jon m
Contributor
thinking of getting a secondary knife rather than scissors , as knife seems easier to attach to gear, rather than putting in pocket. thoughts? what do you use? why scissors?
secondary cutting tool?
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my suggestion would be to carry a knife and if you want a second cutting tool go with EMT shears. That way you all your bases coverd although ive never had the need for anything other than my knife...
Jay
Jay
Frist I would ask you what type of diving you do. Looking at your profile...your a relativley new diver. What type of conditions would you plan to be diving in? Fresh water or salt, lake, rivers Ocean? Warm or cold.
Shears work well with thinner gloves. Thick gloves would make it hard at times to maipulate. This is why I woul look into Z knifes first. as opposed to a smaller knife.
http://www.omsdive.com/cuttool.html
Since I dive mainly cold water, and there are lots of fishing lines to snag a diver.
I Have one knife on my waist belt and my Z knife in a pocket on my right leg drysuit. The Z knife can be attached to a BC vest aswell. The Z knife is great for fishing lines an cord no thiker than 1/4. For thick line I use my serated knife. No need for shaprening. Cuts line like butter.
The advantage to shears is that they can cut thcker lines and fishing leaders made of steel.
Cutting tools vary for various diving environments
Safe dives
Shears work well with thinner gloves. Thick gloves would make it hard at times to maipulate. This is why I woul look into Z knifes first. as opposed to a smaller knife.
http://www.omsdive.com/cuttool.html
Since I dive mainly cold water, and there are lots of fishing lines to snag a diver.
I Have one knife on my waist belt and my Z knife in a pocket on my right leg drysuit. The Z knife can be attached to a BC vest aswell. The Z knife is great for fishing lines an cord no thiker than 1/4. For thick line I use my serated knife. No need for shaprening. Cuts line like butter.
The advantage to shears is that they can cut thcker lines and fishing leaders made of steel.
Cutting tools vary for various diving environments
Safe dives
Shears cut electrical wiring that hangs down inside wrecks. Knives don't (or often don't). Shears cut SS wire leads on fishing tackle. Knives don't (or often don't). Shears go through fishnet more rapidly than knives.
So, if you encounter electrical wiring inside wrecks, fishing tackle (often hung up on wrecks) or fishnets (also often hung up on wrecks) then shears give you a more optimal tool. If you don't encounter these hazards, then its a moot point.
You're diving off the coast of California and I'm unfamiliar with those waters, so I'd check with someone from your area regarding what most divers there carry. Shears, however, come in nylon sheaths that, like knives, can be attached most anywhere a knife can be attached.
Specifically for backup purposes I carry a folding Spyderco knife. Most of my buddies carry Z-knives. When we carry shears, they are kept in a thigh pocket of the drysuit.
Hope this helps,
Doc
So, if you encounter electrical wiring inside wrecks, fishing tackle (often hung up on wrecks) or fishnets (also often hung up on wrecks) then shears give you a more optimal tool. If you don't encounter these hazards, then its a moot point.
You're diving off the coast of California and I'm unfamiliar with those waters, so I'd check with someone from your area regarding what most divers there carry. Shears, however, come in nylon sheaths that, like knives, can be attached most anywhere a knife can be attached.
Specifically for backup purposes I carry a folding Spyderco knife. Most of my buddies carry Z-knives. When we carry shears, they are kept in a thigh pocket of the drysuit.
Hope this helps,
Doc
vablackwater
Contributor
You may want to ask other divers in your area or dive clubs what they carry, and what they use for backup for the type of diving you will be doing. Basically, a matter of matching the right tool(s) for the job.
z knives and rescue cutters are great, especially for stuff behind you (fishing line, light wire). a good pair of shears do great with fishing line, light wire (steel leaders, et cet).
as far as a knife, i prefer a small blunt tip compared to a stiletto style or point. some people make their own knives out of old kitchen knives by braking off the point and sanding it down... the theory being it is inexpensive and not time consuming to replace.
where and how you carry the tools is a matter of practicality and preference based on the type of diving. I prefer keeping tools in easy reach, and learn where they are without having to look for them (not a fan of thigh pockets, leg mounted stuff). if you are entangled, place the tools where you know you can get to them when you need them.
z knives and rescue cutters are great, especially for stuff behind you (fishing line, light wire). a good pair of shears do great with fishing line, light wire (steel leaders, et cet).
as far as a knife, i prefer a small blunt tip compared to a stiletto style or point. some people make their own knives out of old kitchen knives by braking off the point and sanding it down... the theory being it is inexpensive and not time consuming to replace.
where and how you carry the tools is a matter of practicality and preference based on the type of diving. I prefer keeping tools in easy reach, and learn where they are without having to look for them (not a fan of thigh pockets, leg mounted stuff). if you are entangled, place the tools where you know you can get to them when you need them.
Bratface
Contributor
I have cut rope as thick as my thumb using my trauma shears. They have their own pouch, so I have mounted it on my bc underneath the removable weight pocket. I don't have a photo to show you, but I used surgical tubing to put through one end of the pouch and tied it off in the back of the space where the weight pocket goes. (I have a Scubapro Ladyhawk). I just put the weight pocket in on top of the shears. It pulls out easily and doesn't get caught, so their is no issue with anything getting caught if I need to ditch my weights quickly.
I just pull the pouch out a little ways, get the shears out and replace them easily. I spent alot of time in Honduras this fall removing fishing line tangled up on the reefs. Using the shears was a simple snip-snip procedure. I am also somewhat of a klutz, and I think I have less of a chance cutting myself with the shears than I would with a knife.
I just pull the pouch out a little ways, get the shears out and replace them easily. I spent alot of time in Honduras this fall removing fishing line tangled up on the reefs. Using the shears was a simple snip-snip procedure. I am also somewhat of a klutz, and I think I have less of a chance cutting myself with the shears than I would with a knife.
Guba
Contributor
For the type of diving I do (Lakes, quarries, Gulf of Mexico, and Carribbean), I carry a blunt-tip sheath knive on my leg and a pointed folder in a pouch on my BC. (The exception is diving on Mexican reefs where I leave the sheath knife at home. They don't like to see those, and they've never seen the folder since it's in a pouch, so it's not a problem.
thanks for input , yes i'm in Nor Cal and have been diving cold saltwater(awsome BTW) so i do expect to see some heavy monofilament line, having trouble finding a "carry case" for emt shears but i'm probably looking in the wrong place... i'll try the regular suspects online and see what i come up with
thanks!
thanks!
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