Replacing or swapping your bike cable is an easy job that you can do at home. It is part of the regular bike maintenance to keep it at the optimum operation. When you notice that there is a frayed cable particularly beside the cable anchor, your bike cable would already need replacement.
Replacing your bike cable can be very simple using the right and effective tool. When the cable gets worn out, sticky, and frayed, replacing and cutting it loose are the best option. You need the basic tools including new cables, ferrules, and bike cable cutter to get the job done right.
Thus, the best bike cable cutter we listed below will make your task easy and simple. With these cutters, you can experience a clean and fast cut when repairing your bike.
Best Bike Cable Cutter Reviews
1. Park Tool CN-10 Bicycle Cable Cutter
The Park Tool cable cutter is every biker’s favorite repair tool. It is in our top list because of its precise and clean cable cut. It has an excellent cutting power making your work easy and fast. Moreover, it is engineered for both cable and housing, especially the hard-to-cut shift housing.
With its impressive cutting jaws, cutting your bike cable is a no-sweat experience. The cutter’s jaws are cold-forged for high-precision and exceptional cutting. It is built for strength and exhibits a high-level of durability even bike service centers prefer using this cable cutter. Since it is durable, the product tends to be heavy to use.
Another thing to like about this bicycle cutter is it featured heat treated steel handles. It helps to improve grip and strength for precise and accurate cutting. You can never get injured using these handles because it is easy to grip and press.
This best bicycle cable cutter has a built-in crimper intended for cable end caps. You can also use this in forming holes for your housing ends and ferrules. Furthermore, the cutter features a wire latch that keeps the jaws together when not in use. You are ensured of the safety of this cutter even in idle mode.
- Ideal for both cable and housing
- Cold forged feature for powerful cut
- Clean and accurate cutting
- Safe to use
- Can be heavy to use
2. Cal Hawk Tools CPLWC8 Wire Cutter
The next product in this list is the Cal Hawk bike cutter. It comes in red color with 2.032cm x 8.89 cm x 24.892cm dimension. The product can be heavy with a weight of 1.5lbs. But the overall appearance of this cutter is the perfect combination of a red rubber handle and black steel jaws. You can see at the other end of the grip handle, the company’s name printed in white.
Even though it is a cheaper variant of bike cutter, the quality is not compromised. This steel wire cutter has powerful hardened blades that ensure a precise and perfect cut. You will notice jaws’ cutting edges have a unique shape making the cutting performance smooth and fast.
The greatest quality of this bike cutter is the overlapping hardened blades that give sheer and absolute cut. You do not need to worry about the imperfect and unflattened use of this bike cutter. This cutter can keep your cable from flattening, fanning and splaying. It is the ideal cutter to use when you want to repair your bike at the comfort of your home.
- Affordable
- Makes powerful cut
- Smooth and fast cutting performance
- Comes with non-slip handles)
- Tends to be heavy
3. Muzata Stainless Steel Cable Cutter
The Muzata stainless steel cable cutter is another product with a red and black design combination. It is a great color duo that can easily blend with your other biking repair tools. It is specifically engineered to cut steel wires of up to 5/32” that can result in sharp and clean wire cuts.
With this cable cutter, you can repair your bike, replace the cable and cable housing using this impressive tool. It is practical and durable to use making the cut clean and accurate. You will notice that the cable no longer frays and the end is impressively flattened when you use this as a cutter.
It is also very versatile. Aside from cutting a bike cable, you can use this to cut ripcords and remove grommet. Even though it is not ideal for professional cutting, it is a perfect cutter for some of your household wires, too. You will no longer need different cutters to cut other wires at home. This cable cutter is a perfect household tool for every cable and wire that needs repair or replacement.
- Versatile
- Clean and accurate cutting performance
- Easy to use
- Secure handle
- Not suitable for professional cutting
4. Panorama Cable & Hardware Cable Cutter
This cable cutter is another reliable cable cutter in this list. It is slim, sleek and simple in terms of design. It comes in a yellow shade that can easily be recognized when stacked along with your other bike repair tools. The overall structure of this bike cutter shows that it can provide easy and clean cable cut.
