What is the best way to cut zip ties with a knife

NotSoSharpBob

NotSoSharpBob

Joined
Mar 26, 2009
Messages
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So I was posting a reply to another thread and thought about the way I cut zip ties scares me more and more as I get older. Is there a proper way to do it? Sometimes I can sandwich the zip tie between the blade and my wooden workbench. My blades are sharp so pressing down makes the cut pretty quickly. However, most times the zip tie is too tight and I can't use that method. I end up pushing the blade away from me into the air with quite a bit of force and then when the cut is made the knife jumps forward. Of course I make sure I am clear of any other humans, animals or anything else that I don't want to harm or damage but still feel a little barbaric.

Am I doing it wrong?

Thanks
 
They're my least favorite thing in the world to cut and generally I use some snips.

When I do have to use a knife it's at work and they're generally holding wiring to a frame of some sort. I wedge the blade tip into the tie, rest the spine against the frame and use it as a fulcrum to leverage the blade up and through the tie.

On the rare occasions where I'm forced to cut one freestanding, I do it just as you described. In the air, away from the body.
 
The best method I've found is to take the knife, then put it a way and grab a pair of snips 😉

But seriously, I find that wide modern folders may not have room while a lot of time a slimmer blade ( such as a traditional or the blade on my leatherman fuse ) will fit under the zip tie no problem.
 
Snips about the best way I know of. When I cut those things with a knife I like to use a blade that has been sharpened on a coarse stone, works on those ties very well.
 
I had to cut wet plastic webbing and zip ties regularly at work for a couple of years. I got spooked a couple of times early on and switched to a partially serrated blade. Serrations catch and allow for a much more controlled cut. It eased my mind and the only drawback I ever encountered was: blowback from mentioning on Bladeforums that I used a partially serrated knife for work :foot:;).

I recommend serrations for cutting zip ties if it isn't practical to carry snips.
 
It's not hard with a thin sharp blade like on my Case peanut. Slide in the blade and lever it to apply steady, controlled pressure. Takes a few seconds, but the blade will eventually pop through. Obviously this will be less effective with big industrial-grade zip ties, but for normal stuff around the house, garden or garage, a small, sharp blade is all you need.
 
T.L.E. Sharp said:
They're my least favorite thing in the world to cut and generally I use some snips.

When I do have to use a knife it's at work and they're generally holding wiring to a frame of some sort. I wedge the blade tip into the tie, rest the spine against the frame and use it as a fulcrum to leverage the blade up and through the tie.

On the rare occasions where I'm forced to cut one freestanding, I do it just as you described. In the air, away from the body.
Click to expand...

This.
In particular, the highlighted passage.
 
A serrated hawkbill usually takes care of them without much trouble. Just slip the blade inside and pull back. I prefer my Spyderco Tasman Salt for the job.
 
Zip ties are one of the things I really appreciated a hawkbill for. I realized today how much I appreciated EDC'ing a hawkbill the past few years when I didn't have it today for a zip tie for X-mas gifts. I didn't have a serrated edge like the poster above. I would squeeze the edge in between the tie and the item or in the crook near the square bit and leverage the curved blade and it would come off pretty easy. I would cut twist ties and the like as well since kids toys anymore seem to have tons a tie-downs in their display boxes.
 
Thanks all! Yes +10 on snips as a better choice but just occasionally I'm lazy to walk back to the tool box and my knife is handy. I will try the pivot / leverage suggestion.
 
I glance around for a stick, pencil, etc to shove underneath zip tie so I can push down for the cut. I know this is not always doable but it is an option.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk
 
I use a small pair of end cutting pliers.
There are other tools better suited for this job.
 
If I'm doing something involving cutting zip ties, I almost always have my work edc and I use the cutters on my multitool pliers.
 
Snips if I have some handy but I never have them on my person.

I always carry a little spyderco ladybug rescue serrated just for cutting zip ties and rigid plastic clamshell type packages.
 
yep snips on panduit straps. ive seen too many near miss accidents with all kinds of ways trying with knives. many of those ways have been described in this thread. ties are too thick to be completely safe.

unless y'all are talking about those thin tiny ones? then that leverage way should work well enough. on the thick long ones we use you might be able to cut it but not safely. we use thick ones 36" to 48" long for mechanical fasteners. they are strong and not easy to cut though without shaving it down.
 
I use either a pair of Xcelite snips or the cutting hook on the back of a Charge TTi serrated blade. Either one is way more controllable, especially when taking zip ties off of networking cables or PSU cables that you really don't want to nick.
 
If a knife is the only option, I'd second there are three "best" ways,

a. very thin and very sharp blade, like on a traditional or multitool
b. serrated, toothy blade like on a Spyderco hawkbill or cold steel's curved blades
c. carry a MT with thin blade and wirecutters to replace your EDC folder with

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The worst 2 knife cuts I have ever had have been from cutting zip ties!! I will set whatever it is down and go get a pair of snips. Hell, I even bought 2 pairs of snips just for this reason!!! I keep one pair up stairs in the "junk drawer" and the other in my knife box.
 
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