In the shipping industry, bolt cutters are used to open shipping containers. In the electrical and construction industries, they are used to cut through metal wires and other structural components. In the agricultural industry, they are used to work on fences. A worker at a building site uses bolt cutters to cut through a steel reinforcement frame.
They are especially helpful for labourers engaged in strenuous and repeated operations, such as the sizing and cutting of thick steel "rebar" mesh panels used to strengthen walls.
Cutter tools with extended handles are convenient in such situations because they eliminate the need for constant bending. These models have lightweight handles with cushioned grips to make the instrument easier to carry and operate. Check Out Melbourne Sheet metal fabrication company
Rescue personnel rely heavily on bolt cutters, which allow them to open locked doors and cut through other metal barriers to free those who are trapped. If they think the fire is still burning inside the walls, they utilise the tools to cut away the plasterboard and get access to the wall cavities.
They're employed by both the police and the accused when the former need to liberate protesters who have shackled themselves to inanimate items.
Instead of slicing through materials like scissors would, bolt cutters crush them by focusing enormous forces on the little area where the blades make contact.
The theory of "leverage," in which a small amount of force exerted over a large distance (here, the length of the handles) results in a great force over a small distance, is responsible for the cutting power of these tools (the jaws).
The tremendous crushing strength at the tool head is a result of the force applied along the comparatively lengthy distance of the handles to the central hinge (which functions as a fulcrum), which is then multiplied by a second set of hinges.
Whether you're a DIYer or a professional, there will come a time when the only option is to break through the offending obstruction using a pair of bolt cutters.
Padlocks, bolts, rods, and chain-linked metal are the most usual targets for a bolt cutter.
Bolt cutters come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, with the proper one being selected based on the material being cut.
Here we'll take a look at several distinct kinds of cutters and discuss how to pick the one that's best for your needs.
The bolt cutter is a type of puncture typically used to sever fasteners like bolts, chains, and wire mesh. Bolt cutters, used for slicing through bolts and wires, are the product of two sharp blades and two hands. A Shipping Container's safety bolts were its original target. Bolt cutters come in a wide variety of styles and sizes.
It's common practise to utilise some of these tools on a regular basis for tasks like tearing down fences, furniture, and other pieces of machinery. On the other hand, they are useful for accomplishing difficult tasks. It will likely simplify whatever you're trying to accomplish. Some of them can slice through solid objects like metal rods, pipes, fencing, and chains. To cut the thin wire and small lock, all you need is a pair of simple snips. When a key is misplaced, a visitor to your property can use the high-performance cutters to gain entry to the locked structures.
Table of Contents
What Are the Best Bolt Cutter Options?
Your search for the perfect bolt cutter can be simplified if you keep these considerations in mind.
Size
Bolt cutters are available in lengths of 8, 10, 12, 14, 18, 24, 30, 36, and 42 inches. A bolt cutter's capabilities in terms of the types of materials and the thicknesses of metals it can cut are proportional to its size.
Small Bolt Cutters
8-, 10-, 12-, and 14-inch bolt cutters are designed to cut through thinner chains and pry off bolts with a softer to medium level of hardness. These bolt cutters, like the exceptional Knipex Tools Bolt Cutters, are widely used because of their strength, portability, and versatility.
Medium Sized Bolt Cutters
Medium-sized bolt cutters have a length between 18 and 24 inches. They're effective with both soft and tough metals. Because of its longer handle, a medium bolt cutter can easily cut through thick objects like padlocks and large bolts.
Large Bolt Cutters
Bolt cutters between 30 and 42 inches in length can easily cut through medium-hard metals such as thick steel chains, copper cable, steel rods, and colossal bolts and padlocks. These heavy-duty tools have a longer handle and extra-strong steel jaws, allowing for greater leverage and bolt-busting force.
Blade Quality
If you need serious cutting power from your bolt cutter, make sure the jaws and blade edge are made of strong, resilient, and extraordinarily hard steel.
Bolt cutters are typically made of chrome vanadium steel or chrome molybdenum steel that has been forged and heat treated. Both of these types of steel are commonly considered to be the most robust and long-lasting options out there. As an additional measure against rust and corrosion, the steel could be powder-coated.