It is made of rubber handles to keep the grip on your hand. Both sides of the handle have a curve design to allow a better and simpler grip when cutting cable or cable house. It looks handy while the edge of the cutter is round intended for the bike cable cutting tool.
When you use the proper tool, specifically this cable and house cutter, you will notice that it gives accurate and proper cut. It is also versatile as it can cut different types of cable. You can cut square, round, and cold cables and still result in a high-quality cut. It is made specifically to cut bike cables only.
- Sleek and simple design
- Lightweight
- Versatile
- Sharp edges
- Specifically made to cut bike cables
5. Pedro’s 131839 Bicycle Cable Cutter
If you are looking for an affordable but highly dependable bike cable cutter, this Pedro’s bicycle cable cutter is a perfect pick for you. At a lower price, you can get both quality and durability from this product. It is designed to have a power cut to make your bike repair activity easy and clean.
This cutter is also versatile as it can cut both brake cable and bike cable housing, at the same time. It is a sleek and well-made cable cutter intended for regular bike cables. However, if you use this for shift housing, it can have a clean and splitting cut, not the flattened cut you want to achieve.
In terms of blade and cutting edges, this cutter does not disappoint. The blades are sharp enough to penetrate through the hard cable material. Since it has a rubberized yellow handle, the grip is secured even when you are cutting a tough cable material.
- Affordable
- High quality and durable
- Sharp and reliable cutting edges
- Non-slip and rubberized handles
- Gives split cut to harder cable material
6. Zoostliss PF-112Z Stainless Steel Cutter
The Zoostliss stainless steel cutter is a great product intended to cut 5/32” wire and cable. It is made of stainless steel material making the entire product durable and powerful. The edge of the cutter is sharp for right and proper cutting. It comes with a special heat treatment that stabilizes friction between the metal and the cutter. This heat treatment technology is perfect for professional cutting for bike cables and wires.
This bike cable cutter is designed for repairing your bike cable or cable housing. You will notice that your bike cable rarely frays and smashes on the ends after using this product. It is also versatile which you can use to cut cable, ripcords and grommet removal.
The cutting metal and edges are made of hardened steel blades that are sharp enough to cut any type of wire. It has a well-countured and rubberized handle for a secured grip when cutting. You wont get hurt as the handle is also cushioned providing comfortable cutting.
- Has heat treatment technology
- Durable
- Comfortable grip design
- Comes with hardened steel blades
- Intended for bike cable and wires only
7. FELCO F C7 Cable Cutter
If you are looking for a trusted and proven brand for a high-quality cable cutter, FELCO is the best brand for you. This brand has mastered the design and technology to make topnotch products for more than 70 years already. It is guaranteed that the products from the brand can last for a really long time.
This FELCO cable cutter is the first in our list with an ergonomic cutting design. It provides comfort to your hand, giving you the most convenient grip when cutting. Even though it is at a higher price range, the cutter is made of top-level material to provide the best cutting performance. This bike cutter is made of premium steel components to ensure the maximum level of durability.
You are ensured that this bike cable cutter will last long as it is engineered and designed in Switzerland. The country is known for creating high-quality products worldwide. The high-grade steel component is coupled by an impressive handle to make cutting more comfortable. Moreover, the handle is a plastic non-slip grip which you can hold better for harder and stubborn bike cables.
- Durable
- Easy to maintain
- Made of top-quality material
- Comfortable handle-grip
- Pricey compared to other cutters
8. Glarks Bike Cable End Caps
If you are looking for the perfect set of cable end caps and cable cutter, this Glarks product is the most suitable pick. The set has 120 pieces of cable end caps and an 8-inch stainless steel cutter. The cable cutter can cut up to 5/32” cable wire diameter.
This product is very durable particularly the cable end caps made of premium aluminum alloy. The end cap set comes in different colors making your bike bright and colorful. All end caps in this set are strong and durable intended for long term use. They are lightweight and easy to carry without putting in much weight when biking.
