Cutting tool: Best value for money ?
- Thread starter Roger Hobden
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I just now found some that I replaced which look fine, feel sharp, and will cut paper. They will NOT cut cave-line or a thin plastic grocery bag because they apparently loosen up at the rivet connection even without use. New pair, same brand from the same box, work fine (as did the loose pair when they were new).
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Okay... I just now tightened the rivet with a hammer and anvil....... They are now tight-as-new, but will still not cut cave-line.
They will now fray it a bit but still will not cut it. The serrated edge appears to be worn from almost no use. They LOOK like they should work, but Ixnay, No Dice. Fagetaoboutit. Hasta leuego old dull shears.
They will now fray it a bit but still will not cut it. The serrated edge appears to be worn from almost no use. They LOOK like they should work, but Ixnay, No Dice. Fagetaoboutit. Hasta leuego old dull shears.
The Chairman
Chairman of the Board
The pivot pin corrodes. The shears are made out of SS, but the rivets are made out of a poor, poor substitute. We were doing an AOW exercise where the student was entangled and tried to cut themselves out with their shears. On the first cut, the two sides came apart. She tried to cut it with the single blade for a while until I handed her my z-knife. I was impressed at how quick she was after that.
Did not know about shears going bad without wearing them out. Good tips.
The general answer to the OP is that cuttings tools are situational tools and you can spend as much or as little as you want. If you are diving where steel cable or steel fishing line is a hazard you need something that can cut it (generally shears). If the hazard includes thick rope you need a knife (or shears). If the hazard is fishing line or nets or your own cave line (99% of most hazards) a line cutter works great, though a knife or shears will do fine as well.
For safety there is no need to spend more than $10 or so on a simple little stainless steel DIR-style blunt-tipped knife. If you want to be a bit safer you can add a second cutting device in a different location so if you are entangled you are more easily able to reach something sharp. My setup has become a dir-style wasitbelt knife and a line cutter, with a pair of shears added if I dive where steel cable is a hazard. Total cost was maybe $30. The BFK is a good tool in some areas, mostly for probing and prying, but decidedly overkill purely for safety. Unless you are fighting unsavory types or amorous sharks. But hey, big knives are fun. Entirely up to you.
The general answer to the OP is that cuttings tools are situational tools and you can spend as much or as little as you want. If you are diving where steel cable or steel fishing line is a hazard you need something that can cut it (generally shears). If the hazard includes thick rope you need a knife (or shears). If the hazard is fishing line or nets or your own cave line (99% of most hazards) a line cutter works great, though a knife or shears will do fine as well.
For safety there is no need to spend more than $10 or so on a simple little stainless steel DIR-style blunt-tipped knife. If you want to be a bit safer you can add a second cutting device in a different location so if you are entangled you are more easily able to reach something sharp. My setup has become a dir-style wasitbelt knife and a line cutter, with a pair of shears added if I dive where steel cable is a hazard. Total cost was maybe $30. The BFK is a good tool in some areas, mostly for probing and prying, but decidedly overkill purely for safety. Unless you are fighting unsavory types or amorous sharks. But hey, big knives are fun. Entirely up to you.
Is there a brand of shears with a higher-quality pivot pin? Other than diving with Cutco shears, that is.
another vote for trilobite. You can replace the blades, which I recently did. The old ones were rusty but still cut fine. I've used mine to cut cave line and webbing. I think that's about it. I keep mine on my dive computer's wrist strap. When flying it has to be removed and put into a checked bag as I keep my dive computers in a carry on.
I don't know, but I would bet someone on here has tried replacing the pin with something better. Anyone? I also seem to recall at least one person in a previous thread saying that they consider EMT shears disposable and simply replace them frequently. Seems wasteful to me.
On the original question, I generally carry either the shears or ye olde steak knife (with tip ground down), along with a Trilobyte.
The Chairman
Chairman of the Board
OP
Roger Hobden
Contributor
Hello, thank you to all for the very useful advice.
I just ordered an Eezycut Trilobite and Dive Rite Titanium Shears. I guess I will find out on my own if they tend to rust or not. I intend to store them on my webbing within easy reach of both my hands.
As being entangled might potentially lead to a life or death situation, I don't mind paying a bit more, even if I end up never ever using them.
It's like having a fire extinguisher at home.
I just ordered an Eezycut Trilobite and Dive Rite Titanium Shears. I guess I will find out on my own if they tend to rust or not. I intend to store them on my webbing within easy reach of both my hands.
As being entangled might potentially lead to a life or death situation, I don't mind paying a bit more, even if I end up never ever using them.
It's like having a fire extinguisher at home.
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