Pro tip: swapped from cable cutters to a dremel for housing

I used to always use my Park Tool cable cutters for brake housing, thinking they gave the cleanest cut. Then I watched a mechanic at a shop in Denver use a dremel with a cutting wheel to trim housing in 2 seconds flat. Has anyone else made the switch and found the cut stays cleaner or do you still swear by the cutters?

3 comments

3 Comments

mark_mitchell21d ago

The dremel is definitely fast but it kicks up more debris than people realize. You gotta be real careful not to melt the housing liner on brake cable setups, especially with the thin Shimano stuff. Fine for cutting but I still reach for the cutters on shift housing.

the_robert20d ago

The wet paper towel trick is a smart move, I might have to steal that one. I usually just keep a spray bottle handy and give it a quick mist while cutting to keep things cool.

norab2121d ago

That melting issue is real, I've ruined a few housings not being careful enough with the Dremel speed. Slowing it down a notch and using a fresh blade helps a lot, but sometimes it's just not worth the risk on the thin stuff. Cutters are definitely the safer bet for shift housing, especially if you're in a hurry and not paying full attention. I've started using a little bit of wet paper towel wrapped around the cut area to keep the heat down if I'm stuck using the Dremel.