Riv Hobson - Zingo cable cutter

[Richard Rose]

Anyone using this tool? I assume it works on cable housing as well as inner cables? It does not seem to have the "un-crimping" function of the Park tool but its only $20.00. The Pedro tool looks ok also. What are folks using?

[Nick Anderson]

I've been using it, and it's great. Much better than the cheapo red-handled ones I got on Amazon a while back.

[Steven Sweedler]

Richard, I have used mine a few times and it cut cleanly. Design reminds me of the Felco cable cutter which costs several times as much. Steve

On Fri, Sep 23, 2022 at 3:42 PM Richard Rose <rmro...@gmail.com> wrote:

Anyone using this tool? I assume it works on cable housing as well as inner cables? It does not seem to have the "un-crimping" function of the Park tool but its only $20.00. The Pedro tool looks ok also. What are folks using?

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Steven Sweedler
Plymouth, New Hampshire

[Corwin Zechar]

I have a pair of Park cable cutters - bought about ten years ago. Then I saw Mark Abele using Felco cable cutters. The Felco are not cheap, but they cut Yokozuna Reaction cable housing rather handily this week.

Regards,

Corwin

[Garth]

I found a pair of Snap-On Linesman pliers along the side of the road a couple years ago. I already had some Park cable/housing cutters from the 80's which were nothing to write home about, and some Shimano cutters which weren't much better desite their overpriced tag. The Linesman pliers, certainly not in new condition, put both to shame. Now, anytime I need a certain tool, I check the non-cycling options first as there's a whole lot more variety and better quality/precision. So yes, three cheers for non-cycling branded quality tools ! 

[Eric Marth]

I agree the HZ cable cutters a great for the price. rmrose: I cut with the HZ and then crimp with a pair of Knipex diagonal cutters. Not a crimping tool, but a cutting tool. With finesse you can get good crimps with diagonal cutters, I believe lots of mechanics use them. 

I had a pair of red-handled Amazon wonders and they quickly became trash. I could make better cuts with my teeth. 

I love Felco tools, my partner's a gardener and I service her Felcos every few months with a complete disassembly, cleaning, greasing and sharpening. They also sell replacement bits for every component, washer, blade, handle, cog, etc. 

Garth, I'm surprised you're getting good cuts of cables and housing with linesman pliers. Having used many nice ones for other types of work I wouldn't think the shape of the blades would allow for nice cuts. I agree that looking outside of the world of bike-specific tools turns up nice stuff. Like Wera stainless hex wrenches and Felco wire cutters. 

And there's this from Jobst Brandt on the old rec.bicycles.misc: 

"You don't need any special cable housing cutters. Brake cable housing is made of coiled wire and can be cut with wire cutters for steel just the same as so called cable housing cutters. The idea that the end of the housing must be ground flat is an excessive attention to minutia. Cable housings have been cut with diagonal cutters effectively for eons with no ill effects."

[lconley]

I love my bench grinder that I have used for 20 years to grind the ends of the housing flat. I used a hand file before that.

I use the Park tool to cut cable. The Park tool to cut derailleur (non-spiral wound) housing. The Park tool or side cutters to cut spiral wound housing. Side cutters actually work better to cut spiral housing, but the Park tool is at the bike workbench, so that is what I usually use. I use an EVT (Efficient Velo Tools) Poker Ace to open up the housing liner after cutting and grinding.

Laing 

" excessive attention to minutia" is my middle name

[lconley]

And I silver solder the cable ends instead of crimping.

Laing

[George Schick]

Laing - what are you using the get the cable hot enough to melt silver solder?

[lconley]

Standard soldering iron. The solder is actually mostly tin.

Laing

[Richard Rose]

I was watching a video where the guy was cutting cable housing with old cable still in housing to prevent crushing. Good idea?

Sent from my iPhone

On Sep 24, 2022, at 9:53 AM, lconley <lco...@brph.com> wrote:



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[lconley]

Yes, a good idea, doesn't hurt - especially for index style derailleur housing. I keep the ends of cable that I have cut off around for that purpose but I have hoarding instincts. If you are short on storage space though - not strictly necessary.

Laing

[Garth]

Eric, they cut well because it appears they're actually some high fallutin' diagonal cutters, model 388ACF Snap-On.  

https://shop.snapon.com/product/High-Leverage-Diagonal/8%22-VectorEdge-High-Leverage-Diagonal-Cutter-(Red)/388ACF

I often get the types mixed up as it's not something I work with at all, and it seems the names/types get all blurry from one manufacturer to the next. Regardless of the cutter every housing cut I've ever done required some minor finishing to make it flush and friction free inside. The Snap-On just seems to mash it less, not a big deal..... but hey ... the tool was a roadside find and I may as well use it. I also use an old wooden handled reamer sorta thing that I've had likely since I was a teenager. It may have been a leather punch or something. It works great for reaming and rotating the spiral housing to get it just right, along with some trusty vintage hand files.

Allen hex key wrenches... sheesh .. .. is it so hard to make a 5mm hex key fit a 5mm socket well ? Apparently so as there are many inaccurate ones. I may have to get a set of the Wex ......

I bought a Pedro's spoke wrench a while ago, I was surprised how well it fit a spoke nipple compared to the regular black DT. Don't use it if you're in hurry though, it's a precise fit ! Pedro's Chain Checker Plus also is a very good tool, and it has at one end the tool for tightening chainring bolts. It's long overall length means you not only don't scrape your knuckles but you get better leverage.

[Eric Marth]

Garth, those are some nice cutters there. And I love finding stuff on the side of the road and putting it to use! 

I've only accidentally acquired Snap-On stuff in the past by purchasing large lots of tools and later found it bundled in there. They make nice stuff but outside what I'm willing to spend. 

The wooden-handled-reamer you mention is likely an awl or a "scratch awl." I use one for opening cut cable housing, too.