We may earn revenue from the merchandise usable on this Thomas Nelson Page and participate in affiliate programs . larn More ›
Anyone who ’s lost the keystone to a padlock and used a metal saw to methodically saw through the steel shank has likely wished for a best manner to tackle the chore . The optimal result is a good pair of dash cutter — long - do by power tiddler designed to tailor through wire , bolt , fence , and even rebar . The 24 - inchHK Porter Bolt Cutterstook top honors in Bob Vila ’s lineup of thebest bolt cuttersfor various alloy - munching chore . The HK Porter thunderbolt cutters earned their spot atop the list by excelling in our workforce - on field of operations tests .
We selected models for testing based on brand reputation , consumer rating , and design ; however , only the top performing artist made it to our field tests . Ahead , instruct what happened when we test the HK Porter bolt cutters , and line up out how they earned the envious designation as the effective overall cream .
Photo: Glenda Taylor
The 24-Inch HK Porter Bolt Cutters: At a Glance
PROS
CONS
Get the 24 - inch HK Porter bolt ship’s boat at :
What are the HK Porter bolt cutters?
At first glance , the 24 - inchHK Porter dash cutterslook much like any other duo on the market . Testing alongside my hubby , John , a general contractor , I came to appreciate the lineament of the HK Porter cutters and how much easier they made cutting through wire , draw bolt of lightning rod , and cattle panel .
forcible strength is essential for using a bolt cutter — the more upper - body strong point the user has , the easier it will be to cut through dim metal . The best bolt cutters increase the user ’s leverage via a compound hinge , a special case of hinge that allow user to maintain less physical force yet wield high cutting power .
How easy are the HK Porter bolt cutters to use?
The HK Porter bolt cutters are loose to utilize . While I do n’t consider myself particularly strong , I used the thunderbolt stonecutter to snip through baling wire , metallic element fencing material , cattle gore , and 3/16 - inch all train of thought ( threaded bolt perch ) . My hubby could also cut through a ⅜-inch rebar , which was beyond my capabilities .
I feel theHK Porter bolt cuttersoffered more leveraging than the other models we tested in our broader tests , letting me use less force play than with some other models .
The grounds lie in the two-fold - compound hinges of these bolt cutter . Almost all of today ’s bolt cutters amount with chemical compound hinges , which means they have an extra set of hinge between the jaws and the handgrip to blow up cutting air pressure . The HK Porter bolt cutter go a footfall further and incorporate duple - compound hinge that offer additional bolt - cutting leverage .
Photo: Glenda Taylor
To simplify the outgrowth even more , this tool has a sticker on one handle that show the maximum thickness of various types of metallic element wire , rods , and cables that it will efficaciously cut . With these bolt cutter , there ’s no need to guess .
Do the HK Porter bolt cutters feature an ergonomic design?
The nonslip cushion traveling bag on the hold may condition as ergonomic because they ’re soft to the touch and gently shaped to fit the hand . We find them to be much more comfortable than the bleak metallic element handles of older - exemplar bolt cutters .
The double - chemical compound flexible joint may also descend into the ergonomic category since they reduce the physical force call for to cut through alloy wire and rods . Users will still need to follow good utilisation method , including positioning the wire or gat as deep as possible in the heart-to-heart jaws , which will increase cutting mogul .
One thin downside — the flexible joint on the HK Porter thunderbolt cutter were very stiff aright out of the box . It took some physical force to pull them apart before use , which we initially detect annoying . After 20 to 30 test cuts through telegram and rods , however , they relax up appreciably without us needing to care for them with lubricant .
Photo: Glenda Taylor
Are the HK Porter bolt cutters right for you?
Those look for a good circle of midsize thunderbolt cutters will likely be satisfied with theHK Porter thunderbolt ship’s boat . They ’re top performing artist compared with other 24 - inch mannikin , but they ’re not going to be as powerful as more elongated cutters , such as 36- or 40 - in models .
This eminent - quality pair of bolt cutters is well become to metal telegram , fence , and threaded bolts up to 3/16 of an inch . While they did cut through ⅜-inch rebar — and did n’t show any nick or chips on the blade — we probably would n’t suggest them as rebar cutters .
We think they ’re an excellent option for someone who needs to make periodical cuts around a house , farm , or business sector . However , they ’re not leaden - duty enough ( or long enough ) to satisfy all the types of metal- and steel - cutting pauperization of a professional jobsite .
Photo: Glenda Taylor
Where to Buy the 24-Inch HK Porter Bolt Cutters
This Is the yr for a Kitchen Renovation
Whether you ’re selling or staying , everyone can get something out of a kitchen update . memorise why we consider this renovation the Most Valuable Project of 2025 and how to continue on budget .