Bolt cutter or cable cutter?

[christopherc]

I need to get some of these and there seems a BIG variety in price. I expect you get what you pay for, but wondered whether anyone might recommend what I should get. Recent mag article recommeded Stubai (i think) bolt cutters. The boat is a 32' with cable rigging rather than rod, so wondered whether I should stick to cable cutters rather than bolt cutters.

Any suggestions welcome.

 

[savageseadog]

Disadvantage of bolt cutters is that the straight jaws tends to let the wire rope slip out. Cable cutters tend to have hooked ends that hold on. Bolt cutters will do the job but not as easily.

 

[CliveG]

Before splashing out on expensive kit just try a good hacksaw on a sample of your rigging.

You will be surprised how quickly you can cut it.

I carry 2 hacksaw frames and some spare blades.

 

[sailorman]

n o bio so dont know the size of boat but bolt croppers will cut the rigging bottle screws ( threaded bit ) quicker than the wire

 

[KellysEye]

A big hacksaw does work well but takes time. Otherwise, on the premise you get what you pay for, the Rolls of cutters are the Swiss made Felco cutters, standard issue to the gentlemen at Hereford.

 

[christopherc]

See what you mean about felco, v expensive on ebay!!

 

[tugboat]

Using a hacksaw to cut a piece of wire held in a vice may be OK, but imagine your mast in the water, the boat rolling and bouncing around, the rigging wires slithering all over the coachroof - you'll wish you had bought those big wirecutters. Very difficult to start a cut with the wire held in hand, even without the movement/ risk of trapped fingers etc. IMHO of course.

 

[pandos]

IMHO. better chance of cutting with hacksaw whilst kneeling down on deck hanging on with one hand than using bolt cutters, have used both on sites and in difficult situations(not on the seas) and would favour hacksaw. True, in ideal conditions bolt cutter would be quickest.

 

[Allan]

I have recently cut two padlocks and one piece of stainless rigging with a pair of boltcroppers bought for a few quid. I think they are all I need!

 

[Ecosse120]

I decided that some Focus bolt cutters, as suggested by another forumite was a good idea at £8, I think it depends on where you sail but I think most of do not intend to use the kit it is more emergency use.

 

[Guest]

Problem with bolt-cutters is that the stainless wire is evil to them ... and quickly you will find they don't cut. One or two stays and that's yer lot .... UNLESS you buy good quality ...

Cable cutters as another has said are better - as they trap the cable to cut .....

Honest - cutting 5mm, 6mm or 8mm 1x19 is no joke - especially in emergency situation .... another has also commented on easier to cut the bottle screws !! True.

 

[cliffordpope]

I've just bought the Focus bolt cutters as recommended, and found them to be useless. They manage a mild steel nail, but make hardly any impression on wire, just twisting it and jamming.
I'd previously used a hacksaw when cutting wire in a vice. It works, but is very tedious and takes ages. Also if you are too enthusiastic (or panicking?) it is easy to break the blade, and then you risk losing the square bit from the end of the hacksaw.
An angle grinder works a dream on land, and also leaves a nice clean cut without any tendency for the wires to unwind.

 

[Gin]

Machine Mart will sell you a longhandled pair of cable cutters for about £25. They are very heavy and whilst they handled my 6mm (these cutters cope with 12mm max) re-rigging job with ease I wouldn't fancy struggling about on a rolling deck with them.

I now have a pair of Felco C12 on board which I think are for up to 8/9mm wire. They have alloy handles, much shorter and lighter and reputedly about the best there is. The RRP is about £190 which is far too much but occasionally Compass and your local chandler(if pressed) can get them from their suppliers and discount them substantially- I paid £115 for mine

 

[Malish]

I purchased a Baudat KS10 cable cutter, it wasn't cheap (£158) but it is a hooked, rachet device which means that it will not slip off the cable and, in addition it can be used one-handed, leaving the other hand to look after the small issue of ensuring the user remains attached to the boat. It slices through 6mm wire like it was butter; again, you pays your money and takes your choice. There is a UK agent, send me a pm if you need more details.