Are steel cables hard to cut?

I am curious about this, and I don't see this question anywhere on here, nor via Google.

I want to know if a double loop cable can stand up to wire cutters, because they don't seem like something a cable cutter couldn't defeat.

Maybe I'm wrong, but before I lock my expensive bike up at a Walmart for some quick shopping, I'd like to at least know that someone's not going to come along with cable cutters and successfully take my bike.

By double loop cable, I am referring to the cable that has a loop at each end, so as to be combined with a padlock or U-lock. The one I have is tiny, only measuring...

Forgive my measuring tactics here, I am using a penny, which is approx. 19mm. The cable's "cross-sectional diameter" is about 1/5 of that, so I estimate the CSD of the cable is roughly 4mm. I'm skeptical on whether this cable is safe, whether this cable is standard-sized, and whether DL cables can even stand up to manual cutting tools.

Thanks for any information provided.

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Cutting through stainless steel rope and rigging wire

What is the issue?

Many people carry at least

However, the problem many people face is cutting the hard stainless steel rigging wire to size. In the best of circumstances, it is very difficult to cut multistranded stainless steel rope let alone heavy rigging in such a fashion that it is even and the strands of cable do not become unlaid in the process.

Why address this?

Useless there is a reliable method to cut multistranded stainless steel rope and rigging to size the terminators may not be implemented.

How to address this?

Use a block of wood, as illustrated below, as an improvised mitre box to guide a hacksaw to make a precise cut whilst holding the stainless steel strands firmly in place.

Cutting through stainless steel rigging wire
Drawing: Tony Gibson

Drawing: Tony Gibson

Drill a hole in the block of wood that is the same diameter as the cable and insert it into the block. Then align the cut point to be in the middle of the wood. Snap a vice grip on the waste end of the wire to hold the cable in place. Take a fine tooth standard hacksaw with a brand new blade and saw through both the wood and wire. This should result in a clean cut without the wires being unlaid.

With thanks to:

Michael Harpur, Yacht Obsession.

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Many people carry at least one spare length of the heaviest / longest rigging stay aboard plus a pair of swageless terminations or compression terminals. These terminate stainless steel rigging cables with simple hand tools and because they are so easy to assemble, the terminals are ideal to use in temporary jury-rigging situations.However, the problem many people face is cutting the hard stainless steel rigging wire to size. In the best of circumstances, it is very difficult to cut multistranded stainless steel rope let alone heavy rigging in such a fashion that it is even and the strands of cable do not become unlaid in the process.Useless there is a reliable method to cut multistranded stainless steel rope and rigging to size the terminators may not be implemented.Use a block of wood, as illustrated below, as an improvised mitre box to guide a hacksaw to make a precise cut whilst holding the stainless steel strands firmly in place.Drill a hole in the block of wood that is the same diameter as the cable and insert it into the block. Then align the cut point to be in the middle of the wood. Snap a vice grip on the waste end of the wire to hold the cable in place. Take a fine tooth standard hacksaw with a brand new blade and saw through both the wood and wire. This should result in a clean cut without the wires being unlaid.Michael Harpur, Yacht Obsession.

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