Bolter Cutter Alternative - Compact Hydraulic Cutter?

[Tim Good]

Has anyone used something like this? It seems compact, powerful, quick and locks onto the piece you're cutting which could be useful in a rolling sea.

The one in the video is by S3i and £700 but another alternative which looks equally well spec'd is £225 here.

http://www.tecni-cable.co.uk/Hydraulic-Wire-Rope-Cutter-up-to-25mm-Diameter-101-000-025?sc=2&category=105537

 

[Martin_J]

Cheaper alternatives to the S3I cutters might specify wire cutting thickness for other steels and not necessarily 1x19 stainless rigging wire.
I didn't go for that style - one worry was lifespan of hydraulic seals. Would you ever service/change them?

The Baudat KS13 we have and shown in my video here have cut at least half a dozen 10mm rigging wires (whilst demonstrating them to others) and they are a similar size.. No jumping on long handled cutters needed..
http://1drv.ms/20YRgd5
Cutting was slow in the video because we were checking how many strands went on each cut.

 

[Tim Good]

The Baudat KS13 we have and shown in my video here have cut at least half a dozen 10mm rigging wires (whilst demonstrating them to others) and they are a similar size.. No jumping on long handled cutters needed..

That kinda looked hard work? Not sure if SWIMBO could do that.

 

[Martin_J]

I suspect that even hydraulic cutters will still need a reasonable force (with such a short handle) to make them work.. Think of the car trolley jacks when you're lifting a vehicle at the upper end of it's weight limit.

I guess I homed in on the compact, quick and 'locks on' part of your original post.

As to powerful.. I wouldn't class myself as a powerhouse being < 9 stone.. but can quite happily cut the 10mm rigging with them (which I couldn't with the much more expensive long arm, non-ratchet cutters).

 

[Tim Good]

I suspect that even hydraulic cutters will still need a reasonable force (with such a short handle) to make them work.. Think of the car trolley jacks when you're lifting a vehicle at the upper end of it's weight limit.

I guess I homed in on the compact, quick and 'locks on' part of your original post.

As to powerful.. I wouldn't class myself as a powerhouse being < 9 stone.. but can quite happily cut the 10mm rigging with them (which I couldn't with the much more expensive long arm, non-ratchet cutters).

Fair points.

 

[skipmac]

Instead of a bolt cutter I decided to go with a battery powered angle grinder with a composite cutoff wheel. Keep the lithium battery topped off with a 12V powered charger. Have tested it on steel plate and large bolts and it cuts through both quickly and easily. Imagine it would cut through a piece of 1X19 in seconds without requiring any effort on the part of the user.

 

[bedouin]

Instead of a bolt cutter I decided to go with a battery powered angle grinder with a composite cutoff wheel. Keep the lithium battery topped off with a 12V powered charger. Have tested it on steel plate and large bolts and it cuts through both quickly and easily. Imagine it would cut through a piece of 1X19 in seconds without requiring any effort on the part of the user.

I hate angle grinders at the best of times.

The idea of trying to use one soaking wet or submerged in salt water on the heaving deck of the boat in a F8 after the mast has just fallen down is truely horrifying

 

[oldvarnish]

I hate angle grinders at the best of times.

The idea of trying to use one soaking wet or submerged in salt water on the heaving deck of the boat in a F8 after the mast has just fallen down is truely horrifying

I did meet someone who had to do exactly that after a major mast failure - angle grinder did the job pronto, he said.

 

[skipmac]

I hate angle grinders at the best of times.

The idea of trying to use one soaking wet or submerged in salt water on the heaving deck of the boat in a F8 after the mast has just fallen down is truely horrifying

The idea of trying to get two hands on a bolt cutter and apply a great deal of force for (most probably) much longer time under the same conditions I think would be much worse.

Angle grinder could do the job with one hand (I've used them that way) while you hold on with the other hand (remember always one hand for the boat and one for yourself) and based on my experience, would do the job a whole lot faster and easier.

 

[ip485]

Yeap, battery powered angle grinder.

I cant imagine trying to work through wire in awkward places or with the force required to go through some serious rigging.

 

[TOKOLOSHI]

A cordless disc cutter has got to be the most effective way like a previous post says! You can use with one hand if need be! Cost effective as you have a useful tool in the locker! From only £45 with lithium batteries.

 

[bedouin]

You can use with one hand if need be!

You mean because you have just cut the other one off

 

[skipmac]

I hate angle grinders at the best of times.

Just curious. What is it that you dislike so about angle grinders? Is it the tool in any circumstance or just for this application or just on boats in general due the mess and rusty iron bits they throw everywhere?

 

[Norman_E]

A cordless disc cutter has got to be the most effective way like a previous post says! You can use with one hand if need be! Cost effective as you have a useful tool in the locker! From only £45 with lithium batteries.

Where did you find one that cheap? All the ones I can find cost about that just for the battery.

 

[bedouin]

Just curious. What is it that you dislike so about angle grinders? Is it the tool in any circumstance or just for this application or just on boats in general due the mess and rusty iron bits they throw everywhere?

I never really feel in control of them. That big rotating disc acts like a flywheel which makes them a bit unpredictable, they have little protection around the blade (unlike say a circular saw) and they tend to throw little bits of material, metal, disc etc around at high speed. Also in certain circumstances the blade can tend to snag so jerk the whole thing forwards.

 

[fredrussell]

The other obvious benefit of a cordless angle grinder is that as well as functioning as an emergency rigging cutter it is one of the most useful tools there is. Bolt croppers and the like don't have many uses on a boat other than in an emergency.

 

[skipmac]

The other obvious benefit of a cordless angle grinder is that as well as functioning as an emergency rigging cutter it is one of the most useful tools there is. Bolt croppers and the like don't have many uses on a boat other than in an emergency.

Agree. I find a lot of uses for my cordless grinder.

One example. Even with 2-3 large boxes full of SS nuts, bolts and screws I never have just the right length bolt for whatever repair I'm doing. Grab the grinder and in seconds I've shortened a bolt to fit.

Now if I could just find a bolt stretcher for the ones that are too short.

 

[skipmac]

I never really feel in control of them. That big rotating disc acts like a flywheel which makes them a bit unpredictable, they have little protection around the blade (unlike say a circular saw) and they tend to throw little bits of material, metal, disc etc around at high speed. Also in certain circumstances the blade can tend to snag so jerk the whole thing forwards.

I can understand that. The one I use has a relatively small disk, 3-4" if I recall so maybe a bit easier to control. And it does take a bit of practice and care to keep it from grabbing and jumping around. Eye protection is also a very good idea.

Even with all that I treat it with great respect. I'm kind of attached to all my fingers and want to keep it that way.

 

[Woodlouse]

If going down the cordless angle grinder route then make sure the batteries are lithium. They run out of power fast enough without the batteries losing their charge over time when not in use.

 

[[3889]]

Having used bolt cutters, hydraulic cutters and angle grinders extensively in sub-ideal conditions in the fire service my vote would be for the angle grinder by a long margin.