Cable cutter, will any cutter do?

[pclay]

I use a dremel multi tool these days, cutting disc followed by grinding stone to get a smooth finish. My cheap wire cutters stopped working after about 3 goes.

 

[Profpointy]

Having done some googling, I am led to believe that Knipex are also a good make favoured by electricians and the like. I've not had a pair of Knipex ones personally, but since my lovely Lindstrom heave duty cutters are lost, I'm likely to go for a pair of Knipex to replace them - looks like they're around £20 on fleabay for an 8 or 10" piano wire cutters - which sounds a bit cheap to me honest, but worth a go given the reputation.

Re Draper, although people do seem to have better luck these days, I forswore the brand nearly 30 years ago having bought a few things which were simply useless, not merely poor quality - a ratchet which bust first use, a countersink drill which didn't cut, and pozi screwdrivers which simply didn't work at all.

EDIT - after more searching, after all, I'm after a pair myself, I was horrified to discover than Knipex are now part of Draper, so that means either or both parts of my post above are rubbish !

 

[youngoldbloke]

I use a pair of pliers, stick the cable twixt the little sharp cutting edges and then whack the plier jaws sharply with a hammer. Beautiful clean cut every time and cost nowt as I had the tools anyway.

I used to do that 'when I were a lad', with my dad's pliers. I still have them 50 years on - complete with the notches in the (blunt) cutting edges . Used to cut nails that way too!
I recommend the correct tool for the job

 

[al-fresco]

I struggled for years fettling bikes and motorbikes with pliers and crap old cutters, reluctant to fork out money for what was just an occasional job. Then I bought a pair of Fatspanner cutters and, the first time I used them, I wished I'd bought them years ago. If it's a job you do more often you might want a better quality pair but these will do for me.

 

[Ajax Bay]

Resurrecting this thread to seek advice.

I 've got a pair of Draper Expert cutters that cost about £10

I, too, use these Draper Expert wire-rope-or-spring-wire-cutter and they do the business. Still <£10.
But having broken an FD cable last weekend I am looking at the issue of whether one, on a long ride that it's important (to you) to finish, whether carrying a spare gear cable (and a brake cable) is prudent and worth the weight. I used to carry a cable but it dropped below the threshlod of items to carry. But that also begs the question: what about cable cutters. If you're lucky the parted cable can be removed from the outer by just pulling, even if it has frayed at the end, and last weekend I was able to do this (and use the lower limit screw to push the chain onto the middle chainring). It was Saturday so 50km further on I was able to buy a cable and fit it. But I would not have been so lucky later in the day or on the Sunday (maybe).
I could not countenance carrying the cable cutters linked above: they are too heavy and too bulky.
Does anyone have recommendations for effective but lightweight and as small as possible cable cutters you could carry (I'm not talking panniers here)?

 

[Bodhbh]

Park tool cutter sounds like a good one for that price.

I've got a pair, and they still cut cleanly 9yrs down the line. They get a fair amount of use, and I tend to use Goodridge outers (tough as old boots). You still need to give the ends a quick file to make sure they're flush tho.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

I have a Park Tool cable cutter, not cheap but it cuts cleanly.

 

[Drago]

My favourite is a set of Halfords Pro electrical pliers. Razor sharp cutting thingy, very durable.