How to Cut Armored Cable

armored cable with wires exposed
  • 1 hours
  • Beginner
What You'll Need
Armored-cable cutter or hacksaw
Safety glasses
What You'll Need
Armored-cable cutter or hacksaw
Safety glasses

Armored cables, or cables that are sheathed in steel armor, protect your wires while still offering flexibility. However, the armor makes cutting a challenge. Follow the steps below to cut your armored cables correctly with a hacksaw.

Step 1 – Preparing Your Tools

If you have an armored-cable cutter, you can use this for the job. However, if you do not have one of these special tools, you don't need to go out and buy one. Instead, use a hacksaw and the following steps.

Step 2 – Holding the Cable and Saw

First, hold the cable firmly in one hand while holding the hacksaw in the other. Hold the saw and cable so that, the blade is at a 90-degree angle to the cable.

Step 3 – Sawing the Cable

Warning: Use all proper safety precautions when working with a hacksaw and wear protective eye gear.

Then, begin sawing. Cut at an angle across the spiral, not straight down.

If you’re cutting the cable to use it for a connection, cut about 8 inches from the end of the cable to allow rooms for do the hook-up. Continue sawing until you’ve almost sawed through the armor, and stop.

Step 4 – Bending the Cable

Remove the saw, and then bend the cable until the armor breaks. To remove the armored cable casing from the wire beneath, slowly pull it off over the end until the wires are fully exposed. If you want to replace the armored cable, installing armored cable is simple.