I’ve got some more fencing to do and after 15 years I still haven’t learned the secret to cutting electric rope or tape. I find wire cutters don’t cut the fibre and scissors don’t cut the wire easily. Do I really need to carry two tools or is there one that will do it all?
What kind of wire cutters are you using?
We use these two kinds and they will cut anything, baling twine and wire, fencing wires, electric strings and tape, everything and with ease.
Now, there are cheap ones that don’t cut well.
We come across some of those at times and you are right, they are annoying to use.
Here is an article on some:
Here are two types, regular wire cutters and end wire cutters.
We use both types and they work well:
Good to know, thanks! I’ll try a new pair of quality wire cutters.
I have two pairs of tin snips, the kind used to cut steel siding/roofing. They were purchased for another project, but sure seem to work great in this service.
https://www.menards.com/main/tools/hand-tools/shears-snips-bolt-cutters/irwin-reg-12-3-4-tin-snip/23012/p-5239772153308203-c-1550852385007.htm?tid=-7492478993642654066&ipos=1
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Agreed, tin snips always get it done for me
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I love these. Very handy to keep in the barn.
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I use electrician scissors. Small at about 6 inches, but strong and very sharp. They are my “go-to” cutting tool and multi use device around the farm. They turn screws, cut hoses for repair, fingernails if you snap one! Also cut small wire and strip insulation off wire, cut heavy plastic, leather, slice open boxes. I wore them daily at work for a utility company, just kept wearing them after leaving the job.
My current pair are from Klein Tools, part number 2100-7. A search shows Home Depot stocking them. Mine have smooth not serrated edges, which allows resharpening. I get years of use from them.
I would be lost not having them in my back pocket. They have been useful in so many situations over the years. One of those “don’t leave home without your snips” things! Ha ha
Tin snips! So nice and easy. But only on tape and rope, actual wire needs an actual cutting tool or patience to study metal fatigue by bending 
But, I might look into the electrician’s scissors…I’ve been abusing a standard leatherman type tool for all of the other electrical fence stuff and it really doesn’t like it.
Thanks everyone for the suggestions! It never occurred to me to try my tin snips so I’ll give those a try before buying something else. I’m glad to have a few suggestions now!
At a fencing workshop the recommendation was a cable (wire rope) cutter. We got one cheap somewhere and it’s been working great. I think the shape of the jaws holds the rope so it doesn’t “smear out” along the blade.
Not this one, but it looks the same:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Deckorators-7-5-in-Rubber-Cable-Cutter/1000241533
Cheap kitchen scissors from the Dollar tree. I use them to cut electric tape… not the rope or the wire.
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I use my pocket knife, but rarely have to cut any of those plastic electric wires or tape, so not much of a tests how that works over other, for frequent use.
Trauma shears. My husband is a medic and we have tons of these around at all times. They cut through anything.
