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Opinions/Advice on BIG Cutters
Opinions on BIG cutters..
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We have just purchased a TNT BFC-320 to add to our tools. We have been running Amkus tools since 1988. We have an AMK-25, and the "Speedway" the AMK-30 spreader and ram. We run the Amkus electric simo-pump on Amkust pre-connected reels. The tools have been awsome for us and never have failed us other than our own mistakes. I am the fleet manager for the depts trucks and heavy tools, and the dept training officer. I did lots of research on my own on the issues of five star crash ratings and other problems that could effect extrication on newer vehicles. The tools we had are fine but rather that just upgrade blades or buy a newer cutter, I decided that to have a realy powerful cutter would add to our abilities.All our mutual aid neighbors have either TNT or Amkus systems, and we have both a great Amkus and a TNT dealer only an hour away from us. I decided that the BFC offered the greatest power available in a well respected name, local service from a well know extrication expert.. our salesman is one of the leaders of a the Brighton FD Extrication team, a many time national champion team.About the best guy you could ever buy a tool from in my opinion. We had the BFC demonstrated and cut sample pieces and butchered an old Crown Victoria. It cut thru the complete steering columm and all posts. We even cut the bumpers in half.We don't have large numbers of extrications, but when we do, they tend to be very bad.. lots of bad roads here. We have done some very tough jobs over the years. We just put our new one in service this week. Now here are my thoughts.... In regards to what cutter to leave pre-connected, we chose the BFC for now. My feelings are that if you use a spreader to access the hinges, bolts, etc and then cut the full hinge set at once, and not have to worry about if the cutter will or will not handle the nader bolt it makes sense to use the big tool to save time... lesser number of cuts, and less worried about tool placement. The tool is huge, it weighs 50 lbs. But for me, its not unpleasent to handle.I think they are part of the very near future for all depts that do auto-extrication. By the way, I do know that Amkus now has the new AMK-22, but the weight is nearly the same, cost is the same, and power is less..at least in the ads. Also I looked at all the NFPA ratings and found the BFC cuts two eights and three nines. The only cutter I see that can do all nines is the Genesis "All-9" cutter... But we have none around here. Also, its just odd enough that I had too many questions... At least we now have a big cutter available for a large M/A area. We can take just that cutter and hook it on to any of the other depts systems if needed. What is your take on TNT tools, the BFC-320 or any of the other heavyweights and the use of them in general... Thanks for any input any of you guys can give. Tim Twichell, Gowanda Fire.
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We have just purchased a TNT BFC-320 to add to our tools. We have been running Amkus tools since 1988. We have an AMK-25, and the "Speedway" the AMK-30 spreader and ram. We run the Amkus electric simo-pump on Amkust pre-connected reels. The tools have been awsome for us and never have failed us other than our own mistakes. I am the fleet manager for the depts trucks and heavy tools, and the dept training officer. I did lots of research on my own on the issues of five star crash ratings and other problems that could effect extrication on newer vehicles. The tools we had are fine but rather that just upgrade blades or buy a newer cutter, I decided that to have a realy powerful cutter would add to our abilities.All our mutual aid neighbors have either TNT or Amkus systems, and we have both a great Amkus and a TNT dealer only an hour away from us. I decided that the BFC offered the greatest power available in a well respected name, local service from a well know extrication expert.. our salesman is one of the leaders of a the Brighton FD Extrication team, a many time national champion team.About the best guy you could ever buy a tool from in my opinion. We had the BFC demonstrated and cut sample pieces and butchered an old Crown Victoria. It cut thru the complete steering columm and all posts. We even cut the bumpers in half.We don't have large numbers of extrications, but when we do, they tend to be very bad.. lots of bad roads here. We have done some very tough jobs over the years. We just put our new one in service this week. Now here are my thoughts.... In regards to what cutter to leave pre-connected, we chose the BFC for now. My feelings are that if you use a spreader to access the hinges, bolts, etc and then cut the full hinge set at once, and not have to worry about if the cutter will or will not handle the nader bolt it makes sense to use the big tool to save time... lesser number of cuts, and less worried about tool placement. The tool is huge, it weighs 50 lbs. But for me, its not unpleasent to handle.I think they are part of the very near future for all depts that do auto-extrication. By the way, I do know that Amkus now has the new AMK-22, but the weight is nearly the same, cost is the same, and power is less..at least in the ads. Also I looked at all the NFPA ratings and found the BFC cuts two eights and three nines. The only cutter I see that can do all nines is the Genesis "All-9" cutter... But we have none around here. Also, its just odd enough that I had too many questions... At least we now have a big cutter available for a large M/A area. We can take just that cutter and hook it on to any of the other depts systems if needed. What is your take on TNT tools, the BFC-320 or any of the other heavyweights and the use of them in general... Thanks for any input any of you guys can give. Tim Twichell, Gowanda Fire.
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Permalink Reply by Tim Twichell on
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Well, Its been a while now, and now I will give my opinion on the idea of "BIG" cutters. I have used the BFC-320 now on a few jobs and also training. They do a fantastic job for us. I would say that having a big cutter..."any brand" is the way to go. You can cut more metal and do it without being so careful about position. If those blades can get a bite, it will cut just about anything on a car. Full hinges, posts, seat backs, nador pins, whatever. It saves time to have those bigger blades and the power to cut with them.
I would also never give up a lighter cutter for close in work or hard to reach places. They do the job as advertised. We leave the 320 pre-connected and keep the two lighter cutters as backups of for multiple cutter work. Big cutters are now a must with us...... "Now THIS is a cutter"
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