Good Bolt Cutters?

[gts1544]

Does anyone know a source of decent bolt cutters with non-Chinese steel jaws? I have a pair of 36" cutters from Ace hardware and the cutter edge deformed the first time I tried to cut a bolt. These don't give me a warm fuzzy as emergency rigging cutters, which is why I bought them!! I want good hard steel in the jaws. Any help?

[Ocean Girl]

They make an hydraulic cutter..expensive but will give you a warm fuzzy feeling

E

[Teknav]

Consider portable electric bolt cutters, with extra cutter wheels to spare; several US manufacturers make them. Mauritz

[FSMike]

Originally Posted by Teknav

Consider portable electric bolt cutters, with extra cutter wheels to spare; several US manufacturers make them. Mauritz

When you're at the point of cutting away the rig I'm not sure I want to rely on anything electric to do it.

[HopCar]

If you're cutting wire rigging, buy cable cutters not bolt cutters. Cable cutters encircle the cable and hold it. Bolt cutters try to push it out of the blades.
H.K. Porter and Felco are good brands. I've been using the same Felco cable cutters in my store to cut stainless cable for at least twenty years. If your cable is larger than about 1/4" you should be looking at hydraulic or powder activated cutters.

[hellosailor]

" powder activated cutters. "
Hopcar, I remember seeing a "guillotine" cutter fired by a 12-gauge shell some years ago. Seemed to me like a good way to make sure the cable got cut all the way on the first shot, no pun intended. Have they gone off the market, or is that what you call "powder" activated?

[Zednotzee]

A wide variety of cable cutters here:

Cable cutter - All industrial manufacturers

Having used the ratchet style, I find them far more powerful than any plier-style cutter. I think being able to work the action one-handed is a definite advantage.

[HopCar]

Hellosailor, yes that's what I was talking about but I remember it using a smaller blank. Now that you mention it, I haven't seen one in some time.

[Ziggy]

Instead of trying to cut the standing rigging, a small sledge hammer and a drift punch can be used to drive out the clevis pins from the chain plates.

[HopCar]

Most of the cable cutters you see advertised are for cutting copper cable. Be sure to get cutters for steel cable / wire rope.

[skipmac]

I've got an 18V battery operated angle grinder that will be in my kit. Haven't tested it on SS rigging but cuts bolts and metal well enough I think it should do the job.

[bobconnie]

Or buy better bolt cutters with replaceable blades. They are out there and not made in China ya have to go to a real store not those oline places that sell chinese tools !! Good bolt cutters can be fitted with serated blades that slice thru 1/2 - 5/8 cable like butter ! better bring your big boy muscles!! LOL the good ones weight a bunch !! just sayin get the good stuff for emergency tools !!

[HopCar]

The Felco C12 is good up to about 3/16" SS Cable. The C16 will cut up to about 1/4" SS cable. The C108 will cut up to 5/16" SS cable. The blades can be sharpened or replaced.

[roverhi]

I've got a pair of Felco Cutters. Believe they are supposed to cut up to 3/8" wire but you best be a gorilla on steroids to do it. I added about foot long extensions to the handles to be able to cut 9/32". I'm not a big guy but not a weakling so be prepared to either add extensions to the handles or lift a lot of weights to use them. if wire is much more than 5/16", hydraulic cutters are probably a necessity.

[jackdale]

When I first sailed in Turkey in the mid 80's we had bolt cutters on the charter boats. They were greased up and vacuum sealed in plastic. The company wanted them to come back in that condition.