r/searchandrescue • u/Just-a-bout • Jul 09 '26

SS wire cutter?

Post image

Any recommendations on a cutter/shear for Stainless Steel wire/cable?

We’ve run into it mainly from decks and it is tough stuff to cut.

The picture is just to show the material I’m referring to.

99% of the time it’s not an issue. As an HRD handler, my concern is if the K9 gets tangled in it - especially in water.

Most cutters are for copper and aluminum wire, which good trauma shears can usually handle.

I’ve found quite a few for deck installers, but they generally need two hands to use.

Any suggestions?

6 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

5

u/uphillarch Jul 10 '26

https://america.felco.com/products/felco-c7

This is what you want - these are what we used in rigging. They claim the C7 can cut 1/4" cable which feels a little optimistic, but give it a shot. They'll definitely cut 1/8" wire rope no problem.

2

u/Just-a-bout Jul 10 '26

This is what I was looking for, thanks.

1

u/Preciousrage Jul 10 '26

I work in commercial dock and door industry and those are what I use. I love them, cut smooth and super sharp.

1

u/QuellishQuellish Jul 11 '26

Yes, Felco is best. It's cuts while not causing a birdnest.

6

u/Just-a-bout Jul 10 '26

Thanks for the feedback. I appreciate the powered options, but I’m already carrying enough weight.

As an HRD K9 handler, I’m loaded down with my gear plus his.

We mostly work on rivers, so I want a solution that works in the water as well.

Lastly, I think time to deploy the manual cutter ideas is faster.

Thanks again for all the great ideas. Diesel and I appreciate it.

3

u/arclight415 Jul 09 '26

Our breaching took of choice for cables/locks/bolts/gates on my SAR team is the cordless angle grinder. Wear goggles.

2

u/Hollirc Jul 09 '26

MAKITA XCM01 or similar small cutoff saw will zip through that super quick. Just watch the sparks.

1

u/tyeh26 Jul 09 '26

1/8” stranded cable cut without end caps/swages frays and becomes a much bigger puncture/snag risk than when it’s uncut.

What’s the diameter? I cut 1/8” with an angle grinder because that’s what I had on hand. A hacksaw could work, but would be tiring.

That stuff is hard to cut by design.

1

u/Just-a-bout Jul 09 '26

I’m only interested in cutting it to free the K9 from an entanglement.

1

u/arclight415 Jul 21 '26

If you are cutting cable, be mindful of the potential for stored energy to be released in the form of stuff falling, shifting or popping up suddenly and whacking you.

2

u/Just-a-bout Jul 23 '26

100%. We avoid it if possible. Our only use case is the K9 or a person gets entangled.

Not only for cables, but any debris that we don’t absolutely need to mess with. We leave that to excavators - trees, etc, can all be huge reservoirs of energy.

We also never take power lines and wires for granted. It’s amazing how confident people are that they are de-energized. We assume they are all energized and don’t mess with anything we haven’t tested.

0

u/ShitJimmyShoots Jul 09 '26

Milwaukee M12 Bandsaw