Bolt cutters are the quite useful in construction and manufacturing settings. These bolt cutters, also known as a bolt cropper, were first developed to open shipping containers by breaking the bolt that held doors close, hence the name. These days its use is not limited to just bolts but also heavy chains, padlocks, wire mesh, steel rods and just about any metal the needs cutting. A typical manual bolt cutter multiplies the force of the user by an average of 80 by using its long handles and its short but sharp blades to maximize the leverage of the force. Pneumatic bolt cutters have now started to become popular because these can apply the same amount of force with lesser effort with the use of air pressure. A smaller version of the bolt cutter is used for cables and is called a ratchet cable cutter. This also has pneumatic cable cutter and hydraulic cable cutter versions.
Greenlee Textron Company is a manufacturer and distributor of electrical and industrial supplies and equipment. It has been in operation for more than a century and has been known to produce highly efficient and durable products. One type of product that it proudly manufactures is the bolt cutter. Its traditional bolt cutter is an angled center cutter. This places the blades at an equal distance and the handles of the cutter at an angle to the cutter head so that it can be inserted more easily when the need arises. It features forged steel blades the are resistant to damage and remain sharp for a long time. It also makes use of Clevis mounting for the blades and rubber covering for the handles in order to generate more cutting power. This product measure 14 inches long and weighs approximately 1.1 kg and is priced at $69.
Greenlee also produces electronic bolt cutters for those who are more technologically incline than physically inclined. These battery-powered bolt cutters are sleeker and smaller than the manual bolt and cable cutters. An electric bolt cutter contains even more cutting strength than manual cutters but packages it in a smaller, electric-powered body. It also has additional features, such as a 360 degree rotating cutting head for more versatile cutting and a light, ergonomic shape for easy use. It also has a LED work light that illuminates dark work areas. This product measures 13 inches in length and weighs 2 kg including battery weight. Its tested capacity is capable of cutting through a 12mm common bolt, an 11mm grade 5 bolt and an 8mm grade 7 bolt. It also comes with an 18 volt Lithium Ion battery that can be charged for up to 200 use cycles per charge. These electric bolt cutters are available in 120v and 230v version. It is priced at $880.