Topic: piano wire cutting

I know there have been several posts about wire bending, but what about cutting it?

I'm having a bit of a problem with some 12g piano wire, ok cutting to length isn't a major problem as i use mini bolt cutters, but how do you cut it in situ? I just need to trim some ends off pre formed parts which the kit manufacturer have left slightly over sized

A cutting disk in a dremel works well.

PDR

Fine cutting disc in a Dremel  is what I use.

Same here, cutting wheel in Dremel .



Tom

lol i never even though of that, i'll have to get the dremmel out of the box now

Don't forget the eye protection !!

You need a steady hand too. Any movement and you'll need a new disc.........

Another Dremel user - and like the man said, hold it steady - if one of those little discs shatters, the bits can go anywhere. I always wear specs anyway, but now wear goggles over them since a bit of broken disc embedded itself in the side of my nose (yes, it hurt) only an inch or so from my one working eye.
Mike

I also use a disc in a "Chinese Dremel" (but not the same disc as everyone else here, I have my own  )

Two things to be aware of:
- Check and check again to make sure the wire is really over length. It's difficult to glue that bit back on later...
- More seriously - this process heats up the wire quite a bit, so if you have a soldered joint very near, you may want to use a heat-sink on it, and/or work in short pulses allowing the wire to cool down in between until it is fully cut.

Another Dremel user - and like the man said, hold it steady - if one of those little discs shatters, the bits can go anywhere. I always wear specs anyway, but now wear goggles over them since a bit of broken disc embedded itself in the side of my nose (yes, it hurt) only an inch or so from my one working eye.
Mike

I have even been known to put two together, back to back.

Or there is always the option of using one of the excellent Permagrit cutting discs, which are much less fragile.

I've had some Dremel Fibreglass reinforced cut-off wheels (5 pack marked 426) for years.
Don't know if they're still available but they sure don't shatter.  I must of had them for 20 yrs and I've still got 3 left.

NNF

I have been using diamond cutting wheels to cut piano wire, they are quicker than the brown carbide discs and don't shatter or wear down either.