How do you / what do you use to cut zip ties bundled around cables ?

I always used to use a snap off blade like this : [Link: robertdyas.co.uk] - by tucking the blade under the zip tie and then yanking the knife to cut the zip tie.

Ive done this for years but recently did it to free a some bundled cat6 behind a TV and sliced straight through one of the cat6.

Wondered if anyone had a better way to do these ?

As you have now learned, never use a knife in this fashion. You need to have flush cutters in your tool bag, this is a must for any technician. If you tell me you are a senior tech and your don't have flush cutters, well you are not...

[Link: amazon.com]

Get yourself a pair of “flush cutters”. Do not put them in your back pocket and hunker down, they’ll put a hurting on your Achilles.

Yep.

I keep a small pair of dikes in my bag for trimming and cutting zip ties.

[Link: lowes.com]

Leaves stingers on the ends, impossible not to even on the most perfectly placed cleave.

Buy a pair of "close cutters" for zip ties.

Here’s a novel idea. No zip ties... Velcro only.

Yes, but that's on the outside of the wire bundle. That's the thing that gives installers nice straight slices on their fingers or forearms when working with tie-wrapped bundles.

But as I read the OP, he's not clearly stating this, but he's cutting the ties to release the wire bundle, not cutting off the excess. That's why he's tucking the blade under the tie and then yanking. You don't tuck the blade under the tie when you're cutting off the excess.

First, yanking means pulling toward yourself, which is a cutting no-no. Don't put yourself in the path of the blade. This is sometimes very hard to do.

Second, the recommended cutters will damage the wires if you can't slip them into the wire bundles exactly parallel to the wires. The sharp points of the cutters can pierce the wires, but just like everything here, care and precaution will minimize this (see the fourth thing).

Third, the OP cut the wires when he couldn't see where he was cutting, as in "behind a TV." He's got to take extra care in a situation like that. Hell, if you can't see what you're doing, what cutting tool won't cut a wire sooner or later?

Fourth, if he's been doing this for years and this is the first time he's cut a wire, then he's doing damn well and just needs to remember to be extra careful on EVERY CUT EVERY TIME no matter what.

These here are a little harder to find and similar to the Platinum ones Roddy was talking about but made a little heavier and last longer.
[Link: parts-express.com]

I’ve never had a problem. Trim them next to the latch. I don’t ever remember having a problem from a zip tie edge

Why would someone ever decide a knife is the tool of choice. Twisting the the tie wrap head off with a pair of pliers is safer. As others have said a pair of side cutters and knowing how to use them. May I ask what you use to cut wire? I hope it's not that cutter built into cheap pliers.

Now yew boyz be nice! !

I use these for EVERYTHING. I do have a pair of lineman pliers for bigger wire and cable but these can go through anything I throw at them. been using them for 20+ years now.

[Link: specialized.net]

This is the correct product for that. Specified designed to cut tie wraps that are cinched on cable. I have it and use it for a lot of my cutting.

Notice the tip has little arms designed to slide between the cables and the tie wrap.


[Link: techtoolsupply.com]