Rockwell Hardness Scale
Using the Rockwell Hardness Scale, manufacturers create the blade of any cutting tool. Steel's hardness and tenacity can be determined using the HRC scale developed by Rockwell. Higher RHC numbers indicate that the steel is of higher quality.
Handles Design
It doesn't matter how long or short the handles are if you can't get enough leverage to open the jaws and the pliers won't be able to grab onto and cut through metal with much effort.
Any hand fatigue will also be gone with an ergonomic design. Rolling steel handles with cushioned non-slip rubber grips, like the Tekton Bolt Cutter, or thick moulded plastic coated handles, like the Capri Tools Bolt Cutter, are just two examples of the different types of handles that bolt cutters can have.
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Weight
While a heavier bolt cutter may have more crushing power, it can also be much more tiring to use for long periods of time. Even though a lightweight bolt cutter is useful for on-the-go use and quick jobs, it may not be able to withstand repeated use on tough materials. It's important to think about the tasks at hand. In addition to a heavy-duty bolt cutter, your toolkit should contain a folding bolt cutter, which can be used for quick, convenient cutting of bolts.
What Are the Best Bolt Cutter Reviews?
Neiko 00563A- Heavy Duty Bolt Cutter
It doesn't matter if you're a professional or a do-it-yourselfer; both of you can utilise a bolt cutter. The company Neiko model 00563A bolt cutter can be used to cut wires, bolts, chains, padlocks, and other hardware by either of you. The cutter's sturdy lever-fulcrum allows for the production of a pressure of 400 kilogrammes with only 50 kilogrammes of power.
Neiko model 00563A bolt cutters have a jaw that can handle heavy work without bending or breaking. In a nutshell, this beast can handle any cutting task you can throw at it.
Knipex 8-Inch Bolt Cutter Model 7101200
Knipex bolt cutter type 7101200 can easily cut through 5.2-millimeter rivets, as well as any other bolt, nail, or similar object. Oil and temper harden the Vanadium electric-steel used to craft the body of this compact bolt cutter. The cutter's sturdy construction is ensured by the use of high-quality materials. With this cutter in hand, you'll have no trouble slicing through your home chores.
In addition, you can confidently use it to cut a bolt or rivet with a diameter of 1/4 inch. Engineers at Knipex maintain all of their blades under strict scrutiny to ensure they are durable, dependable, and capable of cutting through any material.
TEKTON 8-Inch Mini Bolt and Wire Cutter
A TEKTON wire cutter can sever any wire, from a bolt or chain to a cable. This compact 8-inch bolt cutter easily slices through any steel cable. The TEKTON's designers programmed the cutter with a sophisticated cutting movement to make short work of tough cutting tasks. Mini bolt cutters can only cut wire up to 3/16 inches thick, so forget about padlocks. You won't believe how well this cutter performs under intense conditions.
Knipex 71 32 200 Comfort Grip High Leverage CoBolt Cutter
A Knipex 7132200 is an excellent choice for a bolt cutter if you need one. Metal, bolt heads, chains, and more may all be cut with ease using this high-leverage bolt cutter. The bolt cutter can be put to use in your industry's assembly line or on the container's wire.
This versatile blade can be used for a wide variety of tasks. This precision-engineered bolt cutter generates 20 times greater pressure, allowing for effortless cutting of even the hardest metals. You can use this myth as your standard, go-to utility knife for everything from trimming fence wire to severing fishing hooks.
Capri Tools 40209 Mini Bolt Cutter, Klinge 8-inch
Mini bolt cutters like the Capri 8-inch model are convenient to keep in your tool kit for snipping wire whenever you need to. Model 40209 from Capri Tools is cushioned for a secure grip while you cut. The conventionally styled cutter provides the greatest possible force with the least amount of exertion. The Capri 40209's heat-treated jaw makes quick work of cutting bolts, wire, rope, and chains. This handy CrMo metal cutter can be stored conveniently in a pocket until it's needed.
WORKPRO W017004A 14-inch Bolt Cutter
The WORKPRO W017004A 14-inch Bolt Cutter is a powerful, long-lasting, and ergonomic metal cutting tool.
