Chief Rick Posted February 2 Posted February 2 (edited) My daughter is a truck driver and occasionally has to cut security bolts off her trailer. Any recommendations for a good set of bolt cutters with replaceable jaws or another recommendation for cutting these bolts? She'd probably need something with 24 inch handles for the leverage. I thought about a battery powered angle grinder, but that may not be efficient. She doesn't need them often, but when she does... Edit to add: some of these tamper seal/bolts can be up to 7/16" diameter. Edited February 2 by Chief Rick Quote
Subdeacon Joe Posted February 2 Posted February 2 If she only needs them now and then it's likely any decent name brand will be good for years. Grinder would likely be an exercise in frustration because, if they are the type of security bolt I'm thinking of, they are loose in the latch and would just turn when she tried to grind it. 1 Quote
Texas Joker Posted February 2 Posted February 2 I see drivers at the guard shack using these to take bolt seals off conex and a smaller set of hydraulic manual bolt cutters sometimes 2 1 Quote
Eyesa Horg Posted February 2 Posted February 2 Even 3 foot handles would be tough on a 7/16" bolt. Watching "Storage Wars", they always use a battery powered 4" grinder and hold the lock with pliers. Seems to zip right thru. What are the other truckers using? It's been my impression that you aren't allowed to cut security bolts,that only LE can and they should supply their own dang tool!! 2 Quote
Pat Riot Posted February 2 Posted February 2 (edited) The computer gods are retarded Edited February 2 by Pat Riot 1 Quote
Pat Riot Posted February 2 Posted February 2 7 minutes ago, Texas Joker said: I see drivers at the guard shack using these to take bolt seals off conex and a smaller set of hydraulic manual bolt cutters sometimes This ^^^^^ Bolt cutters are a PITA to deal with in awkward conditions including being too small for the job. 24” is a joke of a length for doing actual work. 1 Quote
Subdeacon Joe Posted February 2 Posted February 2 19 minutes ago, Eyesa Horg said: It's been my impression that you aren't allowed to cut security bolts,that only LE can and they should supply their own dang tool!! The customer can cut the bolt, or have the driver cut it. Driver pulls in, recipient verifies the number, bolt/seal gets cut off. 1 1 Quote
Eyesa Horg Posted February 2 Posted February 2 18 minutes ago, Subdeacon Joe said: The customer can cut the bolt, or have the driver cut it. Driver pulls in, recipient verifies the number, bolt/seal gets cut off. Wasn't thinking of them being at their destination. You'd think the customer would have a method of removal . 1 Quote
Texas Joker Posted February 2 Posted February 2 (edited) Our shack has a 3 foot red manual bolt cutter. You gotta see some of these guys try to use em. It's a challenge to line em up and then work the handles from 3 feet away Edited February 2 by Texas Joker 3 Quote
Oak Ridge Regulator Posted February 2 Posted February 2 The makita battery powered 4” disc grinder with cut off wheels will chew thru even hardened bolts with no problem. I have used them to take 1/2” grade 8 bolts off snowplow carbides, usually you can do 8 or 10 bolts with even the small battery pack. Much cleaner than a torch. Cut off wheels will also allow you to cut bars, plate, flush fitting bolt heads or nuts, your bolt cutters can’t do that. You can also get grinding heads and wire brushes. Doesn’t need to be a makita that just happens to be the brand I use. Plus they weigh about 2 lbs and just over a foot long 3 Quote
Subdeacon Joe Posted February 2 Posted February 2 5 hours ago, Eyesa Horg said: Wasn't thinking of them being at their destination. You'd think the customer would have a method of removal . One would think so, but small companies that don't get trailer loads often may not have them. I worked next door a place that 3 or 4 times a year got in several pallets of supplies. No forklift but they never specified a liftgate for delivery. Being good neighbors we would pull the pallets off with our forklift. People don't think. 2 Quote
Chief Rick Posted February 2 Author Posted February 2 6 hours ago, Eyesa Horg said: Wasn't thinking of them being at their destination. You'd think the customer would have a method of removal . Not all. 1 Quote
Chief Rick Posted February 2 Author Posted February 2 7 hours ago, Eyesa Horg said: Even 3 foot handles would be tough on a 7/16" bolt. Watching "Storage Wars", they always use a battery powered 4" grinder and hold the lock with pliers. Seems to zip right thru. What are the other truckers using? It's been my impression that you aren't allowed to cut security bolts,that only LE can and they should supply their own dang tool!! Most drivers that she knows are using 24-36 inch bolt cutters. A quality set of 36" bolt cutters is going to run $150+. Replacement cutting heads are ~$100+. 1 Quote
Chief Rick Posted February 2 Author Posted February 2 7 hours ago, Texas Joker said: I see drivers at the guard shack using these to take bolt seals off conex and a smaller set of hydraulic manual bolt cutters sometimes I looked at these and the price is on par with a quality set of 36" bolt cutters. I need to see if the cutting jaws are replaceable. Of course, she/we have no Ryobi batteries/chargers so that's another $99+. Quote
Sedalia Dave Posted February 3 Posted February 3 The battery powered angle grinder with a cutoff wheel will make short work of any security bolt. If you have to worry about it spinning, a large pair of vice grips will take care of that. 3 Quote
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