Toughbuilt F180 compact bolt cutters.

[AimlessWanderer]

  Those things are pretty hefty, and kind of makes me thing it's hardly worth making them fold 

[Grant Lamontagne]

So, I ask again  , would a MT based on this design work, size of the current extra large MT offerings (e.g. surge, swisstool, ST300)? Pair of pocketable bolt cutters with extra tools in the handles?

I did get the biggest set, so maybe the smaller ones would be better suited, but I honestly have to think that these would be a bit too big, bulky and heavy to properly use other tools.  For example, screwdrivers attached to this would be just about worthless, a saw would be extremely awkward, scissors, nail file etc would all be pretty much out of the question, unless they were removable.  There's really no way this could be effective if the implements were attached. 

That having been said, if the handle ends were removable, like on the Gerber Groundbreaker, and had some of those functions that would be do-able, I'm just not sure they could disengage and yet somehow be strong enough for the kind of leverage needed on a set of bolt cutters.

Def

[bmot]

So, I ask again  , would a MT based on this design work, size of the current extra large MT offerings (e.g. surge, swisstool, ST300)? Pair of pocketable bolt cutters with extra tools in the handles?

I did get the biggest set, so maybe the smaller ones would be better suited, but I honestly have to think that these would be a bit too big, bulky and heavy to properly use other tools.  For example, screwdrivers attached to this would be just about worthless, a saw would be extremely awkward, scissors, nail file etc would all be pretty much out of the question, unless they were removable.  There's really no way this could be effective if the implements were attached. 

That having been said, if the handle ends were removable, like on the Gerber Groundbreaker, and had some of those functions that would be do-able, I'm just not sure they could disengage and yet somehow be strong enough for the kind of leverage needed on a set of bolt cutters.

Def

I suppose that, if you replace the bolt that's the pivot now by some kind of pin, it wouldn't be that much less strong... The pin would be removable for use of the extra tools, and would be put in, and secured safely in some way, for when using the bolt cutters. You wouldn't have to change that much, I recon.

[Grant Lamontagne]

That might work for one of the smaller versions, but on the 24" model the handles are still pretty big.  In fact, I just measured them- 15 inches long or 35cm, whichever you prefer.

Given that about two thirds of the overall length is folded handle, I'd guess that the handles on the smallest version (14 inches) would be about 8-9 inches long, which would be an awful big bottle opener, but could give great leverage for a can opener, and would be a good length for a folding saw.  I don't think I'd want a folding knife quite that big though.

Def

[Raukodur]

I guess what I am asking if for the kind of leatherman ingenuity that allowed them to take a set of locking pliers and make the crunch; and do a similar job here. So folding, yes, but not exactly like this, done in a way that does allow it to perform as a multitool.

Is the mechanism for increased leverage that different from SOG compound leverage? If not, how is this that different from the cutter SOG tool that did not end up being produced?

[jzmtl]

SOG's geometry works like avation snip.

[Metropolicity]

I think a big thick pry bar with maybe a strike plate on the end would make a nice mate.

Maybe a poking stick on the other side. I'll see what happens when I get the 14".

[Raukodur]

SOG's geometry works like avation snip.

I'm sorry, that was like it was in a different language  . What?

[Metropolicity]

SOG's geometry works like avation snip.

I'm sorry, that was like it was in a different language  . What?

Aviation tin snips. It's a type of sheet metal snips, used in aviation construction but also used in general sheet metal cutting. They usually come in a left bent, right bend and straight bladed versions.



The geometry is similar to those.

The TougBuilt ones are closer if not identical to a traditional bolt cutter compound leverage system but lacking the distinct LENGTH of handles due to the folding.

I, for one, welcome our new bollt cutting overlords, no bolt is sacred

[Raukodur]

Many thanks for that explanation.  Can I ask, how do the two different methods of compound leverage compare?

[Metropolicity]

Many thanks for that explanation.  Can I ask, how do the two different methods of compound leverage compare?

They are essentially the same, it's where the multiplied force is applied. You can see on the snips, the force is guided towards the arms of the blade in turn, opens and closes the snip's pivot point. This is a much more precise movement and involves two inline pivots to move in tandem. 





On a bolt cutter, the gross force is applied to a single pivot which moves cutter's arms which are bound by two parallel pivots. The force is less precise for a good reason, it's more about maximum pressure extension than fine movements.








SOG's pliers are somewhat like the bolt cutter's mechanism, just backwards, you move the two parallel pivots to move the single pivot of the plier head.







You see how the compound leverages differ? They do the same thing, just differently and for different purposes.

[Raukodur]

So then it would be entirely possible for SOG to make a MT with bolt cutter heads using their compound leverage?

[Syph007]

So then it would be entirely possible for SOG to make a MT with bolt cutter heads using their compound leverage?

Sure it was a minimum of 14 inches long.

[Metropolicity]

So then it would be entirely possible for SOG to make a MT with bolt cutter heads using their compound leverage?

Or if you are cutting a lot of 1/8" bolts.

[Raukodur]

I see, so the limiting factor would be the amount of force required for it to be functional, since that would affect the amount of leverage and opening of the jaws, and so the length of handles.

Well, SOG already have the biggest tool on the market, the Blacktip. Would that still be too small to generate enough force if you want the jaws to open a sufficient amount to make it useful?

[Grant Lamontagne]

Yes and no- it would be, but the handles would have to be greatly reinforced.  I don't think that folded sheet metal handles would take the kind of pressure needed to cut a bolt.  Also, remember that the shorter the handles, the more pressure the user has to apply, so the 6" Blacktip handles would be easier to use than a 4 inch Powerlock, but still not nearly as effective as a set of 12-14" bolt cutters.  You'd have to put a lot more pressure on the Blacktip's handles than you would on even a small set of bolt cutters because there isn't nearly as much leverage.

It could be done with something like the Blacktip, but I think it would be better suited to a set of shears like the aviation snips above rather than bolt cutting simply because the leverage isn't there. 

Of course, a set of Blacktip sized, compound  leverage shears would be totally 

Def

[Etherealicer]

One should not forget that more force also requires a stronger cutting tool witch either requires more exotic materials and/or more bulk. So even if you manage to cramp that much cutting strength in a tiny frame with compound lever or whatever, you will also have to strengthen the cutting tool and ultimately you will end up with a very compact, very complicated, very heavy/expensive tool.