Webbing Handle
Mike Webb from Frederick County (MD) sent in this submission for our what’s in your pockets section. The importance of having the handle on the cutters was stressed during his department’s participation in the IAFF Fire Ground Survival Program (details here.) During the HOT training involving an entanglement hazard, the challenges of retrieving cutters (or other tools) from bunker pockets with gloved hands is quickly realized. The simple addition of some webbing to the handle of the tool makes retrieving the tool much easier. In the picture above the webbing was attached to the handle with some hockey tape. Certain tools may lend themselves to drilling a hole in part of the handle. The picture below shows the webbing extending out of the pocket, which helps in the location of the tool, but may create a slight entanglement hazard itself. Simply having the webbing on the tool handle, but packed just inside the pocket will aid in retrieval without creating another entanglement hazard. Another idea could include attaching a strip of Velcro to the webbing and another just inside the flap of the pocket, to ensure the webbing handle is easy to locate in the pocket.
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Good idea! I especially like the idea of adding velcro (or something similar) to help with the entanglement hazard.
Yeah, Im definitely doing this. This is probably one of the best ideas Ive ever seen. I can’t even make a smart-ass comment on this.
Good stuff Webb, its about time we Frederick County people represented.
Great job brothers and excellent tool choice! – The cable cutter will get through just about every entanglement hazard we’ll encounter. Here’s link to another option for attaching a lanyard to your tool – Using cordage with a keeper.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtEwOqWBiSI
Thanks for your post.
I like it. I’m going to pass this one on.
I carry hard wire cutters in my coats. I figure they are neccessary for drop ceiling wire cutting. Am I way off base there ? Comments welcome.
Loosecannon,
A wire cutters is a good tool, but keep in mind that the metal grid work used in drop ceilings is also an entanglement hazard and a wire/side cutter will not cut through the grid work itself. I carry a couple tools and store them in different locations in the event I can’t access one side of my gear or the other.
The video link shown above is just one of his videos. He has 3 others that talk about entanglements and in one of them he shows a variety of tools and their effectiveness on different materials. It’s worth checking out.
The cable cutters will cut the hard wire from a drop ceiling, but chews up the blade. But hey, when you really need it who cares! If it saves my butt I’ll gladly buy another pair.
OK, maybe it’s just me, but usually drop ceiling wires are only about 4 inches long. I worry more about phone, cable, computer lines, etc in commercial type building. And maybe electrical wires in walls during breaches. Ok, now that I started it…..
Oh, and one time I cut some flexible dryer vent with mine and it stuck in my Lt’s finger. True story. Don’t get me wrong, though, I am totally doing this to my cutters!
Great idea, especially if you have a Globe coat with those tiny pockets. A tool that you plan on using to GTFU should not EVER be used for routine runs. I have a backup flashlight in my coat that I NEVER use, I only make sure it works and change the batteries regardless of use.
Way to go Mike, representing the department well! I agree with the cable style cutter being the best of choices. Side cutters will do most, but I havent seen a side cutter yet that could get through Greenfield Conduit. All it does is crimp it and you have to use two hands on the tool just to get that. The cable cutters go through it with ease.
Great idea. So simple and so effective! I love the easy solutions to common problems.
Great idea. Next shift mine are getting tapped. Be careful. Cutters loose in any pocket over time will wear a hole in them. Reinforce the pocket with old hose or something. Its happened to me…
I’m glad some brother’s find the tip useful and hopefully you never need it. It is a simple fix to a common problem. Just passing on something someone showed me.
Have a good one.
-Mike
One thing that I did was put a simple snap ring on the end of a box cutter and tied that to my wire cutters stored in my radio pocket. This was if I need both I pull them both out on one shot without having to go back through my pockets.
Great idea!!
It’s been a while since something useful has been posted on VES. Take it from an electrician, the wires that hold up ceiling grid work can be from 4 inches to well over 10 feet. Also, a major drawback to the cable cutters is that they require both hands to open and work the tool. Side cutters will cut just about anything, sometimes you need to take a couple small cuts. Use valve grinding compound on them to loosen them up.
After taking the NC Breathing Equipment and FF Survival School I learned the value of carrying more than one cutter/snips and in different locations in your gear. I carry this type of cutter in my radio pocket of my turnout coat. It sits behind my radio. It is hard to get out, but I think this will definately help out. I thought about relocating it or not using my radio pocket for my radio, but I learned the radio pocket is the best place for the radio (obvious, I know) due to radio reception/interferance, and accessability. ( IAFF report on radio usage vs. radio location on FF). I also like attaching a cutting tool to the end to make it versatile. Thanks for the tips.
I have used something like this in my turnout coat. However I found out that the metal tools like this one has enough weight to it, to wear through the gear material unless it is reinforced pocket. FYI
Do you guys see any drawback to carrying aviator snips instead of cable cutters? They can cut through grid work, most wires, and they can be operated with one hand.
Sacramento Fire Department, Station 10 just wants to give you some props. Excellent idea! It’s starting to spread throughout our fire department.
i do something similar however i use a loop of webbing and run the flap of my pocket thru the loop. works great for just grabbing with any gloves. this tool works great for the cluster of wires you get when you remover a car door too!
Awesome Idea… I have a loop of webbing connecting both handles of my cutters… great in an emergency situation to put around your wrist so you don’t drop your cutters.
I attached my webbing with shrink tubing. It makes a nice smooth, but not slick, surface when done and you don’t have the sticky/tacky mess you can get from tape.
I just bought a set of these cutters. Given that they will cut padlock hasps I think they will make short work of most anything.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005EXO8LK/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i02?ie=UTF8&psc=1