HK Porter, well known for their bolt cutters and related tools, have come out with new PowerLink double compound action bolt cutters (model 0190MCD for 24″). They’re describing it as revolutionary.
The new HK Porter PowerLink cutters deliver immense cutting power (their words), which is supposed to reduce cutting effort by 30%, compared to single compound action cutters. Anyone who has ever had to cut hard, thick, tough, or stubborn materials with bolt cutters is probably raising an eyebrow by now.
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Features include induction hardened cutting blades, tubular handles, and comfort hand grips. Cutting capacity is up to 7/16″ for soft materials, and up to 5/16″ for hard materials such as steel rod with HRC 48 hardness.
The increase in leverage due to the PowerLink’s double compound action pivot is not without a tradeoff. As you can tell from the image I grabbed from the promo video, you’ve got to spread the handles really wide in order to open the blades for a cut.
For some applications, the tradeoff is going to be very much worth it. For others, such as if you’re working in tight spaces, these simply won’t do.
HK Porter is making these PowerLink cutters in 18″ and 24″ sizes.
Price: $50 for 24″ cutters (which is about what their regular general purpose 24″ cutters sell for.
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Buy Now(via Home Depot)
Compare(HK Porter single action cutters via Amazon)
Before you check out the following promo video and our initial thoughts about the new cutters, take a look back at our compact folding bolt cutters post from a couple of months back. You know, since we’re already on the topic of innovative bolt cutters.
First Thoughts
I don’t think that these will replace all other 24″ bolt cutters on the market, although that 30% reduction in cutting effort does look nice and will likely appeal to a lot of demanding users.
There’s a tradeoff, mainly what looks to be wider handle spread, but for many users it’s going to be forgivable. Before you knock the PowerLink bolt cutters for this tradeoff, remember that it’s all about choosing the right tool for your needs. Some users will benefit more from these cutters than others, and for some it might pose a disadvantage.
Speaking as someone who has had to brace one handle of long bolt cutters against the floor while leaning on the other handle with body weight – and this is NOT an endorsement for such non-recommended usage! – I can definite see the benefits of these cutters.
What do you think? And have you ever seen double compound action 18″ or 24″ bolt cutters before? I haven’t.
fred
Cool! A nice find.
Nice to see innovation coming to such an old-school tool. I suppose that larger sizes are possible too – but maybe you would either need extra-long arms to use them – or have you position one leg against the floor or other immoveable object (as you say not a recommended technique). I notice that stores that cut heavy chain, wire shelving etc. – often solve the problem by switching to hydraulic-pneumatic cutters.
Bret
I suppose there are some situations where these would come in handy but having to spread the handles farther apart to cut the same diameter material means that you could end up with an awkward angle to squeeze the handles. That awkward angle may require more effort. Therefore I would rather just use longer cutters whenever possible.
Nathan
Id like to see cutter with interchangeable handles so you can swap to longer ones without using cheaters – although I’ve used cheaters so meh – maybe purpose built safe cheaters?
anyway – I’ve not seen one but how long before you see cutters with some cordless power pack assister – or just a cordless power cutter. I’m surprised team red doesn’t have one, and that team yellow and blue aren’t working on one.
fred
There are several cordless bolt and/or rebar cutters available from folks like Stainelec and Greenlee. They don’t come cheap.
http://www.toolup.com/Greenlee-ETS12L11-18V-Battery-Powered-Bolt-Cutter-Kit-with-120V-Charger
Jerry
I’m waiting for ratcheting bolt cutters. I’ve used ratcheting pruning shears for years, and they really do reduce the amount of effort required to cut greatly, and don’t need to open up any wider than regular pruners to achieve it.
I would think the same principal would work with bolt cutters.
Basically, instead of opening wider and requiring a greater handle angle when open, you use a similar range of motion as you would with standard cutters, but may make 3-4 strokes of the handle to make a difficult cut. If designed right, the pruners go through small branches with one squeeze of the handles, mid sized ones with a couple, and big tough branches take 3 or 4, kind of like how an old car jack would lift a car using several shorter ratcheting strokes.
fred
Maybe Stuart can comment on the science of this – but I think that ratcheting pruning shears and ratcheting cable cutters work by cutting or slicing through a few fibers or strands at a time. With bolts, padlock shackles, threaded rod, chain and rebar there are no strands.
Stuart
I gave this some thought and wrote a new post about it: https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/ratcheting-bolt-cutters/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Nutshell version: I don’t think we’ll be seeing ratcheting bolt cutters anytime soon.
Nathan
In other words – it’s a torque magnifying gear drive and ratchet drive in the pivot of the cutters.
reason you won’t see one cutting rebar or steels – the gears/ratchet pawls have to be strong enough to match the torque demand – and load – so they have to basically be stronger than the material being cut by significant margin. While possible – you’re now carrying around 100 lb+ bolt cutters that are hard to maneuver and place.
(sorry sometimes I can’t help myself)
Stuart
Yep, that’s another reason why it would be impractical. A ratcheting bolt cutter might be shorter, say 14″ or 18″ to do the job of a 24″ cutter, but would have to have a beefed up mechanism. I like your way of saying it better.
For those that are confused, I edited my comment just as, or right after Nathan posted his reply, as I had expanded it into a separate post.
Kendall Beller
Does anyone know how they last up? I’m a telephone lineman and on a pole everything’s more difficult and I place one arm on my shoulder to cut strand but I do this alot. And need to know if they do work well for a long time..
Noah
Wow, really thought HKP was one they were going to let slip by the wayside. Great to see new tool development in a very old name.
SteveR
I guess I didn’t know there was something “new” and “innovative” to be done with bolt cutters. The few times we needed them was to cut through a lock whose combination was unknown or if the key for one had been lost. In fact, they were always referred to as “the master key” around work.
David Gudmundsen
Made in China. Too bad.
Daron
I wish I would have looked at this before I bought a set. Sure enough, Right on the tag, Made in China. Damn!
Apex tools just uses the HK Porter name. What a letdown.