G
Guest
Guest
Anybody with any experience of which bolt cutters to carry on board?
Jaw size, type, manufacturer etc
Jaw size, type, manufacturer etc
oldsaltoz
New member
G'day Ed,
Get the biggest you can stow with jaws that close at the front first (Parrot beak)locking the shroud for easy cutting.
Hope this helps.
And avagoodweekend___Old Salt Oz___/forums/images/icons/cool.gif
Get the biggest you can stow with jaws that close at the front first (Parrot beak)locking the shroud for easy cutting.
Hope this helps.
And avagoodweekend___Old Salt Oz___/forums/images/icons/cool.gif
Chris_Robb
Well-known member
Last months PB had an extensive test on this.
I have a large set of Record bolt croppers, which cuts 10mm chain dead easy. I tried it on a peice of 10 MM rigging wire, and the jaws were forced sideways rather than coming to gether. So bolt croppers are not necessarily any good.
I have a large set of Record bolt croppers, which cuts 10mm chain dead easy. I tried it on a peice of 10 MM rigging wire, and the jaws were forced sideways rather than coming to gether. So bolt croppers are not necessarily any good.
tcm
...
the bigger the better, don't care about manufacturer. At their limit of chain/bolt size they are very hard to bite. Grease/Oil them cos they go rusty (but still work until very incredibly rusty) praps even have oily rag around the head of them.
qsiv
New member
It all depends what you want to cut, and under what circumstances - I cant get any croppers/cutters that would cut my rigging, so I carry both an angle grinder (as long as there isnt too much water on deck), and ultra hard cadmium hacksaw blades(x 60) and 4 frames to put them in, in case it's wet - which is likely if the rig fell over the side.
pvb
Well-known member
YM tested them last month...
YM (Nov 2002) reckoned that Felco cable cutters were the "Best Buy", with Clarke cable cutters the best "Value for money". And yes, they said the bigger the better.
YM (Nov 2002) reckoned that Felco cable cutters were the "Best Buy", with Clarke cable cutters the best "Value for money". And yes, they said the bigger the better.
Strathglass
New member
Re: YM tested them last month...
Felco cutters work very well, and they will cut rigging. They are a bit more expensive but even the smallest C7 will cut 4mm 1/19 stainless wire cleanly with a little effort.
Iain
Felco cutters work very well, and they will cut rigging. They are a bit more expensive but even the smallest C7 will cut 4mm 1/19 stainless wire cleanly with a little effort.
Iain
Peppermint
New member
Fencing Contractors buy them cheaper than yotties.
NM
NM
montezuma
New member
The gun that fires the captive cutter is always reckoned to be the best, but also the most expensive. Wouldn't work for me, the wife and kids'd spend hours getting round the captive bit.
plopp
New member
Re: Bolt Cutters - peace of mind
As if by magic Westerly owners mag arrived in post today.An articale on p56 discribes a piece of kit called SHOOTIT which the author says uses explosive cartridges is about 360mm long 2.6kg and a fine piece of German engineering,,and he had tried it on a length of 6mm rigging,states what a neat,and instant job it made,going by the photo in the magazine I will certainly agree.
Now the bad bit(sanity at what price my thoughts)
Cost:RRP about £255 inc uk postage&vat.(strip of 10 cartriges £2.50)
Maker: Toolova Germany.
Distributors: Calibra Maritime International. Tel 08702 400358
Plastimo (uk) Ltd 02380 266328. Catalogue No.39339
Andy.
As if by magic Westerly owners mag arrived in post today.An articale on p56 discribes a piece of kit called SHOOTIT which the author says uses explosive cartridges is about 360mm long 2.6kg and a fine piece of German engineering,,and he had tried it on a length of 6mm rigging,states what a neat,and instant job it made,going by the photo in the magazine I will certainly agree.
Now the bad bit(sanity at what price my thoughts)
Cost:RRP about £255 inc uk postage&vat.(strip of 10 cartriges £2.50)
Maker: Toolova Germany.
Distributors: Calibra Maritime International. Tel 08702 400358
Plastimo (uk) Ltd 02380 266328. Catalogue No.39339
Andy.
webcraft
Well-known member
Re: YM tested them last month...
Felco C9s are only £109 from Seamark Nunn
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.seamarknunn.co.uk/catalog/subcat124.htm>http://www.seamarknunn.co.uk/catalog/subcat124.htm</A>
When you consider how much damage and grief they could prevent it looks like a reasonable investment.
<font color=blue>Nick</font color=blue>
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.bluemoment.com>
</A>
Felco C9s are only £109 from Seamark Nunn
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.seamarknunn.co.uk/catalog/subcat124.htm>http://www.seamarknunn.co.uk/catalog/subcat124.htm</A>
When you consider how much damage and grief they could prevent it looks like a reasonable investment.
