For everyone's info, just so no one gets the wrong idea, "dikes" is an common slang term used by mechanics and electricians for "diagonal" pliers or side-cutters. Sometime they're referred to as "a pair of dikes," as one would "a pair of pliers." I used to use the term all the time when I worked as a telecom technician 3½ decades ago; these days I'm more cautious about it.
On Nov 17, 10:11 am, clayton <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hello all, > > "My almost new Park Cable Cutters crushed the cut end of what is sold > as higher quality brake cable housing when I cut it down to size." > > I worked as a bicycle mechanic for many years, and even worked for a > professional race team. The best way to cut brake housing is to use > regular dike cutters. Cut through between the coil, with the flat side > of the dikes facing towards the length of cable you are going to use. > Guide the upper "blade" of the dikes, between the coil. The other end > will bend a little as the dike cuts through the outer casing, opening > the coil, throught the inner lining and then hit metal. You end up > just cutting through one small piece of coil. Try to cut as > perpendicular as possible to the cable. Open the end of the pinched > lining, and if necessary, file the end of the cut end down a little to > sit flat. My theory on grinding, or using a dremel, is that it fills > the inner lining with little metal slivers, which causes a bit of > friction. If you have compressed air, that is not an issue. You can > blow it out. A file does not create as much air flow to pollute the > inside of the casing. Bicycle cable cutters are not made for brake > housing, period, only shifter cables, and only the housing. Use > regular sharp dikes to cut everything else. > > Clayton --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Bicycle Lifestyle" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/bicyclelifestyle?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
