In this article I will review Park Tool CN-10 Cable Cutter. A high quality cable cutter is a basic tool that every cyclist and home mechanic need to have in their toolbox. A couple of years ago I was able to get me this one for a bargain price, and it still cuts Jagwire cables like a knife through butter.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key features Park Tool CN-10 Cable Cutter
On the Park Tool CN-10 product page you can read:
The CN-10 is a shop-quality cutting pliers designed specifically for use on bicycle cable and housing, including compression-less shift housing. Built for daily use with cold-forged, heat-treated steel handles and precision-ground cutting jaws for a clean cut on every cable. Features a built-in cable end cap crimper and wire latch for hanging on a hook.
On the outside you will not see the cold-forged an heat-treated parts of the product description, but you will experience it. It certainly adds to the clean precision cuts as well as the durability of the cable cutter. However what I also think is striking is the shape and mechanical design of the cutting jaws of the cable cutter. All aimed at maximizing the force and torque arm to make a precise and clean cut.
Honestly the cable end crimper option I don’t use. The Knipex Electronic Super Knips 78 61 125 is my best friend for crimping cable ends and cutting tie-wraps / cable ties. The wire latch is helpful for minimizing the volume when storing the Park Tool CN-10 Cable Cutter in the Cocoon Grid-It Organizer.
How to adjust the Park Tool CN-10 Cable Cutter
In (daily) using the Park Tool CN-10 Cable Cutter it will wear (although it takes long and with limited wear). It can happen though that at some point there will get some play between the handles. You will experience that in the way of cutting anyway. The Park Tool CN-10 Cable Cutter has a design, mainly to one threaded jaw side, via which you can adjust the play.
Above you can see how to adjust the Park Tool Cable Cutter, is one or two adjustment cycles. During the ownership of the CN-10 Cable Cutter, I only needed to adjust the jaw-play once.
Concluding thoughts and wrap-up
Each home mechanic needs to have a pair of high quality cable cutters. Doing a proper investment will be the cheapest on the longer run. A couple of years ago I picked up the Park Tool CN-10 Cable Cutter for a bargain price of around € 25,00 – € 30,00. The current price point varies from € 35,00 – € 60,00, which is not super cheap, but it is worth the quality you get for it.
I’m using this Park Tool cable cutter for +5 years now without any issues. There are not many alternative I would consider, a Knipex Wire Rope Cutter 95 61 190 or the Pedros cable cutter. Given the happy history I have the the Park Tool CN-10 I’ll keep cutting cables with this cable cutter for still some time ahead of me.
In other words, a high quality and well engineered to that will payback itself !
What cable cutter are you using ?
Please check out other Park Tool reviews on cycling-review.net