Bit OT - bolt cutters steel

D

Dog of War

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Sep 4, 2004
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I got thinking about bolt cutters recently ... obviously the geometry of the blades is pretty obtuse, but still the steel used must be very hard and tough. Any thoughts, or better still specific knowledge, of what steels would be used in high quality bolt cutters, also HRC, heat treat and other info? Or is a simple tool steel all that's needed?
 
I don't know much about them, but I don't think they are particularly hard. I tried cutting a drill bit with a pair and the edge indented. It did work, and the drill bits broke were I wanted them cut. Your average HHS drill bit is somewhere in the 60-65 HRC range right? Thats all I've got, sorry.
 
I do not know how hard they are. I know I almost knocked myself out once by trying to cut a big Master hardened padlock with one arm of the cutter against my chest, with both hands on the other handle squeezing it - when the head broke, I punched myself so hard in the face that I decked myself & saw stars. I haven't used that method of bolt cutter operation since.

I did look around a little and see that most limit their cutting to materials Rc40 or less. Nice Porters to Rc48, so they have to be a little harder than that I guess.

http://www.tooldudes.com/hkporter1.html
 
Appreciate it guys. I was really most curious if the geometry of the blades was the primary factor, or if there was more to it, heat treat or steel-wise.

Interesting that it was cutting hardened shackles on maybe 25-30 Master locks a few years ago that was on my mind. Those boogers sure don't respond to a hacksaw (maybe just surface hardened, I wonder now) and I was kind of amazed what a set of bolt cutters can do.

Makes my ribs, and face, hurt just to think about that one, Broos. :)
 
Broos said:
I do not know how hard they are. I know I almost knocked myself out once by trying to cut a big Master hardened padlock with one arm of the cutter against my chest, with both hands on the other handle squeezing it - when the head broke, I punched myself so hard in the face that I decked myself & saw stars. I haven't used that method of bolt cutter operation since.

I did look around a little and see that most limit their cutting to materials Rc40 or less. Nice Porters to Rc48, so they have to be a little harder than that I guess.

http://www.tooldudes.com/hkporter1.html
Click to expand...

Laughed so hard I spit coffee!!!!!

Laughing With you and AT you.

I used the very same method ONCE with pretty much the same results.

Likewise, never tried that method again and that was over 40 yrs ago.

Rob
 
Dog, I have both used and sold (at retail) H. K. Porter brand bolt cutters quite a few years ago, and I can tell you their blades are designed and heat treated for the specific purpose they are intended for. If you want to read more I suggest you go to Google and search for "H. K. Porter" "bolt cutters" (all on the same line) and you can read some of the details there.
 
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