[Closed] Cable Ties on frames - who smooths theirs after cutting?

I use nail clippers. The slightly rounded cut takes most of the sharpness away.

Just cut them level to the lock with a Stanley knife.

The end? I just cut level with the edge of the fastener so there's no end exposed to worry about.

+1 to cutting them flush with the fastener

Yup, nail clippers are your friend.

I leave the ones on my stays long.

Brrrr

Cut then hit them with a lighter smooth and not stabby

I file mine - especially after tonight:

One opened up my leg like up a surgoen's scalpal - blood all over the trail

Quite upset a couple walking by

Nice sharp pair of wire cutters and get as close to the fastener as possible.

Not thought of nail clippers before though, might try them next time.

If you cut them flush there's nowt left to damage you.

Mini cutters and smooth with needle file if really have to use them.

The wire cutters don't get close enough

Nail clippers here too,nothing sharp left to bite you when cleaning.

Use a Stanley knife then...

Try not to cut yourself with it though. 😆

Stanley knife flush to the block but also think about where the block is sitting to minimise the risk. For example, on stays, I'll thread them through so I can tuck the block inside the stay.

Stanley blade here too. Mind the cables and hoses when it cuts through !!

🙄 Does your mum still dress you? You do cut the surplus off don't you?
Just use the same side cutters to cut it flush. 1 snip and its done.

You should cut cable ties with "flush cut" pliers" I have decent pliers for work from snap on and beta but bought a cheap pair at the market for £2 there fine.
Less than 3 quid on eBay save yourself gouged legs!

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=131549134176&globalID=EBAY-GB

I use a knife and just knick them flush to the fastener then twist. They tear off nice and smooth with less chance of cutting through into hoses, paint, fingers etc.

Stanley knife here, one of my mates is really pedantic about these things and it rubbed off on me years ago.

Side cutters and a needle file. I love a bit of OCD cable tie filing

I use a small piece of 5mm tubing to hold onto cables/hoses. Much neater and more secure. Excess cable tie cut flush with a sharp blade.

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[quote=Three_Fish ]I use a small piece of 5mm tubing to hold onto cables/hoses. Much neater and more secure. Excess cable tie cut flush with a sharp blade.

I use a small washer the same way. Less of a gap between cable and frame/forks too.

Anyone who says "side cutters" will be taken out and shot.

Having worked with industrial electrical installations for 30+ years that have 10's of thousands cable ties on everything I have had & seen enough slash wounds from cable ties cut with side cutters to know you are doing it wrong.
Cut flush with a Stanley type knife & file smooth if your still not sure.

possibly a bit ott but sidecutters AND smooth off with hot soldering iron 8)

I thought this thread was pointless, but the tube idea is really good, so I learned something today.
I use some japanese bonsai scissors.they get right inside. not had a problem, but I tend to use the smallest cable ties I can find.
my 2p.

I love how this thread has developed into "show me your obscure tool for a simple task".

I borrow my wife's girlfriend's Korean-style bikini-line-straggler-trimming-blowtorch, personally. 🙂

Simply focus your powers on the sharp end.

Failing that, a lighter.

Flush cutters, they are designed for just this job.
Mine are snap on, and I`ve had them for years only for cutting cable ties.
My old boss used the first pair once for cutting lockwire and wrecked them.
He got a bit of a shock when I brought another pair and gave him the bill along with the now wrecked ones.

But cheaper versions are available.

They cut completely flush

I tend to leave 15mm proud of the block so that I can remove and re-use them as I see fit.
So I'll normally mount them in such a way that the ends are impossible to catch yourself on and I'll take the corners off the cut edge, so no sharp bits.

What you need is a pair of flush-cutting wire cutters that are used for trimming components on circuit boards. These have a flat ground surface and the blade edges are ground from the inside like a one-sided knife edge. Clean flush cut with no nasty sharp edges. RS stock them, they are only lightweight but perfect for the job. Edit--Oops, beaten to it!

Threefish +1

Although when I'm feeling lazy it usually ends up being a zip tie inside a zip tie rather than a bit of pipe.

Holds cables far enough away form the pain that they don't scratch either. And rotate the ends so they're not pointing at your fleshy bits.

I trim them with flush side cutters.
Then smooth the cut end down with 400, 800 and finally 1000 grit wet & dry before buffing the end with a polishing mop on a dremel.

It's the only way to be sure you aren't going to injure yourself.

End cutters for the win, perfect every time, much less hairy than using a Stanley blade.

[img] https://www.orbitalfasteners.co.uk/media/image/42987/0/0/0/Knipex-200mm-End-Cutting-Nippers/jpg [/img]

Sharp stanley blade and if there's any roughness I'll file it smooth.

Next off you guys will be telling me you use a guide to cut the steerer and file the burrs off afterwards...............

No, simply use a spoon handle as a deburrer 😉

emanuel - Member
I thought this thread was pointless

It started out as a piss take, but I think it has taken on a deeper meaning now 🙂

You can also twist the ends off.

2 pages and a uchoob vid - wow!

Haven't you heard, Cobra ties are what all the cool kids are using. Low profile.
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Three_Fish - Member
I use a small piece of 5mm tubing to hold onto cables/hoses. Much neater and more secure. Excess cable tie cut flush with a sharp blade.

Great tip. You can also use make DIY cable guides using cable ties and a section of plastic ferrules.

I Use a dedicated tie wrap tool i get from work,works like a ratchet too first tighten tie in place, the rotate tool and it snips excess off, so it sits below the main part of tie wrap no sharp bits!!

I've been in the garage experimenting and have found:

Cable cutters: leave a sharp edge, which is what this is all about.

Nail clippers: couldn't get low enough so they still left a sharp edge, not as bad as cable cutters, but you still cut yourself. Finished off with a needle file and the finish was perfect.

Side cutters: not bad. I couldn't get them into the end of the tie so there was a still a small sharp edge. Finished off with a needle file.

Twisting: the best initial results but it leaves a raised bobble which could slice a finger. Finished off with a needle file.

Toenail clippers: found these in the bathroom cabinet, the ones that look like small pliers. Got nicely into the end of the cable tie and left a smooth finish. The quickest out of the lot as no finishing with a file needed. I've just been round all the bikes and trimmed the cable ties with them.

I generally thread them so that the block will be least visable, spin them to mount, cut with the first cutting device that comes to hand then rotate the block to the other side / least visable location of the stay/tube/fork/crown/stem or whatever.

I use cable cutters.

*looks at scar on inner thigh....*