G'day! If you have ever tried to cut a thick mains cable with a standard pair of pliers or, heaven forbid, a hacksaw, you know the result is usually a disaster. You end up with a squashed, distorted end that looks like a dog's breakfast and refuses to fit inside the cable lug. In the electrical trade, the quality of your cut dictates the quality of your termination. To get it right, you need the right tool for the job, and that means investing in a decent pair of cable cutters.

Whether you are working on a domestic switchboard or terminating heavy industrial sub-mains, a specialized cutter is designed to slice through copper and aluminium cleanly. This maintains the circular shape of the conductor, ensuring a snug fit in the terminal and a safe, low-resistance connection.

Shear vs Ratchet: Choosing Your Weapon

Not all cutters handle the same workload. The type you need depends on the size of the cable you are wrestling with.

Shear Cutters (Parrot Beak) These look like long-handled pliers with curved blades that bypass each other, acting like scissors. They are perfect for small to medium cables (up to about 35mm2). The long handles give you leverage, allowing you to slice through with one swift motion.

Ratchet Cable Cutters When you step up to the big stuff—like 95mm2 consumer mains or 240mm2 industrial feeders—you cannot rely on brute strength alone. This is where the ratchet cutter shines. The ratcheting mechanism locks the blades in place as you squeeze, allowing you to cut in small steps. It gives you massive mechanical advantage, meaning you can cut through thick copper with one hand without straining your wrist.

Know Your Materials

It is critical to remember that standard cable cutters are designed for soft metals like copper and aluminium. They are precision instruments with sharp, hardened edges.

If you try to use them to cut steel wire armoured (SWA) cable or catenary wire, you will notch the blades instantly, ruining the tool. For steel, you need heavy-duty cutters specifically hardened for ferrous metals. Always check the rating on the tool before you commit to the cut.

The Professional Standard

Cheap tools might look the same on the shelf, but they fail when the pressure is on. Inferior steel goes blunt quickly, leading to jagged cuts and frustrated tradespeople.

Professional installers understand that reliable tooling is an investment. When a contractor visits an electrical wholesaler to pick up heavy-duty lugs and heat shrink, they will often check out the tool wall for cutters made from high-grade Chrome Vanadium or dropped-forged steel. They know that a tool that stays sharp saves time on site and results in a safer installation.

Maintenance for Longevity

To keep your cutters performing, keep them clean. After a day in the dirt or rain, wipe them down and apply a little machine oil to the hinge or ratchet mechanism. This prevents rust and ensures the action stays smooth. Never use them as a hammer, and do not twist them while cutting, as this can chip the blade.

Heavy Duty Tools from Schnap Electric

If you are ready to stop struggling with blunt tools and start making clean, professional cuts, you need gear that is up to the task.

Schnap Electric Products is a leading supplier for the trade industry in Australia. They stock a robust range of hand tools, including high-performance cable cutters in both shear and ratchet configurations. Their ratchet cutters are designed for single-handed operation, featuring precision-ground blades that slice through cable without crushing it. By providing the same professional-grade equipment you would expect to find at a major electrical wholesaler, Schnap Electric ensures your terminations are neat, easy, and compliant. For a cut above the rest, check out the tool range at Schnap Electric.