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Was talking to an old timer at the bike co-op in Eugene who said he hasn't used cable cutters in 20 years
So I'm volunteering at this co-op last Saturday, sorting through a bin of old housing. This guy Bill, probably 70 years old, he's been wrenching since the 70s. I pull out my Park Tool cable cutters to trim a brake cable and he just shakes his head. Says he uses a sharp pair of side cutters and a file. I laughed it off at first but then he showed me. He files the end of the cable before cutting, says it prevents fraying way better than the expensive cutters. I tried it on a shifter cable that's usually a nightmare and it worked perfectly. Been using those $40 cutters for years thinking they were the only way. Has anyone else switched to a different method for cables?
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miller.susan5mo ago
Oh man, that's a good reminder that half my "pro" tools are probably just covering for my lack of actual skill. I bet Bill could probably cut a cable with a rusty butter knife and still make it look clean.
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eric3595mo ago
File trick works, cutters are overhyped. Bill sounds like he knows his stuff. Might ditch the Park Tool and give it a shot.
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