Dremels are great for this, but if you use it, get the coated fiberglass
cutoff wheel. The other will shatter if the whip shakes at all.

But even simpler... Just file a notch on the whip on either side with a
small file. Once you have a notch, use two pairs of vice grips to grab
either side of the notch and it should snap easily. Or use a vice and
pliers. The trick is to grap the whip as close to the notch as possible and
bend quickly. Then file to clean up the break.

With the notch methond, you can snap 1/8" 17-7 stainless fairly easily. You
won't snap big stuff, like 1/4" whips, but you're not likely to run into
them.

17-7 is common for whips, and by now you've probably discovered how tough it
is, and how quickly it ruins cutters and nips!



"James" wrote in message
net...
I need to "trim" the steel whip of a two meter antenna, and have not been
sucessful in finding an easy way to cut. Tried a vise-grip with its
close-in pinchers, and also tried a heavy duty pair of wire cutters, but
no
go.

What common tool can be used to do this ? This steel whip sure is tough
!!


Thanks !!


73 de Jim K4PYT