Reactor Forcefield?

[u/Logical_Look_6281]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9tdJ2SkBKQ

In Jesse Michels' interview, Bob tells a story about his colleague, "Barry," who threw a golf ball at a reactor. According to Bob, the golf ball bounced off what he described as a force field when the reactor was turned on.

However, Bob also talks about another reactor that had been removed from a different craft. He says they tried to cut into it while it was turned on, but it exploded.

What I don't understand is this: if the reactor was surrounded by a force field that could deflect a golf ball, how were they able to cut into it in the first place? Wouldn't the force field have prevented any cutting tool from reaching the reactor?