What kind of tool do I need to make a clean fast cut through a television aerial cable?

Question

It's harder to cut than I realised... and none of the tools I have seem to be able to do it.

Answer 1

Aerial cable is very hard. You will need to use long handled bolt cutters, and even those may not work well. The cable you are trying to cut may be "aircraft" quality, which is extremely tough!

Answer 2

You haven't mentioned whether you are trying to ct standard co-axial aerial cable or Virgin Media Cable as in cable television.
If its the latter don't even try you will wreck the integrity and Virgin engineers have a special tool which only they can get and are issued individually with one which is signed out to them and if they lose it they have to buy the next one and its VERY expensive. The tool they use is also the capping tool which puts the end connecter back on the cut cable and again you can't do that with out the specific tool.
The standard aerial cable can be cut most efficiently with a pair of standard wire cutters BUT the longer the handles the better the cut.
Standard co-axial cable is not reinforced at all it has a centre single 1 mm cooper cable, then a simple plastic insulator then its has copper mesh to shield the inner cable and finally the outside usually white or brown plastic insulator.
The tough bit to cut is the shielding as it is in a lattice to block out interfering signals.
I have found the best way is with a good quality Stanley type knife. Place the cable on a secure surface that it isn't going to matter if it gets damaged, ie not the best Oak dining table or the work surfaces in the kitchen. Then place the knife on the cable at an angle with the handle nearest to you lower than the blade and then lever the handle upwards applying pressure downwards on the back of the handle with your thumb above the blade in a kind of rocking motion take you time and be careful of course.
This will do the trick firm even pressure this is the key.
Bye hope you're successful
Paul

Answer 3

Are you sure it's an aerial and not an armoured power cable??? I have only ever used my standard 6" Knipex side cutters for ANY type of co-ax. including RG6 or RG59 Telewest/Virgin, and have always had a clean cut with the first try. I find it hard to believe that you are having difficulty unless you are using a pair of old blunt scissors or similar.

If it is a Virgin/Telewest cable you will need ShureSeal or Snap-n -seal F connectors and a special crimp tool to maintain the signal quality.

Answer 4

Bahco Shears:-

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But I'm warning you: Aerial cable is usually coax and can be cut with scissors literally! The cable you are trying to cut could be SWA (Steel Wire Armour) and could carry anything up to 415v. If it has a steel rapped brade spiralling round the outside of the cable I'd stop what your doing if i was you!

Answer 5

The best tool to use for such a cable is a wire cutter which will provide a smooth fast cut.

Answer 6

If it is anything like aerial drop for phone lines, a bolt cutters would work otherwise any rotary cuttoff tool would do it.

The trouble is that the cable is reinforced, aerial phoen drop has a steel sheathing under the insulation, it used to be lead. Odds are cable tv wires have similar reinforcing.

Answer 7

A combination of Stiles from Teen Wolf Joey from Friends Seth from The O.C

Answer 8

t.v. areil cable is simple to cut. lay cable over small block of wood and cut with a sharp stanley knife. if your not fussy how clean a cut you leave just use the stanley knife..

Answer 9

Buy electricians wire cutters from any diy store, or use the inset cutters of a pair of pliers.

Answer 10

I've always managed with a 'Stanley' knife.
Go round and round rather than try to cut it straight through. The centre conductor if solid may require a pair of snips.
RoyS