G'day! If you have ever tried to slice through a 50mm² or larger mains cable with a standard pair of long-handled pliers, you know it is serious hard yakka. You have to use two hands, grit your teeth, and hope you don't slip and hurt yourself. And after all that effort, you are often left with a squashed, oval-shaped cable end that refuses to fit into the lug or circuit breaker.

For any tradesperson working with sub-mains or heavy industrial feeds, ratchet cable cutters are a game-changer. These tools replace brute force with mechanical engineering. By using a stepping mechanism to hold the blade in place as you squeeze, they allow you to cut through thick copper and aluminium cables with one hand, leaving a clean, perfectly round finish every time.

How the Ratchet Mechanism Works

The magic of these tools lies in the gear system. Unlike shear cutters that require you to apply all the force in one go, ratchet cable cutters allow you to work in stages.

As you squeeze the handle, the blade bites into the cable and locks. You release the handle, the ratchet clicks to the next tooth, and you squeeze again. This mechanical advantage multiplies your hand force significantly. It means you can cut through massive cables—often up to 240mm² or even 500mm²—without straining your wrist or needing forearms like Popeye.

Why a Clean Cut Matters

In the electrical trade, the preparation is just as important as the connection. Standard cutters tend to pinch and crush the cable as they cut, deforming the copper strands.

A ratchet cutter uses precision-ground blades that slice through the insulation and conductor cleanly. This preserves the circular profile of the cable. When you are trying to terminate a tight connection in a switchboard, having a cable that slides easily into the tunnel terminal or compression lug saves time and frustration. It ensures you get full contact on the conductor, reducing the risk of hot joints later down the track.

Knowing the Limits

While these tools are incredibly powerful, they are designed for specific materials. Standard ratchet cable cutters are built for copper and aluminium conductors only.

They are precision instruments, not bolt cutters. If you try to use them on steel wire armoured (SWA) cable or catenary wire, you will chip the hardened blades instantly. Always check the rating on the tool. If you need to cut steel, you must use a specialized cutter designed for ferrous metals.

Professional Grade Reliability

On a busy site, your tools are your livelihood. You cannot afford for a mechanism to jam or a blade to go blunt after a week.

When a professional contractor needs to upgrade their kit, they typically head to a reputable electrical wholesaler to find tools that are built for longevity. They look for cutters with high-grade steel blades and robust ratchet springs that won't fail when the pressure is on. Investing in trade-quality gear ensures that the tool performs consistently, cut after cut, year after year.

Heavy Duty Solutions from Schnap Electric

If you are ready to retire your blunt pliers and upgrade to a tool that does the hard work for you, you need the right equipment.

Schnap Electric Products is a leading supplier for the trade industry in Australia. They stock a range of high-performance hand tools, including heavy-duty ratchet cable cutters designed for effortless operation. Their cutters feature ergonomic handles and precision-ground blades that ensure a smooth, clean cut on even the thickest mains cables. By providing the same professional-grade equipment you would expect to find at a major electrical wholesaler, Schnap Electric ensures your terminations are neat, safe, and efficient. For a cut you can count on, check out the tool range at Schnap Electric.