<font color=blue>Nick</font color=blue>
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.bluemoment.com>
aod
New member
I'm with you on this one. I have solid rod and bolt croppers are a waste of space and weight. I lost the rig last year when the D2 hammerhead sheared and although I also carry a pretty serious hacksaw and blades I found the easiest and quickest thing to do was simply pull out the pins.
qsiv
New member
Thats true - until there's too much load on the pins.
I did try with an offcut (allbeit in a vise) and the cobalt blades cut the nitronic rod ok. You would also need lots of blades to clean up the stump and attempt a jury rig - although I might be tempted to wait for quieter weather and use the big angle grinder - it's just I'm scared of 240v on deck, in anything other than quite conditions.
I do have another idea for solving the problems associated with failed rigs - but I'm waiting for a patent to be granted before I can discuss it ..
I did try with an offcut (allbeit in a vise) and the cobalt blades cut the nitronic rod ok. You would also need lots of blades to clean up the stump and attempt a jury rig - although I might be tempted to wait for quieter weather and use the big angle grinder - it's just I'm scared of 240v on deck, in anything other than quite conditions.
I do have another idea for solving the problems associated with failed rigs - but I'm waiting for a patent to be granted before I can discuss it ..
aod
New member
I agree with you that a good hack saw blade takes a lot of beating. In my case it was a 55ft mast but once it collapsed the load on the pins was negligable and I am sure a swift kick with a hammer and a screwdriver would help persuade even the most stubborn of pins to release. The main problem I found was time!
It seemed to take an age to flatten off the split pins and pull them out so this clearly isn't the best solution. A few years ago some of the Whitbread fleet used exploding pins but that idea seems to have died a death so it's back to the drawing board. My main problem however wasn't getting rid of the old rig it was the monumental problems I had having a new rig built and stepped. It took nearly 8 months to have the new mast designed, built and stepped and I still have problems to this day, but I guess this is par for the course with anything concerning yachts that is non standard, expensive, poor workmanship and non existent after sales.
It seemed to take an age to flatten off the split pins and pull them out so this clearly isn't the best solution. A few years ago some of the Whitbread fleet used exploding pins but that idea seems to have died a death so it's back to the drawing board. My main problem however wasn't getting rid of the old rig it was the monumental problems I had having a new rig built and stepped. It took nearly 8 months to have the new mast designed, built and stepped and I still have problems to this day, but I guess this is par for the course with anything concerning yachts that is non standard, expensive, poor workmanship and non existent after sales.
roger
New member
I've just watched a fit young man cutting through a 7mm. rigging wire with a pair of croppers. He was taking my old furling gear away for making sure the new one was the right length.
He was working on dry land with plenty of elbow room and had a hell of a job. It took him several goes to get through that one wire.
Now I'm 65 and have 4 off 9mm. wires and 4 off 6mm. wires. I reckon my chance of severing these in any sort of a sea are very close to zero. I know fear is a powerful spur but on the whole I dont think I'd succeed. Have any of you ever tried to cut a wire?
He was working on dry land with plenty of elbow room and had a hell of a job. It took him several goes to get through that one wire.
Now I'm 65 and have 4 off 9mm. wires and 4 off 6mm. wires. I reckon my chance of severing these in any sort of a sea are very close to zero. I know fear is a powerful spur but on the whole I dont think I'd succeed. Have any of you ever tried to cut a wire?
G
Guest
Guest
I bought a Shootit last year - and am very impressed with it. It can be loaded & cocked in the safety of the cockpit, and then fired single handed whilst you hang onto the boat with the other hand. OK it's not as cheap as a pair of bolt croppers, but if the mast ever comes down I'll be glad I invested in it!
Ruth
Ruth
mtb
New member
Re: Bolt Cutters - peace of mind
yes it sounds ok but the risk !!! of having it on board could it be deemed a fire arm or offensive weapon ?
I carry a cheap pair of bolt cutters German quality , they do the job .
If a cable needs cutting and its not in the water why not get a rechargable angle grinder, no cable stands a chance against a grinder and think of all the other job's you could use it for.
Cheers
Mick
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/boats
I need a couple of oak tree's .. for me trawler
yes it sounds ok but the risk !!! of having it on board could it be deemed a fire arm or offensive weapon ?
I carry a cheap pair of bolt cutters German quality , they do the job .
If a cable needs cutting and its not in the water why not get a rechargable angle grinder, no cable stands a chance against a grinder and think of all the other job's you could use it for.
Cheers
Mick
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/boats
I need a couple of oak tree's .. for me trawler
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