The W017004A provides a strong compound cutting action with minimal effort thanks to its powder-coated drop-forged chrome-molybdenum steel jaws and precision cutting blades. This strong tool is ideal for cutting through bolts, rods, rivets, and chain-link fences (all of which are soft to medium metals) with ease, as well as through HRC42 steel up to 5mm and HRC25 steel up to 6mm.
The red and blue anti-slip grips on the strong tubular ergonomic bi-material handles allow for a higher degree of control even when doing demanding jobs. This bolt cutter is convenient for everyday use and fits easily in a pocket because to its small size.
Knipex Tools 7101250 10-inch CoBolt Compact Bolt Cutter
Extremely multipurpose, the Knipex Tools 7101250 10-inch ComBolt Compact Bolt Cutter can be used for a wide variety of tasks around the house or on the job site, including cutting bolts and other fasteners.
The CoBolt, manufactured in Germany, features a robust steel structure and an improved lever-action mechanism to provide you with great cutting performance with minimal effort.
Cutting soft and hard wire, piano wire, bolts, nails, and rivets up to 5.6 mm in diameter is quick and easy with the precision blades made from heavy-duty hardened 64 HRC chrome vanadium steel with a new micro-structure laser-cut edge. The improved edge design of the bolt cutter prevents thick, round, and flat objects from slipping out during the cutting process, allowing you to operate more efficiently.
The jaws' improved gripping zone makes it simple to hold objects, pry them apart, and draw nails and cables with diameters more than 0.04 inches.
These longer, 10-inch handles are designed for comfort and power. The handles are plastic-coated so that you don't have to worry about dropping it. The bright red handles stand out in any office setting. You can take the CoBolt with you everywhere you go because to its portable size.
Neiko 00558A 12-Inch Bolt Cutter
The Neiko 00558A 12-inch Bolt Cutter is the tool to use if you're up against very difficult challenges.
The 00558A is versatile and can be used for a wide range of tasks, from light household use to demanding industrial applications. The chrome-moly steel jaws have been hardened to a razor's edge and are indestructible. Because of this, even the toughest bolts, chains, padlocks, threaded rods, heavy-gauge wire, wire mesh fencing, and other metals will be easily cut with this bolt cutter.
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The classic lever-fulcrum design and carefully positioned blades provide greater cutting force and a smoother movement with less exertion.
The ergonomically designed, textured plastic angled handles are both comfortable and non-slip, increasing leverage and minimising hand strain.
Neiko's bolt cutter is available in 7 lengths: 12, 14, 18, 24, 30, 36, and 42 inches.
RIDGID 14223 Model S24 Bolt Cutter
When you need to cut through soft, medium, or hard metals, the Ridgid 14223 S24 Bolt Cutter is an indispensable tool for any professional tradesperson or do-it-yourself home repairer.
The 24" blade of this RIDGID bolt cutter is built to last through repeated use on tough materials.
The blades are made from hardened alloy steel that increases their strength and durability. The blades will remain in the ideal cutting position with just one simple motion thanks to the internal cam system, guaranteeing a cutting performance that is both quick and precise.
This bolt cutter's central cut makes quick work of various metals. Hard metals (15RC, 31RC, and 42RC) are no match for it. Bolts, nuts, steel cables, reinforcing rods, heat-treated rods, spring wire, and spring wire are all destroyed by its destructive power.
Ergonomically shaped red metal handles with black rubber grips. Since more pressure can be applied, metals can be cut with greater control and precision.
HK Porter 0190MCD 24-inch Power Link Bolt Cutter
The HK Porter 0190MCD 24-inch Bolt Cutter is ideal for cutting metal in industrial settings because to its high cutting power, innovative technology, and exceptional durability.
This bolt cutter, manufactured in the USA, features a novel Power Link computer-inspired compound-action mechanism, making light work of even the toughest jobs. It's ideal for slicing through thicker and harder materials with little effort. The renowned Powerlink bolt cutter requires 30% less effort from the user than conventional cutters.
The HK Porter bolt cutter is ideal for use in manufacturing plants, repair shops, power plants, building and infrastructure sites, oil and gas operations, and other tough settings.
