Regardless if another member agrees or disagrees with your recommendations, your sound reasoning and experience behind each aspect of the tool selection is top notch. 👊👊👊

Firemen don't get enough credit. Thank you for all that you do.

Awesome! Thanks Josh!

Thanks

Cable cutters and wire cutter are two different tools. Linesman pliers are for cutting hardened wire as well as smaller copper wire. Cable cutters can be damaged and not cut hardened wire. The cutting heads aren’t tempered the same. I use linesman pliers for interior structure attacks and use the cable cutters for MVA’s and cutting battery cables mostly. I’ve also had good experiences using the Channelock Rescue Tools. The cutters seems to be the same as the electricians lineman and cable cutters. The handles aren’t as comfortable though. These are just my opinions based on my experiences.

@JoeZasada

2 жыл бұрын

The Klein 63225 and J63225N are both through-hardened cable cutters and should hold up well even with hardened wire. The thing to remember is that we are using these as a "get out of a bad jam" situation more than as a refined, every-day wire cutter.

@ForgedUnbroken

5 ай бұрын

@@JoeZasada Agreed! From my experience, the hardened Klein 63225 and 63050 will work just fine, and will readily defeat any wires found in residential and most commercial structures.

Many Electrician grade cable cutters are for copper or Aluminum Wire. Cutting steel wire will nick the cutting surface. For steel wire, barb wire heavy Duty Diagonal cutters are better.

@ForgedUnbroken

5 ай бұрын

From my experience, the hardened Klein 63225 and 63050 will work just fine, and will readily defeat any wires found in residential and most commercial structures.

Thanks. Glad I checked because I carry the regular dykes and never really thought about them pushing wires out of them but now that I look back when I use them in cars and stuff I do have to make sure to keep the wires in there. Getting a pair like you had now. I really am looking to see what kind of escape rope people carry. Seen some with a steel core and that sounds nice but I am thinking no on steel core rope.

@Jim202030

2 жыл бұрын

FYI I am a rookie VFM just getting through Mod 4 now.

What kind of tape are you using? Are they still "insulated" with the webbing and tape? Thank you for the great info.... Ff in Ga. asking.

@kyleross9689

4 жыл бұрын

Hockey tape works great really with any tool including cutters, also they aren’t insulated once you remove the rubber like grips.

@ForgedUnbroken

5 ай бұрын

@@kyleross9689 Correct! I'm using regular ole sports/hockey tape.

Where do you store your radio, instead of the radio pocket

@paulmorang8340

2 жыл бұрын

Probably a strap under the coat

@ForgedUnbroken

5 ай бұрын

It is stored in a leather holster and strap, underneath of my jacket. The strap is long enough so the radio sits below my jacket, with the antenna pushed out from underneath of the coat for best reception. It protects the lapel mic and wiring (the weak link in the system) and has comparable reception, sometimes better, when compared to storing in the chest pocket.

What brand and model do you recommend?

@crazysteven8

Жыл бұрын

Klein Tools cable cutter are the best out there. Anything Klein Tools is quality. Also as another comment stated most electrical style cable cutter are only rated for copper and aluminum. Cutting steel wire will damage the blades and the cutters won’t function. 9in Klein 2000 series lineman pliers will cut anything and also 2000 series diagonal cutters. I’m not a firefighter but I am in the electrical trade and have been using Klein tools for 20 plus years, might be beneficial to have 2 styles of cutters?

@ForgedUnbroken

5 ай бұрын

@@crazysteven8 Thanks Steve, agreed. I use the Klein 63050 or the 63225. All work great in residential settings for what firefighters are typically facing. They might deface or burr slightly for steel wire, but some quick touch up after the fact takes care of this. Using lineman style cutters in zero -vis, high heat, and gloved hands routinely don't work as well when adrenaline and stress is high in a super heated environment.