Thread: Bolt Cutters…..

I was always under the impression that bolt cutters got their name from cutting the bolts off shipping containers. However, I've seen photo's of bolt cutters being used in shipyards in the late 1800's (way before shipping containers were invented) so don't know how true that is, or what they were called before then.

I call them Skeleton keys also.

Crescent H.K. Porter | Crescent Tools

"In 1880, Henry K. Porter, a partner in a machine shop in Boston, patented an adjustable “bolt cutter.” It was originally designed for blacksmiths to snip off the excess length of bolts after the nut had been tightened."

For small bolts around M4 M5 size I like the ones found on a lot of wire stripper/crimper combo tools, as they have a thread that you can screw the bolt in, so leave a nice clean cut, otherwise if cutting bolts with hacksaw or grinder I put a nut on the bolt first, then cut it and then unwind the nut which usually cleans up the threads enough to use.

Originally Posted by cripesamighty

I was always under the impression that bolt cutters got their name from cutting the bolts off shipping containers. However, I've seen photo's of bolt cutters being used in shipyards in the late 1800's (way before shipping containers were invented) so don't know how true that is, or what they were called before then.

Was wondering what the pin type lock on a container is called

Originally Posted by W&KO

Was wondering what the pin type lock on a container is called

We always called the solid ones "bolt seals", or simply seals. This is based on them being customs seals, individually numbered and recorded. which is why they can only be cut, not unlocked. There are local seals as well, numbered for inventory security, but they usually only require snips.

Even more fun now with 18v Bolt cutters

Originally Posted by Tombie

Even more fun now with 18v Bolt cutters

Yes. Cordless cutters were very thin on the ground when I was dealing with boxes.