A cable shear is a popular type of hand tool used by electrical contractors, and works much like a pair of scissors, but for the purpose of cutting through wires and cables. For this reason, a cable shear is also commonly known as a cable cutter. A pair of cable shears has two blades and a pair of handles, but in terms of this tool’s use in electrical work, there are two important factors relating to these features:
- The blades need to be sharp enough to cut through thicker wires and cables than a standard pair of wire cutters, and this cut needs to be clean and precise so the remaining materials in the wire or cable aren’t damaged.
- The handles need to be insulated to protect the user from the possibility of electric shock from the conducting materials they are working with.
Cable shears are available in a range of sizes and designs, such as this selection of Knipex cable shears supplied by Test Instrument Solutions.
How cable shears perform their important function
Wires and cables are conducting materials that carry live electric current and are contained within a plastic or rubber insulation. So when working with these materials it is important that any cuts you need to make are clinical and precise.
- Shearing – Shearing force is defined as the force applied parallel to a surface which causes parts of an object to slide past each other in opposite directions. The two blades of the cable shear work like scissors to perform a shearing action and apply shearing force to a wire or cable. This means they slide past each other to slice through the wire or cable.
- Cutting - The blades of the cable shear are designed to ensure they apply a clean cut which minimises damage to the remaining inner components of the wire or cable. If the cut is not clean this could cause crushing or fraying, which could affect the conducting capabilities of the wire or cable. Some designs of cable shears have longer handles which provide more leverage. This means they can apply additional force to cut through tougher or thicker wires and cables, and still ensure this clean cut is achieved.
The blades of cable shears are normally made from hardened steel and the design is based around the objective of a quick, simple and effective cutting action. For this reason, it is important that an electrical contractor chooses a pair of cable shears that are the right size and feel comfortable in their hands. In awkward situations or difficult environments, the user needs hand skills and concentration to cut the right wires and cables, and to achieve a precise cut, so it is essential that their tools are a comfortable size and design.
The benefits of cable shears
- Professional – A good quality pair of cable shears, such as those supplied by Test Instrument Solutions, are designed to perform the specific task of cutting electrical wires and cables, and therefore you should not substitute this tool for something like a pair of wire cutters or scissors, which may not perform the precise cut you need.
- Flexible – Cable shears can perform this important task on wires and cables of many different sizes.
- Simple – Cable shears are a simple tool that are easy to use and are specifically designed to help the electrical contractor, who could have a large volume of wires and cables to cut, and which each must be cut with the same element of precision.
Cable shears from Test Instrument Solutions
At Test Instrument Solutions we can supply a range of great value cable shears manufactured by Knipex, one of the leading tool manufacturers in the electrical testing industry.