From:  Anthony DeBoer
Sent:  Sunday, March 30, 1997 11:51 AM
To:  techdiver@aquanaut.com
Subject:  Re: Things that cut

j <sumpdiver@ms*.co*> wrote:
> The standard line cutter used by the NEST,  North East Sump Exploration 
Team, 
>consists of a pair of stainless steel EMT scissors  worn on the wrist of the 
>right arm or for south paws the left.  ...

If I understand correctly, the rationale behind this mounting location is
that it places the lanyard where you want it.  However, can you unstow the
shears without using the opposite arm?  Or is the plan to go for the backup
cutter if only one arm is free?

Response from  j  >>>>  I don't expect to be unable to reach the unit with the 
opposite arm,  if this is ever the case than it has truly been a bad day,   
but if for some reason I did find myself in this position my backup can be 
removed one handed.   Since the retaining strap on the sheath for the scissors 
is Velcro if properly motivated it might be possible to deploy them one handed 
as well.  

The most like scenario is to drop or lose the scissors so this is the primary 
factor driving  my configuration choice.    Have you ever lost a line cutter 
during a dive or dropped a knife.... I have.......have you ever been wrapped 
in line to the point where only one hand has been free.......???????    



               

  

Presently I'm using a set of EMT shears and one of those mini-laser knives
with the sharp blade on the one side and the carbide saw on the other; both
are excellent for cutting, although I don't have anything that can poke
holes in anything (unless I get attacked by anything, there's probably more
risk of poking myself anyway).

Are there any opinions for or against lanyards on chest- or belt-mounted
cutters?  What about those little spring-loaded retractor-reel things that
are starting to show up in dive shops; 

Response from  j  >>>>why use a complicated approach when a simple one works 
more effectively,   there is very little that can go wrong with my system 
other than operator error.   Since the unit is on the wrist it is pretty hard 
to forget it on the boat ....................   The mounting strap near the 
wrist also incorporates a small low profile compass as an added 
bonus............ 



so long as they don't jam and fail
to retract, they might be a valid solution for hanging onto gear like that.
(I figure the best way to tell the difference between a bright idea and a
dumb idea is to run it past the crew on Techdiver; it certainly saves
having to try the idea myself and risk getting photographed for the Strokes
page in case it doesn't work out.)

-- 
                                         JOSEPH KAFFL
                                         SUMPDIVER@MS*.CO*
--
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