If you want to cut cordage, you don't necessarily need a knife, as a hot cutter is often better and cleaner. Anyone who buys cordage by the metre from a supplier will already be familiar with the devices used to quickly cut the line with a hot blade. The professional tool has the advantage that it does not become blunt, leaves clean cut edges without fraying and also welds the fibres together. This is possible because the plastics used in cordage become liquid at a certain temperature. Sailors are also known to make use of this principle when they singe the cut edge of a line with a lighter in order to fuse the fibres. However, this method is more of a makeshift solution, the result usually doesn't look particularly attractive and it's easy to burn your fingers.
Hot cutters have a clear advantage here, but corded appliances only work with shore power or if an inverter and sufficient battery capacity are available on board. If these conditions are not met, hot cutters with a rechargeable battery or gas can be used.
We therefore tested devices from all three categories in order to be able to compare the systems: with electricity, both corded and battery-powered, as well as cordage cutters with gas as the energy source. The complete test can be found in YACHT, issue 3/2022, which is available from DK-Shop available. Or you can download the test directly via the link below.
