Lieutenant Mike Brown from Baltimore City (MD) Truck 15 sent in this photo of his cable cutters. The lanyard is made of tubular webbing that is zip tied onto both handles. The webbing has enough slack to allow for the cutters to fully open. This amount of slack allows the lanyard to hang just outside of the pocket when the cutters are closed and stored.
We have shown various types of cutters and various types of lanyards in the past. The nice thing about this particular lanyard set-up is that pulling on the webbing handle actually closes the cutters. The problem with some other lanyard set-ups is that if the tool is placed head down in the pocket, the handle tends to get caught up in the pocket.
The simple addition of a pair of cutters to your pocket can really help you in a number of situations, most importantly, in an entanglement. There are pros and cons to the different types of cutters that we have shown in the past. Regardless of the style of cutters you prefer, every firefighter should have a least one pair in their pocket, and train on using them in a zero visibility environment.
There have been a few comments about the concern of the webbing handle getting snagged, so we added the photo below to show how Lt. Brown stores the webbing. Just enough to make it simple to grab, not enough to create a significant snag hazard.
I would just be worried that the closed loop might get caught on something and inadvertantly pull the cutters out of the pocket.
I put them in my pants pocket with my spare gloves and so far it’s just the right size loop and hasn’t “grabbed” anything yet, but I will follow up if I encounter a problem.
I would suggest spring loaded cutters for one handed use
A small piece of salvage hose can be used as a holster to keep them in the closed position.
do you have instruction or a photo of how to use the salvage hose to keep them open?
The spring loaded cutters has its limits of how far it can open. might have a prob on bigger stuff.
Cut an old section of hose the lenght that you want for the cutters. Remove the jacket fron the inside if you can. Take the section of hose fold it over and have the local upholstery shop your PPE shop anyone with a heavy duty sewing machine sew it. Works like a champ
Thanks Jim….still working on the pic
There have been a few comments about the concern of the webbing handle getting snagged, so we added the photo in the original post to show how Lt. Brown stores the webbing. Just enough to make it simple to grab, not enough to create a significant snag hazard. -Jimm-
You can stitch some Velcro on your Turnout Pant Pocket and your webbing, thereby the loop is always in the same spot.
Is it possible to just get the best idea first. I have to spend a lot of time updating my pockets to keep up with all these changes. I like this version the best because of the pull-to-close feature. Thanks Mike for sharing.
Any reason the webbing on the one side of the cutters goes all the way up and the other is just ziptied near the bottom? Just curious if that was a result of something you discovered.
Nice trick, I passed it on along with your website to our junior g. This will keep my cutters from falling out every time I pull out my radio.
Thanks
Kevin
Nothing on Hal Bruno dying?
The webbing was actually left over from another project. If I were doing this from scratch I would have used a little more to totally cover both handles. It also would give another opportunity to put another zip tie on that side. I just wanted to make sure I could fully open the cutter.
RHTA–As an alternative to getting the hose sewn, duct tape can be used as well. Thats the current set up I have and the duct tape has held for at least 3 years now.
Thanks Lt.- Great idea for my cable cutters!
I did this and then wrapped the grips with a little hockey tape. I let just the knot hang out of my turnout pocket with the velcro holding them in place and it is great. Thanks for the tips.
Like your idea, took it a step further though. instead of using zip ties used jb weld, works great! have done a couple for other members of my station.
Who proof read this article?
I like this idea. I modified my personal cutters a few weeks ago based on this article and some of the comments above.
Rolled out on a 10-50 last night and used these and my mutli-tool to disconnect a battery. Not a big deal but impressed my LT by having tools on hand to get the job done quickly and efficiently.
Thanks for the great idea
I took this a step further. Full handle webbing. Wrapped grip tape over oxygen tubing on handles(thicker, easier to one handed handle). Added golf ball to loop of webbing= can find blindly, this was added later, post RIT drill in which difficult to find loop webbing. Note- I did adjust weebing length to just hang out of top of pocket, under flap, so not to snag- another ealrier problem. JI.
Great post. But Can you show me how to use the salvage hose to keep them open?
I have this set up except I sewed some Velcro onto the webbing. I figured out how much webbing I wanted to hang out and sewed some Velcro to it so it would attach to the same Velcro patches for the pocket flap. That way it doesn’t fall into the pocket or slide around.
They seem to be useful tools, but i should use these things in what occasion? Can you give me more detail ????
They will cut chainlink fence and most wires. Its a heavy bulky tool that you’ll use maybe one time in your career to save your butt or someone else’s. So its up to you to carry it.
I am happy to read your article.
Thanks for share the article.
Thank you so much.
I drilled a hole through a golf ball and slid onto my webbing lanyard. Helps with finding the cutters in limited visibility. Also, I ground some material back from the tips, to maximize the opening when using them one-handed.