What is the best way to cut zip ties with a knife

I tend to agree with Knarfeng and T.L.E. Of course snips are better, but one does not always have them available. So, if you must use a knife, the method T.L.E. described is best in my experience.
 
One more way to abuse a multitool. Works on smaller ties. There will probably be some in the packaging under the tree. The grandchild will be asking Gwapa to free the latest toy from it restraints.
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I have run into this problem too.

I agree 100% with all of the folks that stated using snips was the best option.

Snips and diagonal-cutting pliers are quite handy to have around for this, along with cutting wire and metal banding tasks.

Plus, they can be bought for $10 to $20, which makes them cheap enough to buy more than one set and have them stowed around your work area/tool box/vehicles/home/where ever needed.

For those that find them too heavy to be carrying around. You might want to consider a set of the EMT/Trauma shears.
 
I always use my leathermen wave to handle zip ties. I depending on the space, I use the wire cutters on it, the scissors and last resort the full serrated blade. Either way, they give a much more controlled cut than any folder would IMO.
 
Blues Bender said:
You have answered your own question. If you or someone else gets hurt from your own ignorance, you will be the person at fault. Being lazy is not an excuse for doing a job improperly.
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Hey BB - Thanks for the constructive feedback to the discussion. Looks like I figured out how to answer my own question and be ignorant in the same post. I'm proud to be part of a forum with people that carry the authority to define the proper way to cut something and then criticize others for not not doing it that way when they ask for suggestions.

Everyone else - thanks for the input and education
 
Another vote for what T.L.E. posted. The spine-lever method is generally the easiest and safest way to go about it if a knife is the only tool you have available. When I have the option I like to use wire cutters instead. I find they deal with the hard plastic with ease, give a good leverage ratio, and the tapered tips get into tight awkward spots well.
 
I like Klein electrician scissors, but snips or dikes work well also. I don't like using a knife on something that slips suddenly, because I'm a klutz, but if it works for you, go for it.
 
These are my very best wire tie cutters. I ground the edges very thin with shallow bevels on all three. They laser wire ties and I have had no edge damage and these are years old. Blows customers away. The ones that already tried it with their knife and came back into the building to have me cut them. "you aint going to cut those with THAT little o' knife I already tried it with my Ninja Knife!" I am still waiting for some one to tell me what a Ninja Knife is.



These days I carry ZDP-189 often an love it. That steel can chip some cutting wire ties so I just use the super small diagonal wire cutters shown here for wire ties when I am at work (carried in the pouch). Unless I got a Ninja Knife wielder and I want to show off. One of those little SAKs is always on me at work. For other specialty cutting.



As far as HOW to cut wire ties I made this photo for another thread but the technique is the same : Using the thin, skinny SAKs in the photo above I anchor my non knife hand on the package, work, what have you . . . pivot the blade on my thumb or push with my thumb so the blade is under full control.



Finally I thought this hooked blade Tasman would be the cat’s meow for wire ties; the tip really gets in there and gets ahold of the tie but the geometry is too thick so it takes ALOT of force to cut even a small tie. Who knew ? ! ? I’m not going to thin out that narrow tip; seems like a bad idea; so I am back to the wire cutters. I use them for other work too so are handy to have on me.

 
NotSoSharpBob said:
Hey BB - Thanks for the constructive feedback to the discussion. Looks like I figured out how to answer my own question and be ignorant in the same post. I'm proud to be part of a forum with people that carry the authority to define the proper way to cut something and then criticize others for not not doing it that way when they ask for suggestions.

Everyone else - thanks for the input and education
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Forum cops, BB is one of the Sheriffs here. Or at least thinks he's one.
 
When it comes to cutting zip ties for me, I generally just try to get the tip of the blade between the tie and whatever it's holding and then wiggle the knife back and forth until the tie is cut.

If you know going into your day what you will be cutting ties all day, then yes, grabbing a pair of snips, scissors, cutters, etc. is the best approach and will make the job much easier and faster. But if you are presented with cutting zip ties without any real preparation, on the fly, just go with whatever you got on you. Just make sure you don't hurt yourself or anyone else.

And if you know that cutting with a pair of snips is best but would rather cut with your knife, even given the drawbacks, then have at it.
 
Please focus on the question at hand, rather than on some of the less than helpful posters.
 
What are these "snips" that so many are referring to? I just use good old fashioned "dikes".



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Sent from my mind....using Tap-a-Thought. (tm)
 
Thumbs up for DIangonal CuttERS

I do trim zip ties with a knife though. When you cut them with the snips they leave a sharp stub. When you cut with a knife it's a smooth finish. So on a motorcycyle for example when I'm securing wiring etc. I trim the free end off with a knife.

I grab the excess and pull it taut; then carefully cut the width of the strap with a very sharp blade.
 
Danke42 said:
Thumbs up for DIangonal CuttERS

I do trim zip ties with a knife though. When you cut them with the snips they leave a sharp stub. When you cut with a knife it's a smooth finish. So on a motorcycyle for example when I'm securing wiring etc. I trim the free end off with a knife.

I grab the excess and pull it taut; then carefully cut the width of the strap with a very sharp blade.
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Good point! I also prefer to use a knife to trim them nice and smooth.
 
I gave up trying to cut those suckers with a knife, now I use large nail clippers to quickly help rid the world of the insidious zip tie menace.
 
Yet another one for the side-cutters here.
More often than not, the zip tie I have to cut is around something that is easily damaged by the slip of a sharp blade (wiring, tubing, wrists :-). For me, it's quicker, easier, and cleaner to just snip with the Snap-Ons...

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bflying said:
What are these "snips" that so many are referring to? I just use good old fashioned "dikes".



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Sent from my mind....using Tap-a-Thought. (tm)
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Beats me. But when you say dike, I know exactly what you are talking about. I always have a small pair in my truck, very handy for many things.
 
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