How do I cut a zip tie that is really tight on a few cables?

[legend8887]

I put a zip tie on a few cables and it is too tight to get a pair of scissors in there and cut it.

Next time I should probably use those Velcro straps.

[rustikles]

With a sharp knife or thin scissors and a large dose of patience. Try just snipping away at part of the cable tie.

[Mo5]

you can open it with a screwdriver

[tp95112]

Maybe a use a razer blade and slowly cut it

[FunkyFeatures]

I am guessing you could use a sharp knife and kinda use it like a tiny saw. Should get through at some point.

[Norman_the_Owl]

Pliers

With this type of head, i've never seen a household without at least one

 

[Enderman]

pliers ^^^

 

everyone should have some, its one of the most important tools

[-CLASSIFIED-]

carefully 

 

 

lol , but seriously make sure the power is off and unplugged first (in case you cut the wire a little ) but just use a pair if side-snips , or an exacto knife and go slow @legend8887 

[C_Mike]

Use something like these 

 

To cut this bit

[MG2R]

Use something like these 

 

 

To cut this bit

 

 

You beat me to it.

[zonahbear]

SNIP

 

this is honestly the most useful tool when it comes to cable management

 

[legend8887]

this is honestly the most useful tool when it comes to cable management

What is?

[zonahbear]

What is?

@C_Mike 's photo

[GlassBomb]

This method is also do-able. But much harder on the small zip ties.

 

http://www.wikihow.com/Open-Cable-Ties

[bob345]

cut the block part of the cable tie. That always works for me.

[Nexxus]

method ive used more then once get something solid & thin..metal part of a screw driver, nail ect, and edge it between yourt cable bundle and the tie so it goes though the hole, hold the cable bundle and twist it, eventually the tie will snap.

[Scia]

Use something like these 

 

To cut this bit

 

This ^

[KemoKa]

Before I had a pair of wire cutters, I used to use my box cutter, and I put the tip of the blade in between the cable and the tie and gave it a sharp tug. Came right off.

[watts300]

Chainsaw. 

[Totallycasual]

Maybe a cigarette lighter? if you hold it at the right distance i guess you could make the cable hot/soft enough to just pull it apart without any flames/damage to the cables?

On second thoughts seems pretty silly but something i would probably do none the less

[ReadyToGame]

Maybe a cigarette lighter? if you hold it at the right distance i guess you could make the cable hot/soft enough to just pull it apart without any flames/damage to the cables? On second thoughts seems pretty silly but something i would probably do none the less

Please tell me you're not serious... Honestly that is not even worth the risk, and probably wouldn't work, almost 110% sure it wouldn't, you would also run the risk of a) burning yourself b:-) Melting the plastic and sealing the wires together, and melting the rubber so there is no way to get them apart. 

 

Pliers and patience + being careful will get it off as long as you go for the square part where you pull it through to lock it. You can try going at it with scissors as well but you'll want to be EXTREMELY careful, for your fingers' sake and the wire safety.

[HappyChubbs]

If the zip ties are small enough, nail clippers.

 

Any larger, use the clippers suggested earlier.

[Totallycasual]

Please tell me you're not serious... Honestly that is not even worth the risk, and probably wouldn't work, almost 110% sure it wouldn't, you would also run the risk of a) burning yourself b:-) Melting the plastic and sealing the wires together, and melting the rubber so there is no way to get them apart. 

 

Pliers and patience + being careful will get it off as long as you go for the square part where you pull it through to lock it. You can try going at it with scissors as well but you'll want to be EXTREMELY careful, for your fingers' sake and the wire safety.

 

 

While i agree its not the best solution i have used a cigarette lighter to get myself out of zip ties that were around my wrists, its just a matter of pulling them apart as the heat is applied. They become soft and pull apart long before ignition if you keep the flame at a reasonable distance lol

 

Obviously the pointy looking pliers/snips would be the best thing to use but sometimes you have to improvise haven't you ever been in a bind where you're forced to think outside the box and use limited resources to problem solve?  

[MblaZe7run]

I put a zip tie on a few cables and it is too tight to get a pair of scissors in there and cut it.

Next time I should probably use those Velcro straps.

 

I use pliers on the head of the zip tie. If you can compress it enough, it will either break or loosen enough for the teeth to pass through.

[Kermit]

use a laser gun *pew pew*

 

but really, cut through the thick part where the locking mechanism is and use sharp pliers like those for stripping cables