The induction hardened, centre-cut blades and the metal-crushing jaws are both exceptionally long-lasting designs. This 24-inch bolt cutter is ideal for cutting through a wide variety of materials, including wrought iron, chain link fences, padlock hasps, electric wire, and heavy steel rods, bars, and screws.
Because of the 90 degree angle at which the tubular steel handles open, you'll have all the leverage you need with minimal effort. As an added bonus, the handles' black rubber, anti-slip grips are both comfortable and classic in design, thereby minimising the risk of muscle fatigue.
Cutters for bolts can be found with a wide range of blade shapes and bevel angles to suit a wide range of applications. Most bolt cutters can be identified by their blade shape alone, although there are a few exceptions.
Hinges
Any tool that claims to be a bolt cutter should feature a complex hinge. Each arm of a typical bolt cutter has a hinge joint that connects to a third, central hinge.
Shear cut and compact bolt cutters use a hinge design similar to that of common household scissors. The shear cut bolt cutters (see below) and the compact bolt cutters (200m (8′′) handles) have a single hinge like a pair of scissors. However, this doesn't change how bolt cutters are used; the categories below still apply.
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Centre Cut Bolt Cutters
Centre-cut bolt cutters are versatile and often used for a variety of tasks. The double bevel on each blade ensures that the whole weight of the blade is applied to the material being cut from all directions, making clean cuts on all sides. They work wonderfully for most jobs, such as sawing through thick wires and pipes.
Clipper Cut and Angled Bolt Cutters
Both of the blades' upper faces slope downward on clipper cut jaws, almost to the flat sides of the jaws. In order to impart the same amount of pressure as its centre cut cousin, the blades' lower edges are softly bevelled. This makes clipper cut blades great for slicing through projecting nails, nuts, or screws near to a workpiece's surface, as the cutting point is lower when the tool is laid flat.
Red and Blue Compact Bolt Cutters With an Angled Head
However, if the bolt cutters' head is slanted and there is no surface plate behind, the blades can produce an even lower cut. When used properly, this type of tool can remove bolts or nails almost completely flush to the surface they are in.
Bolt cutters with an angle head are great for slicing through tough materials like projecting nails in boards. By doing so, the tool's handles can be raised to an angle of 20 or 30 degrees with respect to the tool's head, providing plenty of space for a working hand to slide beneath and grab hold.
Shear Cut
Bolt cutters with a shear cut are the most effective tool for severing wire and cable. Blades overlap and slide past each other, rather like scissor blades, rather than pressing together during the cutting operation.
These tools are commonly employed for the purpose of making clean slices through cables; the hooked design of their jaws secures the cable in position, allowing for a more precise and efficient cut.
End Cut
The blades of an end cut jaw are flattened and curved inward at the tip to form a pincer. When materials like bolt heads are located in tight, inaccessible spaces, these tools are utilised to secure a firm grasp before cutting them off with a clean, precise cut.
Ratchet Bolt Cutters
Some models of bolt cutters feature ratchet hinges, which allow the operator to apply pressure in rapid bursts rather of maintaining constant pressure. Costing more than standard bolt cutters, these are a specialised tool.
Compact Bolt Cutters
Compact bolt cutters have handles no more than 200 millimetres (8 inches) long (though you'll typically find them in this size). The smaller versions of these tools are ideal for simple tasks like slicing through fencing wire or small lock hasps, which would be too much for their larger equivalents. When compared to regular bolt cutters, these are far more portable and convenient to use around the house and yard.
Manual and Powered Tools
Bolt cutters come in a variety of shapes and sizes, making them useful for a wide range of do-it-yourself and professional building projects.
Hydraulic Bolt Cutters
Construction workers and emergency services personnel alike will use a powered tool when the cutting job is too large for manual methods. Powerful motorised engines in hydraulic bolt cutters make them easy to use, as do their rechargeable batteries.
Man Cutting Thick Steel Bar With a Guillotine-Action Hydraulic Bolt Cutter
Hydraulic bolt cutters have guillotine-like jaws that are equipped with a flat blade or blades that slash through whatever they are cutting with impressive force. Conventional-jawed hydraulic bolt cutters You could also use bolt cutters with standard-looking heads.
