If I don't have a spoke cutter, what's the best tool to use to cut spokes?

[akelman]

I want to cut some hubs out of a built wheel, but I don't have a spoke cutter. What's the best tool -- perhaps a cable cutter* -- to use instead? Other than the sharp edge of my intellect, of course. Thanks!

* Or will I destroy the cable cutter?

[rugbysecondrow]

Pincher part of vice grips.

[J.Greene]

Make sure the wheel is un tensioned whatever you use. I have some small cheap bolt cutters but a Dremel with cutoff wheel would be fast too. Or you could just use a spoke wrench. It doesn't take that long.

[echelon_john]

if you're saving the rim, detension spokes first, then clip. i use a pair of lineman's pliers which have a nice cutting surface that my friend's dad gave me when i was 10.

if you're not saving the rim, you can just go ahead and clip. but detensioning will make it safer.

[akelman]

if you're saving the rim, detension spokes first, then clip. i use a pair of lineman's pliers which have a nice cutting surface that my friend's dad gave me when i was 10.

if you're not saving the rim, you can just go ahead and clip. but detensioning will make it safer.

Thanks!

[JayBay]

These.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00945084000P?prdNo=10&blockNo=10&blockType=G10

Get the Craftsman brand too, so you can get a free replacement after you dull the hell out of it cutting spokes ;)

[akelman]

I should have said, "Thanks, everyone!"

[nighthawk]

DOn't use cable cutters.. it'll ruin them. Bolt cutters is the way to go.

[MattTuck]

Make sure the wheel is un tensioned whatever you use. I have some small cheap bolt cutters but a Dremel with cutoff wheel would be fast too. Or you could just use a spoke wrench. It doesn't take that long.

Reminds me of a possibly false urban legend, that says if you cut all the strings in a piano simultaneously, the wood frame would literally explode apart, as so much tension is removed at once.

Wonder if you could get the same thing to happen with a rim.... would be awesome :)

[JAGI410]

Why not just put a flathead screwdriver bit in a cordless drill and remove the nipples from the bottom? If spokes are too long, loosen with spoke wrench first. Easier, safer, and probably faster.

[ergott]

I have a set of Park cable cutters that I dedicated to cutting spokes. They work great for that, but it ruined them for cutting shift/brake cables. I have Felco for that.

Lineman or dykes would work, but they should be beefy ones. Spokes aren't that easy to cut.

[echelon_john]

no explosion, but the tensioned spokes move pretty quick when you cut them, so getting cut by one isn't out of the question. that's another vote for longer lineman's pliers IMO.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000302W6/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B003OD1QIA&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=05HSYJBE4RWG38C3NSQ9

Reminds me of a possibly false urban legend, that says if you cut all the strings in a piano simultaneously, the wood frame would literally explode apart, as so much tension is removed at once.

Wonder if you could get the same thing to happen with a rim.... would be awesome :)

[ergott]

Reminds me of a possibly false urban legend, that says if you cut all the strings in a piano simultaneously, the wood frame would literally explode apart, as so much tension is removed at once.

Wonder if you could get the same thing to happen with a rim.... would be awesome :)


When the rim is done, I've cut pairs of spokes at a time from a fully tensioned wheel. I cut them at the crossing. It's a bit scary at first, but nothing exciting happens. I wouldn't stare down at the spoke exiting the rim when I do it. They can pop out.

[ultraman6970]

Dremel can cut any spoke if that's what u need to cut, the cut will be clean and fast.

[slowgoing]

Reminds me of a possibly false urban legend, that says if you cut all the strings in a piano simultaneously, the wood frame would literally explode apart, as so much tension is removed at once.

Mythbusters material?

[Mark McM]

Reminds me of a possibly false urban legend, that says if you cut all the strings in a piano simultaneously, the wood frame would literally explode apart, as so much tension is removed at once.

Modern pianos use iron frames, not wood. These are very stiff (as they need to be so that the string vibrations have can long sustains), so I doubt they store much energy from the string tension.

[thwart]

Just finished cutting out spokes on a wheel my daughter taco'd...

A Wiss tinsnips worked just fine.

[rustychisel]

Mythbusters material?

No. As my partner pointed out last week they're only interested in stuff they can use explosives on, or results in fire.

[dustyrider]

No. As my partner pointed out last week they're only interested in stuff they can use explosives on, or results in fire.

Yeah I've sorta fallen out of the mythbuster club myself.
I think the episode where they try to prove myths from movies is what did it. I mean CGI scenes are myths period no need to try to disprove them or prove them. Unless you take into account the above.

To OP:
Now, as far as cutting spokes is concerned, it sounds like you've got plenty of good advice, so have fun!

[oliver1850]

why cut spokes, when you have po' folk who will use used ones?