Cheap hot knife for cutting rope?

[bobg]

When I was in a local chandlers buying rope and watched the rope being cut by a hot knife, I remarked how expensive - but how useful - these were. I was told by the salesperson that Maplin do an attachment to a blow torch that performs as hot knife for cutting rope. I have searched Maplin website and can't find it. Does anyone know if this attachment exists? And most important, does it work?

 

[cliffordpope]

I use any old kitchen or desert knife and a blowtorch. Don't use the best dinner service, because it does tend to discolour it and leave tell-tale sticky marks.

 

[Heckler]

its a gas powered soldering iron with a knife attachment, works great, i was foolish enough to pay the full wack of £30 ish, it was half price the following week!! try a google search for one or try ebay
Stu

 

[flykeith]

Not Maplin, but www.portasol.com does the job though not cheap.

 

[Searush]

What's wrong with a 20p cigarette lighter?

 

[ms1]

I wrap with a few inches of masking tape and then cut with old carving knife heated on the cooker.

 

[Kyle2]

I bought one of those instant heat electric soldering guns for about £6:99 from Aldi. It has a cutting blade which works brilliantly on rope.

 

[Pinnacle]

There you go! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I have one and they are great. Just remember to be careful where you put it down........

 

[MIKE_MCKIE]

I have one of the small gas soldering irons with cutter attachment & it does the job OK, but you need to take your time as any cutting pressure on the knife & it tends to BEND!!! You just have to take it gently, & then it does a very good job. Failing that cut the rope with a decent sharp knife & use either a ciggie lighter or the gas stove lighter to seal the ends. That is what I do now that the hot knife attachment has bent once too often! A darn sight quicker as well. Got the stove lighter 2 for £1.50 in ASDA a few weeks ago, one short for gas cookers, one long for BBQs. Came filled with gas as well!

 

[cliffordpope]

For thinner rope you can just use the fag lighter - hold the flame under the rope until it softens, then twist and pull the two halves apart.
The lighter alone leaves a rather ragged end: my way is to cut with a hot knife, then burr the end by applying the blade on the flat while twisting the rope with the lay against a flat surface. That twists the strands tight again and gives a slightly chamfered end - good for threading it through things like blocks etc.

 

[Jamesuk]

I tend to whip the end of all my lines, Then i heat up the ends with a lighter/stove and then use my fingers to mould the end of the line (Dip fingers into a cup of water. ) so there is no sharp edges. to the end of the line alternatively splice the end of your lines. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif FIDS woo whoo.

My feeling on the rope Slicers (Electric) not had and use of Gas is that they are a very quick so it would be great to have one around. Go for it if you think you will use it alot otherwises it will just be another thing in the shed.

 

[pheonix]

i found one at b&q some time ago, cost less than a tenner, great bit of kit. solders, cuts, and so on. came with all attachments too. fills with butane from ordinary gas lighter refill. name of product is benzomatic micro torch kit.
Hope this helps
/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[Sans Bateau]

I just cut a load of new mooring warps off a roll of three strand. I have a small hot knofe that fits to my soldering iron, but that would not have ben big enough for that task.

So I used an old sharp knife and a gas blow lamp. I played the gas flame on the knife until it was nearly red, that cut through the rope easily, sealing the ends.

 

[mobeydick]

Maplin one appears to be this one:
http://www.epemag.wimborne.co.uk/gas-soldering-iron.htm

no longer sold

 

[mobeydick]

Aha, its (or something that may do) back!

Maplin site[/url]



Solderpro 70 Gas Soldering Iron Kit

Manufacturer: Pro-Iroda

• A compact kit with an iron and accessories to cope with a multitude of soldering/hot air applications
• Kit includes: 1mm catalytic soldering tip, torch head for pinpoint flame, hot knife attachment and hot air blower
• Also contains a tip-cleaning sponge, coil of lead free solder and heavy-duty box
• Butane gas available separately (Order Code: N59AN)

A compact, pocket sized kit with an iron & accessories to cope with a multitude of soldering/hot air applications.
This kit includes:
1mm catalytic soldering tip
Torch head for pinpoint flame
Hot knife attachment
Hot air blower
Tip cleaning sponge
Coil of Solder
Heavy duty box
Please note these are supplied unfilled. Butane gas available separately, Order Code N59AN.

 

[sparkie]

Bought one of these a few weeks ago, not managed to get the blade hot enough to cut butter yet. Maybe the link above will help me to understand how it's supposed to work.

MORAL: Try before you buy if poss.

Safe sailing

Sparkie

 

[bobg]

I have now made my own hot knife. Got an old table knife, cut the last 3in of the blade off, jubilee clipped it (so removeable) to the end of a gas blowtorch and bent the blade over slightly so it catches the flame. It glows red hot in seconds and the jet is then turned off. It will do loads of cuts before it needs reheating.