Conclusion
Bolt cutters are used to cut through metal wires and other structural components in the shipping industry, the electrical and construction industries, and the agricultural sector. Workers who perform demanding, repetitive tasks can benefit greatly from them. They are used by rescue workers to unlock doors and cut through bars made of metal. When law enforcement officials need to free protesters who have bound themselves to inanimate objects, the accused often call on their services. Bolt cutters come in a wide range of sizes and styles, so it's important to choose the right one for the job.
Because of the concept of "leverage," which states that a small amount of force applied over a large distance can produce a large force over a small distance, these tools are able to cut through material with relative ease. Fasteners like bolts, chains, and wire mesh can be severed with a puncture tool called a bolt cutter. They're available in a wide range of shapes and sizes and can be put to work demolishing anything from fences to furniture to large pieces of machinery. Available in 8, 10, 12, 14, 18, 24, 30, 36, and 42-inch lengths, bolt cutters are among the best tools on the market. Medium-sized bolt cutters have a longer handle and extra-strong steel jaws, making them suitable for cutting through thicker chains and prying off harder bolts than those used by the average person.
Large bolt cutters ranging in size from 30 to 42 inches can easily slice through medium-hard metals like thick steel chains, copper cable, steel rods, and enormous bolts and padlocks. In deciding on a bolt cutter, it's important to think about the quality of the blade. Typically, bolt cutters are forged and heat treated from a chrome vanadium steel or chrome molybdenum steel. Steel hardness and toughness are measured using the Rockwell Hardness Scale (RHC), and the handles should be comfortable to hold. Cutting wires, bolts, chains, padlocks, and other hardware is a breeze with the Neiko model 00563A bolt cutter, a heavy-duty bolt cutter.
The powerful lever-fulcrum allows it to exert a force of 400 kg with just 50 kg of input. Rivets with a diameter of 5.2 millimetres are no match for Knipex bolt cutter type 7101200, or any other bolt, nail, or similar object. If you need to cut a bolt, chain, or cable, the TEKTON 8-inch Mini Bolt and Wire Cutter is the tool for the job. Mini bolt cutters, like the Capri Tools 40209 model made by Klinge, measure 8 inches in length and come in handy for quick wire snipping on the go. Powerful compound cutting action is achieved with minimal effort using the W017004A's powder-coated, drop-forged chrome-molybdenum steel jaws and precision cutting blades.
It can easily slice through HRC42 steel up to 5mm and HRC25 steel up to 6mm, as well as bolts, rods, rivets, and even chain link fences. The strong tubular ergonomic bi-material handles feature red and blue anti-slip grips, allowing for a greater degree of control even during strenuous tasks. There are many applications for the Knipex Tools 7101250 10-inch CoBolt Compact Bolt Cutter, such as cutting bolts and other fasteners, both at home and on the job site. If you're facing insurmountable obstacles, reach for the Neiko 00558A 12-inch Bolt Cutter. Whether you're a professional handyman or a weekend warrior fixing up your own place, the RIDGID 14223 Model S24 Bolt Cutter is an item you can't do without.
Lever-fulcrum construction and strategically placed blades give it superior cutting power and fluid motion. There are seven sizes to choose from: 12, 14, 18, 24, 30, 36, and 42 inches. Cutting metal in an industrial setting is a breeze with the HK Porter 0190MCD 24-inch Power Link Bolt Cutter thanks to its robust construction, cutting power, and cutting-edge technology. A wide variety of blade shapes and bevel angles are available for bolt cutters. Like regular kitchen shears, the hinge on shear cut and compact bolt cutters is doubled, while the hinge on clipper cut and angled bolt cutters is singled.
Centre-cut bolt cutters can be used for a wide variety of purposes, and their clipper-cut blades are ideal for quickly and easily cutting through protruding nails, nuts, or screws that are close to the surface of a workpiece. Cutting through tough materials, such as protruding nails in boards, is a breeze with bolt cutters that have an angled head. The best tool for cutting through wire and cable is a pair of shear cutters. Jaws at the end have been flattened and curved inward to form a pincer. With the ratcheting action of the cutter's hinges, the user can exert force in short, powerful bursts.
