What is the best way to cut a flexible cable pushrod so that the ends won't be frayed?

farr301

Stranded steel cable?

There are cable cutters that are made for this. If you compare wire cutters to hedge pruning shears, you'll notice most wire cutters are what is called "anvil" style, the edges butt together to cut the wire. Cable cutters that work well for this are of the "bypass" style where one blade passes by the other, like scissors.

I personally tend to wrap a turn or 2 of electrical tape around where I want to cut, and use a dremel with a fiber reinforced cut-off wheel. Cut thru the tape and the wire, and the tape helps prevent fraying. I do this because I have a dremel and am too cheap to buy the correct cutters.

Since you'll likely need to solder an end on the wire, you can also "tin" (soak with solder) the spot where you want to cut. Then you can cut it with any decent wire cutters, and it'll cut without fraying, as it's all bonded together there.

J

You can also use a peice of heat shrink tubing. I have used that before on cables and it works well.

Cutters like these are perfect for the job. I wouldn't know what I'd do without mine.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXKZ34&P=ML

Another method: Sever the cable using a chisel (for metalwork) struck against a steel anvil with a good weight hammer. The back/anvil portion of a vise is good to use. Always wear eye protection.

use a bench grinder if you don't have anything else.you can mouse the end of the cable with copper wire until you get it cut.

Silver solder the cable first at the point of the cut so it has 1/4" wicked in on either side. Then use a flush-cutter or Dremel cutoff saw.

ok. thanks.

farr301