Hot Knives / Rope Cutters - Why so expensive?

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Ammonite

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Most of the decent looking 240v 60w versions of these seem to come in around the £90 - £100 mark

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HSGM-Rope...-Sailing-Ropes-Industrial-Ropes-/161643021824

The same cutter is sold for less when sold as a device for docking pigs tails but I'd have to pay £11 to get it delivered from Austria!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kerbl-Cutter-Engel-With-Cutting/dp/B003O9LBZC

Why are they all so expensive when 60w soldering irons can be had for a few quid?

Has anyone come across a reasonable yet cheap version for occasional use that can cope with rope up to 24mm?

Thanks!
 
Yes.
Buy a cheap soldering iron and make a cutting tip for it.
Many soldering irons have replaceable tips. Quite easy to make a tip for cutting rope; a tip with a hole of the diameter of the bare iron without a soldering tip. The advantage is that you can still use it for soldering, by putting the soldering tip back on.
 
These work very well as rope cutters: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0001KA1QM/dolcetto-21

41erSbZiCGL._SY300_.jpg

Note the flatter bit in the case, just below the solder, easier to see on the Amazon page.

Not great for soldering though.

[Note that there is an Amazon affiliate code after the ASIN in this link, feel free to delete it]
 
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You can get a specific cutting tip for a Weller soldering gun. (I'm sure it would also fit the Draper). Alternatively just bent up a suitable piece of stiff wire.

(Even easier to keep an old sharp knife for the purpose and heat it up on a gas-ring or with a blowlamp:D)
 
Thanks for the suggestions guys. A search among soldering guns was far more productive than searching on hot knives etc. I've just ordered one of these with two additional curved cutting tips for £18. From the photo / description it looks identical to the Sealey sd200 costing twice as much. No idea if they are the same but wouldn't surprise me.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/28021-Electric-100W-Double-Insulated-Soldering-Gun-Set-Iron-Kit-with-Spot-Light-/270965870181?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3f16d30e65

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/28050-Straight-Curved-Spare-Tips-for-Soldering-Iron-Gun-28021-2-Pieces-/281046372644?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&var=&hash=item416fab5124

Will report back when I've had a chance to use them
 
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ghostlymoron said:
I've heard that Aldidl have the gas powered ones sometimes at about £12. I'm keeping my eyes open.
Click to expand...

They do have them in sometimes. The one I bought was I think made by irodo who also make the excellent larger gas soldering iron I have.

The Aldi one is a well made piece of kit and good for soldering, but I dont find it powerful enough for rope cutting.

Either get the bigger one http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=181702610317&alt=web

and the rope cutter tip for it, or get a soldering gun with rope cutter tip.
 
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nigelmercier said:
These work very well as rope cutters: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0001KA1QM/dolcetto-21

41erSbZiCGL._SY300_.jpg

Note the flatter bit in the case, just below the solder, easier to see on the Amazon page.

Not great for soldering though.

[Note that there is an Amazon affiliate code after the ASIN in this link, feel free to delete it]
Click to expand...

I have one very similar.
It's OK as a rope cutter, but not a patch on the proper commercial jobs.
An old wooden handled knife and a gas ring is the business. Particularly if the rope is damp.
 
I have been using one like the case in the picture for about 7 years. The flat bit is looking a bit worse for wear. I have used it for rope up to 18 mm, which it cuts rather slowly, but it gets there. I think it was under a tenner.
 
I took a paperclip and heated it to red hot with a pencil torch. Took 2-3 rounds but cut and sealed the rope nicely. Good enough for me, since I don't cut rope every day and would hate having another single-purpose tool cluttering the place.
 
Chaktoura said:
Thanks for the suggestions guys. A search among soldering guns was far more productive than searching on hot knives etc. I've just ordered one of these with two additional curved cutting tips for £18. From the photo / description it looks identical to the Sealey sd200 costing twice as much. No idea if they are the same but wouldn't surprise me.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/28021-Electric-100W-Double-Insulated-Soldering-Gun-Set-Iron-Kit-with-Spot-Light-/270965870181?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3f16d30e65

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/28050-Straight-Curved-Spare-Tips-for-Soldering-Iron-Gun-28021-2-Pieces-/281046372644?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&var=&hash=item416fab5124

Will report back when I've had a chance to use them
Click to expand...

yes those cutting tips are worth having, not always easy to find! will order some tonight...
 
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