What to use to cut small ropes?

[Vicko]

I absolutely adore my spyderco salt ladybug. It's small enough that it doesn't bother me when i keep it tucked in my wetsuit sleeve and will cut trough pretty much anything.
When diving in a dry suit I just attach it with a bolt snap to my short spool, it's in the pocket anyway and it makes it easy to feel the knife in thick gloves.

 

[Boarderguy]

View attachment 786614

Actually the net is maybe only 1.5/2cm thick?

I am crap at remembering things … sorry! Everything looks bigger in water …

You can see my buddy attempts on the top before he broke his cutter … I made the panel at the bottom

For ref, your thumb is likely 1.5 cm across. That's still a big damn rope.

 

[Wibble]

Remora.

Very sharp and lasts a long time (keep it smothered in silicone grease). Had mine for over 5 years on every dive.

They're short bladed with a single cutting side, no point, have a very thick and strong back. The cutting pattern is 1cm scallops. In action I've used it to cut through a 1" (thumb thick) rope on a wreck which it easily did. The serrations also help for thinner line, although a Trilobite line cutter's best for thin line, monofilament and netting.

 

[Pressurehead]

Victorinox kitchen knife.

Cheap as chips, and sharp.

 

[Wookie]

Victorinox kitchen knife.
View attachment 786628
Cheap as chips, and sharp.

I buy the red handled ones by the case.

 

[Manatee Diver]

I buy the red handled ones by the case.

I would say that it is better to steal them from Alice's in High Springs and cut it yourself. But Alice's is out of business... I wonder if it is related.

 

[tomfcrist]

I’ve used tin snips for ghost trap/net removal in the past. Trauma shears work pretty good too, and they are cheaper to replace

 

[dmaziuk]

Actually the net is maybe only 1.5/2cm thick?

Trauma shears will chew through 1.5..2cm but you will likely need new trauma shears afterwards. Like everyone else says, sawing through that with a serrated blade is the best option.

 

[Fishdip]

Found an abandoned lobster pot with trapped creatures inside, I was wondering what’s a practical tool you could use to cut the rope on the sides of a pot.

We used a trilobite and although we managed to cut a panel, that was painful.

Would trauma shears (like the dive rite one) work well for a small 3-4cm diameter rope?

I would rather not carry a pointy knife if I don’t need it, I don’t like the idea of having something sharp in my drysuit

I cute rope and fishing line all the time with trauma shears. The only thing id say is find cheap ones as they tend to rust fast at the pivot point.