On the other hand, the bike cable cutter does not disappoint, too. It has enough sharpness and durability ensuring precise and accurate cut. The cutter is hard enough because of the high-quality stainless steel material used. Using this cutter when repairing your bike is simple and convenient.
- Complete set of end caps and cable cutter
- Lightweight
- Durable
- Provides impressive cutting performance
- Some may not need to much end caps
9. IceToolz 67A5 Cable Cutter
If you are looking for a highly versatile cable cutter, this IceToolz cable cutter is a good choice for you. You can use this for both indoor and outdoor bikes. It is a helpful tool to add to your bike repair and maintenance kit.
This product has a simple black and metal design with a printed manufacturing name on one side of the handle. It has a spring suspension in the middle to control the movement and force when cutting. At the end of this cable cutter, there is a silver metal for locking purposes. The handle is ergonomic with layers of curves to make your job more comfortable.
It is not the most affordable in this list, as the cutter is pricey. However, it performs its job well. It is ideal for cutting both casings and cables. This cutter gives you a clean cut with a very functional reconditioner. You don’t get stressed when repairing the casing ends as the cutter is good for rounding out the cable casing ends.
As it is made to be versatile, you can use it for road, racing and even mountain biking. You will never worry about your bike cable fraying when you use this impressive cutter. It has an exceptional performance that makes repairing your bike become easy and enjoyable.
- Versatile
- Ergonomic
- Impressive clean cutting performance
- Comes with spring suspension for controlled cutting
- Pricey
10. SHIMANO Cable Cutter
If you notice that you already have a worn out bike cable and cable housing and you need them to be replaced, you can use this Shimano cable cutter. It is an efficient cutting tool that you can use when repairing your bike cables. It is engineered to provide superior cutting performance with its sharp and powerful blades. However, it is still at the higher price side.
This cable cutter comes in black and silver cutter and equipped with a liner needle. It looks sleek and simple with curves in both handles. The handle is made of rubberized material as a non-slip feature. You can hold it together even when cutting an extremely hard bike cable.
It is an improved version that features sharper blades using a chrome-plated carbon steel material. This is to ensure that you can use it for a long time because of the materials used. It has better longevity compared to the older version made by the brand. You can keep it in your toolbox for an extended time.
- Comes with sharp and powerful blades
- Has built-in crimper for reshaping
- Easy on the hands
- Provides efficient cutting
- Expensive compared to other
What to Look for When Buying a Bike Cable Cutter
Material
When buying a cable cutter, the number one consideration is the material used. Cable cutters are one of the most crucial tools in maintaining your bikes or MTBs. It is vital to find a high-quality bike cable cutter that can stand the test of time. Meaning, the metal should not rust, can handle complex and hard cables, and is durable. Most cable cutters you see in the market today are made of stainless steel material.
Sharpness
The best cutter for your bike cables is the one with impressive sharpness. You would not want to buy something that cannot perform its job. Cutters are made to cut hard and powerful wires, it is just important to consider the sharpness of the tool. It will also make you fast and easier when it is sharp. You want to achieve clean and sheer cut performance, and it heavily depends on the sharpness of the tool.
Handle
Another essential feature to look for when buying bike cable cutters is the handle. Cable cutter handles provide a convenient cutting experience and are comfortable. Search for handles with cushioned and rubberized designs to add a layer of comfort when cutting cables and cable housing. You can also include a non-slip feature of the handle so you can keep holding the cutter even when cutting very hard and strong cable or wire. Other manufacturers include ergonomic and heat treat technology when making handles for cable cutters.
How Do I Cut my Bike Cable Housing
Cutting your bike cable housing is simple and easy. Given the right tool and knowledge, you can do it at the comfort of your home. It is important to wear eye protection before performing any work on your bike. When you have the right gear, you can now proceed to the job.
