wasn't sure if it'd lead to fraying of the ends of the cables.

urbanknight

Housing only. I don't know what that would do to braided cables, and those get crimps on the ends anyway.

NoWhammies

How often are you guys crimping and cutting cables? I've been doing my own bike work for the last three seasons and I haven't needed to crimp/cut a cable once. Or are you just stocking up on tools 'just in case'? Nothing wrong with that. I do it all the time.

himespau 

If you build up a bike from a frame. Or you just want to recable the bike (usually ever couple years for me), or you want to put new bars/shifters on, you'll need them.

Leinster

What himespau said, but also some bikes come stock with cables that are too long for some riders' tastes. Different people replace cables at different periods. After 3 years, you're probably coming up to the time when you'll need to do it soon.

mprince

I've had the same pair of Felco cable cutters in my toolbox for 20 years, have not found reason to seek anything else.

ofajen

I’ve used fence pliers for many decades, certainly the last forty years. And a pointy punch to open out the end of a cut cable housing. My current pliers say Diamalloy R500.

They are equally good at crimping on and removing cable ends.

Clearly, I bought these a long time ago. They are now considered vintage and Diamond Calk and Horseshoe Co. is long since gone.

Otto

Calsun

I am using the Crescent Porter wire cable cutter tool that cost $30 and it works very well. The Dremel cut-off wheel works well but does take longer as I need to take out the tool and mount the cut-off adapter and an abrasive disc, and then put it all away when done. Much faster to grab the Crescent cutters out of the tool cabinet and cut the cable and then put them back in the drawer.

rm -rf

I've seen comments about cutting the cable itself (not the housing) with a Dremel cutoff wheel. I tried it on the long cutoff end for my front brake cable. Nope: it flings individual strands off the wire cable, so the cable gets extremely frayed. Wrap with tape and cut? No better.

My Park Tool cutter works fine with wire cable and cuts housing easily--but mashes the spirial flat. I have a bench grinder in my workshop, and that makes quick work of the mashed spiral housing. A dremel would work for this, but it would be slower. I dip the housing in water to keep it from heating up. I get a perfectly square end to the the housing, and finally a large sewing needle opens up the wire hole.

himespau 

Yeah, I use the Park tool for the cable, but the dremel sometimes for the housing. At times, it can heat up and melt the liner as you imply, so I've found that cutting the housing with the Park Tool with a bit of old cable in it is still the fastest way to get a square cut on the housing without crushing the end. Wish I had the bench grinder (and a bench vice).

cxwrench

Diagonal cutters for all cables and brake housing. SRAM cable cutters for shift housing only. In nearly 30 years of doing this for a living I've never used a Dremel for anything housing related. Nor have I determined I'd be doing a better job if I used a bench grinder.
Pro tip: Park small flush cut diagonal cutters work awesome for zip ties.