For quick and easy cutting of things like fencing wire and small lock hasps, opt for a compact bolt cutter with a handle no longer than 200 millimetres (8 inches). Both hand and power tools can be found in a wide range of sizes and shapes, making them suitable for both amateur and expert construction tasks.
Content Summary
- In the shipping industry, bolt cutters are used to open shipping containers.
- Instead of slicing through materials like scissors would, bolt cutters crush them by focusing enormous forces on the little area where the blades make contact.
- Whether you're a DIYer or a professional, there will come a time when the only option is to break through the offending obstruction using a pair of bolt cutters.
- Padlocks, bolts, rods, and chain-linked metal are the most usual targets for a bolt cutter.
- Here we'll take a look at several distinct kinds of cutters and discuss how to pick the one that's best for your needs.
- The bolt cutter is a type of puncture typically used to sever fasteners like bolts, chains, and wire mesh.
- Your search for the perfect bolt cutter can be simplified if you keep these considerations in mind.
- In addition to a heavy-duty bolt cutter, your toolkit should contain a folding bolt cutter, which can be used for quick, convenient cutting of bolts.
- It doesn't matter if you're a professional or a do-it-yourselfer; both of you can utilise a bolt cutter.
- Knipex bolt cutter type 7101200 can easily cut through 5.2-millimeter rivets, as well as any other bolt, nail, or similar object.
- With this cutter in hand, you'll have no trouble slicing through your home chores.
- In addition, you can confidently use it to cut a bolt or rivet with a diameter of 1/4 inch.
- A TEKTON wire cutter can sever any wire, from a bolt or chain to a cable.
- This compact 8-inch bolt cutter easily slices through any steel cable.
- A Knipex 7132200 is an excellent choice for a bolt cutter if you need one.
- The bolt cutter can be put to use in your industry's assembly line or on the container's wire.
- Mini bolt cutters like the Capri 8-inch model are convenient to keep in your tool kit for snipping wire whenever you need to.
- The W017004A provides a strong compound cutting action with minimal effort thanks to its powder-coated drop-forged chrome-molybdenum steel jaws and precision cutting blades.
- Extremely multipurpose, the Knipex Tools 7101250 10-inch ComBolt Compact Bolt Cutter can be used for a wide variety of tasks around the house or on the job site, including cutting bolts and other fasteners.
- These longer, 10-inch handles are designed for comfort and power.
- The Neiko 00558A 12-inch Bolt Cutter is the tool to use if you're up against very difficult challenges.
- When you need to cut through soft, medium, or hard metals, the Ridgid 14223 S24 Bolt Cutter is an indispensable tool for any professional tradesperson or do-it-yourself home repairer.
- The 24" blade of this RIDGID bolt cutter is built to last through repeated use on tough materials.
- Ergonomically shaped red metal handles with black rubber grips.
- The HK Porter 0190MCD 24-inch Bolt Cutter is ideal for cutting metal in industrial settings because to its high cutting power, innovative technology, and exceptional durability.
- Because of the 90 degree angle at which the tubular steel handles open, you'll have all the leverage you need with minimal effort.
- Cutters for bolts can be found with a wide range of blade shapes and bevel angles to suit a wide range of applications.
- Any tool that claims to be a bolt cutter should feature a complex hinge.
- Each arm of a typical bolt cutter has a hinge joint that connects to a third, central hinge.
- Shear cut and compact bolt cutters use a hinge design similar to that of common household scissors.
- The shear cut bolt cutters (see below) and the compact bolt cutters (200m (8′′) handles) have a single hinge like a pair of scissors.
- Bolt cutters with an angle head are great for slicing through tough materials like projecting nails in boards.
- Bolt cutters with a shear cut are the most effective tool for severing wire and cable.
- Costing more than standard bolt cutters, these are a specialised tool.
- Construction workers and emergency services personnel alike will use a powered tool when the cutting job is too large for manual methods.
- Powerful motorised engines in hydraulic bolt cutters make them easy to use, as do their rechargeable batteries.