Initially, you have to put the cable at the jaw of the table cutter. The cutter will envelop the cable to prepare it for cutting. When you cut the shifter housing, grab and steadily hold the housing close to the cutter’s jaws. To ensure a clean and precise cut, you can hold the housing perpendicular to the jaws and squeeze the bike cable cutter and crimper strong and quick. Afterwhich, inspect the cut and ensure that it made a precise, flat and clean cut. Once you are satisfied with the cut, you can now install the end cap and new cable to your bike.
How Can I Cut my Bike Cable Without a Cable Cutter
A Bike cable housing cutter is a special tool when replacing your bike’s cable or cable housing. It provides you with precise and easy cutting to regularly maintain your bike. Most amateur bikers would resort to reliable mtb cable cutters, but some would not need a special tool when replacing bike cable.
If you lack cable cutters, and need to replace your bike cable, you can do so. All you need is a pair of lineman pliers or wire cutters to do the job. Once you get the plier, place your bike cable inside the plier’s cutting surfaces. Give a purposeful cut using a hammer to get the clean cut.
How often Should Bike Cables be Replaced
There is a proper time to replace your bike cable or housing cable. Your bike cable should be regularly inspected for fraying. Every 1000 to 1500 miles, you should already pay attention to your bike cable especially when you are running 10 or 11 speed.
You will notice that the cable needs repair or replacement when the shifting feels soft and the chain begins jumping between cogs even when adjusted constantly. It is simple to identify when to replace the cable because you can easily notice cable fraying or shifting problems when biking. In a normal circumstance, brake cables should be replaced 2 to 3 years.
On the other hand, you can also change the rear part of your derailleur housing when you plan to change the bike cable. When you want to replace the entire housing, it can be changed every 2 years or when you reach 5000 to 7000 miles.
Conclusion
Fraying cables and ageing cable housing are hard to address without the right tool. With the best bike cable cutters we listed above, you are given wide selections of products you can choose from. We have affordable products for you that can deliver optimum cutting performance.
We also considered extra features which we believe are equally important. There are products with ergonomic handles, safety latch and heat treated technology. It is up to you to pick the ones that fit your needs and personal preferences.
- High Quality Cable Cutter - This cable cutter works excellent in cutting up to 5/32" wire rope cable of all kinds. It is widely used in industrial and...
- Clean Cut - The blade of this wire rope cutter is quite sharp and durable since the blade is made of chrome vanadium steel and has been hardened by...
- Safe and Easy - The safety lock prevents accidental opens and cuts that might hurt you. The ergonomic one-hand operation and non-slip rubber grips...
- Advice for constructing a system - To help you build a cable railing system, we recommend the following product combinations from Muzata, including...
- Why Choose Us - MUZATA has helped millions of families with their cable railing projects during the past years. We believe that home renovation should...
- Excellent Design: Our cable cutter is designed for cutting steel wire, It can cut up to 5/32" hard steel cable, aircraft cable, copper cable, aluminum...
- High Quality Material: This wire rope is made of carbon steel, has been hardened by high-frequency quenching, durable and can cut quickly. The cable...
- Labor Saving: You can use one hand to operate easily as it has a labor-saving spring. This wire cable cutter can make very precise, very clean cuts...
- Widely Used: Recommended for installing 1/8" cable railing projects, bicycle cable, stainless steel wire rope, aircraft cable, copper cable, aluminum...
- Package Detail: Includes an 8 inch stainless steel wire cutter for cutting steel wire which up to 5/32”, 10pcs bike brake cable end caps, 5 blue and...
- Soft: PVC coated handle ergonomically shaped to your hand for the best grip
- Sharp: Blade is made of high quality steel, quite sharp and durable
- Safe: Cable and Housing Cutter with safety lock, and telescopic spring to convenient for you to use and protect your safety
- Features: requires less effort, safe and durable, covenient to use, portable
- Widely Use：Bicycle Wire Nipper Cutters can cuts for aluminum, copper, communications cable etc.
