[Soulweeper]

I just got certified to do Wild Blue installation, and am getting my tools together, and one tool I'm curious about is what is the best type of wire cutters to use for coax. I've heard of square cut cable cutters, and that makes sense, as they supposedly make a nice square without crushing the cable like regular wire cutters. I've used regular wire cutters at home, but since I'll be doing this for a living, I'd like to know what some of you suggest. Thanks in advance!

 

[revolg]

I use a good but yet simple plier cutters. The only recommendation I have is to make sure there electric pliers. As mine has saved me a couple times from getting electrocuted.

 

[wallfishman]

i use the ones from harbor freight that come in a pack of 6 for 9.99. They are bright orange so they dont get lost as easy. and if you do lose a pair your out about 1.50 instead of 30 dollar kleins. as far as cutting the cable ive never really paid attention to it . I squeeze them , the cable gets shorter...

 

[samrs]

I've lost several pairs of kleins; cheap, eight or nine inches, bright colors are nice.

 

[Soulweeper]

Appreciate the replies! I was looking at either
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846
or
http://www.amazon.com/Klein-63050-2-Inch-Leverage-Cutter/dp/B0000302X1/ref=pd_luc_sbs_02_01_t_lh
but it sounds like maybe overkill??

 

[west99999]

Yeah I would say overkill and you will appreciate a smaller pair that are easier to use like a 6 inch pair.

 

[cabletech]

Unless you also plan to be cut hard line cable like the cable company use's, you do not need that heavy of cutter. Just a regular standard off the dime store shelh wire cutter will work just fine.

As for crushing the cable when you cut it, by the time you strip it for the fitting, the 'crush' will be gone.

 

[Soulweeper]

Unless you also plan to be cut hard line cable like the cable company use's, you do not need that heavy of cutter. Just a regular standard off the dime store shelh wire cutter will work just fine.

As for crushing the cable when you cut it, by the time you strip it for the fitting, the 'crush' will be gone.

Yeah, that makes sense......I just remember reading something about "square cut" cutters.....and it was on some forum, just can't remember which one. Oh well, I'll just get something like this
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000302VW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
or just some cheaper ones at Home Depot.

 

[MrShowtime]

I just use a small pair from lowes. Cheap and effective and SMALL. Wild Blue is either just 1 rg6 (if you are doing the SB2 modem) or dual rg6 (for the legacy). You don't need anything ridiculous or big for that.

I been wild blue certified for a couple years, relatively simple installation and goes quick once you get the hang of it

 

[ZandarKoad]

You'll need the pointy cutting tip on the regular type as well for cutting zip ties. It's much harder to use the rounded kind of cutters for those odd cutting jobs.

 

[Jodean]

I had always used a standard GB wire stripper

I tried out a steel cable cutter from sears, about $25. I will never cut cable again with a plier type cutter. This shear doesn't smash the cable one bit and it cuts like a knife through butter.

 

[Soulweeper]

I just use a small pair from lowes. Cheap and effective and SMALL. Wild Blue is either just 1 rg6 (if you are doing the SB2 modem) or dual rg6 (for the legacy). You don't need anything ridiculous or big for that.

I been wild blue certified for a couple years, relatively simple installation and goes quick once you get the hang of it

Yeah, I need to shadow someone for at least a couple days. The "hands on" class isn't really much of a hands on at all. There was only two of us and they kind of rushed us through the day.

 

[Soulweeper]

I had always used a standard GB wire stripper

I tried out a steel cable cutter from sears, about $25. I will never cut cable again with a plier type cutter. This shear doesn't smash the cable one bit and it cuts like a knife through butter.

Just out of curiosity...... is that similar to the couple different ones I linked to?

 

[krazyrs]

they are different, he is saying you want diagonal cutters for trimming those zip ties

i use these
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs..._mmc=shopping-_-googlebase-_-D27X-_-202039366

 

[Combat Medic]

You'll need the pointy cutting tip on the regular type as well for cutting zip ties. It's much harder to use the rounded kind of cutters for those odd cutting jobs.

I like electrician scissors for this.

 

[Laxguy]

These look mighty nice, mighty pricey.

 

[Beerstalker]

I just use a cheap pair like this and don't have any problems. I'm not a pro installer though, but I have wired up 3 houses with mine so far and they still work fine (2 coax and 2 Cat 6 to each outlet, multiple outlets per room).

http://www.amazon.com/Cable-Cutter-...F8&qid=1343075878&sr=8-5&keywords=coax+cutter

 

[Soulweeper]

they are different, he is saying you want diagonal cutters for trimming those zip ties

i use these
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs..._mmc=shopping-_-googlebase-_-D27X-_-202039366

Yeah, I understand.
I have a couple pairs like that, I just thought maybe a lot of you guys use something different out in the field. I guess that thing I read about not crushing the cable and making a nice square cut just got stuck in my head, and is unnecessary

 

[Jodean]

I used this one for awhile, it seemed ok till i found the sears one, hands down 3 times better cutter.

ok cutter

http://www.amazon.com/Cable-Cutter-...sr=8-5&keywords=coax cutter&tag=5336432741-20

very good cutter, i could not find the exact one from sears, they dont list it

looks very much like this one but said it was rated for steel cable and is a 6" tool

http://www.amazon.com/CHANNELLOCK-9...8&qid=1343103623&sr=1-1&keywords=cable+cutter

 

[Wire Nut]

I use
These
and
These
Pliers are essential, the cutters on the lineman's set can go through just about anything without deforming the blade.