Snips, shears or a Ztype knife?

[Ari]

I am looking to add another cutting tool to my equipment and I was wondering, should I go with something like the Dive-Rite sea snips, OMS shears or maybe a Z-type knife.

I currently have a BC knife, but think that adding another cutting tool might be a good idea.

I know its not a big $$ item, but whay not ask around? I don't want to find myself with something that I am not using.

Thanks.

Ari :confused:

[solodiver]

:yellow: I would definatly go for the sheer. more cutting power.
:yellow:

[trymixdiver]

A shear is a geat tool i would pick one up if i was you.

TMD

[pipedope]

I wear sea snips high up. On the shoulder strap of my wetsuit if working without a BC, or on the BC if on scuba.
I usually also wear a knife on my left inside calf. This way I should be able to reach one or the other in most any situation and I can choose the best one for any given cutting job.

michael

[Norm]

Got to agree with folks on the shears. These AND a good knife will cut almost anything you need to cut u/w. Shears, (I'm told), will even cut stainless steel leader material!
Norm

[Uncle Pug]

Originally posted by Norm
Shears, (I'm told), will even cut stainless steel leader material!
Norm

Easily

[Ari]

But do you refer to the EMT kind shears, you can get from Dive-Rite or Zeagle for example, or the OMS, which are far more heavy duty (or at least look like it)?

Ari :)

[trymixdiver]

Yes, they are one and the same as EMT shears. I have 2 pairs, one cheap pair i got for $3 and a nice pair from Gerber that was $25.

Either pair works just fine, i find the Gerber pair last longer because they are SS vs. the cheap metal of the $3 pair.

TMD

[pipedope]

The Sea Snips have the advantage of oversize handles so they are still easy to use with gloves on.

I don't know how long they last,,, yet.

michael

[Ari]

http://www.omsdive.com/cuttool.html, item A194. Any thoughts?

Ari :)

[earlj]

The A-194's look to be able to do the job. Personally, I have a pair of Sea Snips mounted on the shoulder strap of my BC, a blunt end knife on the inside left calf and the very odd time, a skeleton handled knife on the inside of the right forearm. Do the shears come with a sheath?

[Ari]

Don't know. The snips come with a sheath though.

Ari :)

[earlj]

Have you considered a Spyderco type knife on a short lanyard, clipped to your BC? Spyderco has one that has plastic bolsters, a hole in the end for a lanyard and a serrated sheeps foot blade. Excellent cutting tool. Can also be clipped to your pocket on land.

[Ari]

Sounds as an interesting alternative.

Ari :)

[DivingGal]

I have a small knife on one BCD strap, and a pair of sea snips on the other.

[pipedope]

Ari,
The OMS shears (A194) look like a very useful tool but I don't really see a need for shears that heavy on most rec dives.
On a working dive I don't take things with me unless I need them and if I need something that big for cutting I am likely to go back up and get a BIG cutting tool and clear the stuff out fast.

DivingGal,
I like to have my cutting tools high and low on my body so that I am more likely to be able to reach one even in a weird entanglement.
Sometimes I need to cut something but I have to hold on to something else with one hand which limits what and where I can reach, again usually not a problem in rec diving.

michael

[earlj]

Go to www.spyderco.com

You'll be able to see their complete line.

[tholt576]

I like the EMT shears. They are light, inexpensive and can cut through almost anything you should expect to need to cut through. The bigger shears are overkill IMHO. A knife with a chisel point is nice if you need something to poke and pry with.