- Made from heat-treated tool steel to ensure the ultimate in strength and long-lasting performance
- Ergonomic, cushioned grip, and high leverage design for comfort and ease of use
- Quickly and cleanly cuts brake and derailleur cables, housing, and other wires
- Sport type: Cycling
- Color: Black / Yellow.Package Dimensions: 2.311 L x 25.908 H x 9.398 W (centimeters)
- Universal bicycle cable and housing replacement kit,Specially designed for bicycles, suitable for most bicycles, such as mountain bikes, leisure...
- Product Specification:cable cutter total length:190mm/7.5", opening width:6mm/0.04".Shift cable:2m/6.5ft;Brake Cables:1.75m/5.7ft.
- Quality Materials:The cable cutter is made of CR-V steel，Hardened by quenching,stronger .The shift cable and brake cables is made of standard...
- Product Features:The cable cutter can accurately cut hard cables, and the cable ends will not be worn or crushed, and can be used to cut cables, wires...
- Package include:1Pcs Cable Cutter,6Pcs Brake Cables,6Pcs Shift Cables,12Pcs Inside O-Rings,12Pcs Silver Aluminum Cable Cap End,12Pcs Black Aluminum...
- Package Includes: 8 inch stainless steel wire cutter.6pcs bike brake cables.6pcs bike shift cables.2.5m Bicycle Cable Housing.2m Bicycle Shift Cable...
- The cable cutter is made of stainless steel.Sharp edge, smooth cut. It makes precise and clean cuts without fraying or breaking the ends.This cable...
- Bike brake cables are 1.7m/5.5FT. The shift cable is 2m/6.56FT. Universal bike cables are made of stainless steel and standard zinc plated.2.5m Brake...
- The various end caps we have equipped are mainly applied to the end of the brake cable and the end of the shift cable, which can prevent the brake...
- These bike cables and cable cutter sets are widely used in road bikes, mountain bikes, folding bikes, recreational bikes.
- 94-Piece Bicycle Cable Kit with Cutter: This kit includes 8" cable cutter, 8Pcs bike shift gear cables (2.1m/6.9ft), 8Pcs bike brake cables...
- High Quality CR-V Steel Cable Cutter: This line cable cutter works excellently in cutting up to 5/32" wire rope cables of all kinds. It makes exact...
- Bicycle Brake Cable and Shift Brake Cable: 8Pcs bike shift cables ( 2.1m/6.9ft) and 8Pcs bike brake cables ( 1.7m/5.6ft) are expertly crafted from...
- Complete & Practical Accessories: Our set surpasses others with a range of essential components, including O-rings, aluminum and plastic cable end...
- Versatile Use & Wide Application: Suitable for most bicycle types and cable-related requirements. Ideal replacement for mountain bikes, road bikes,...
- Cold forged, heat treated steel handles for strength
- Precision ground cutting jaws for a clean cut on every cable
- Built in crimper for cable end caps and forming hole for reforming housing ends and housing ferrules
- The Cable Cutter is a high quality, spring loaded, hardened steel cutter designed for cutting all types of bicycle cables neatly
- Hard and sharp cutter edges. It will cut the cable cleanly with no split ends, no further clean needed.
- It’s a simple and precise tool essential for every workshop.
- Top quality Made in Taiwan
- ORDER NOW, WORRY FREE! We're so confident about our product quality that we can provide a 2 years warranty!
- The main body of the cable cutter is made of chrome vanadium steel.After high-frequency quenching, the texture is hard. Sharp edge, smooth cut. It...
- Heavy-duty wire cutters have safety lock. The safety lock prevents accidental opening and cutting that could injure you. Easy to store, easy to carry....
- Non-slip rubber grips. Ergonomically designed handle for palm grip. reduce fatigue.No sweat, no slippage. The use of high-elasticity rebound springs...
- This cable cutter can cut up to 5/32". Widely used for cable railings, fences, bicycle shifter hoses/brake hoses/brake inner cables/shift inner cables...
- Package Includes: 1Pcs heavy duty cord cutters and 8Pcs Bike Cable Cap End Tips