Porta-Power

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08-23-2010, 08:06 AM
Lono

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaladinKnight

One of those things that just makes you say... "duh!"

I am curious:

How many of you still carry a hack saw?

How many of you have cut an "A" Post with a hack saw?

How many of you know what a hack saw is?

Ask Harve about hack saw if you don't know what it is.

During a extrication class that I took, we were told to use only hand tools, including electric ones such as a sawzall to remove the roof. We had 4 people in our group. We used an axe on the windshield and hacksaw on the posts. The other groups went with the portable generator/sawzall method. While they were screwing around getting the generator over there, set up and running, extension cord, blade in the sawzall, we were cutting. We had 2 people per side, trading off. It was surprising how fast it went and that we were done before they were. Granted, the newer car materials will make this harder if not impossible, but it was a good lesson.
08-23-2010, 10:40 AM
FireMedic049

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaladinKnight

I am curious:

How many of you still carry a hack saw?

How many of you have cut an "A" Post with a hack saw?

How many of you know what a hack saw is?

We do, I have (B & C too) & I do.:D
08-23-2010, 12:38 PM
hwoods

Yep!.............

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lono

Granted, the newer car materials will make this harder if not impossible, but it was a good lesson.

You are correct, but in spite of "Cash for Clunkers", Vehicles with the newer alloys are still in the Minority. On of my saddest days in recent years was in when I found myself on a Call where we had to cut on a 59 Chevy.......:(
08-23-2010, 12:41 PM
hwoods

Ummmm...........

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaladinKnight

One of those things that just makes you say... "duh!"

I am curious:

How many of you still carry a hack saw?

How many of you have cut an "A" Post with a hack saw?

How many of you know what a hack saw is?

Ask Harve about hack saw if you don't know what it is.

A "Hack Saw" is a Special Tool for Cutting Taxicabs, Right??...............:p
08-23-2010, 01:10 PM
Lono

Quote:

Originally Posted by hwoods

You are correct, but in spite of "Cash for Clunkers", Vehicles with the newer alloys are still in the Minority. On of my saddest days in recent years was in when I found myself on a Call where we had to cut on a 59 Chevy.......:(

Ouch. That is painful!
08-23-2010, 06:32 PM
FIREMECH1

Quote:

Originally Posted by hwoods

On of my saddest days in recent years was in when I found myself on a Call where we had to cut on a 59 Chevy.......:(

I'm crying right with you Harve, a sad day indeed.

All our heavy/light rescues still have porta-powers as a back up, or where and when needed. All tool rigs have 2 sets of hack saws.

FM1
08-23-2010, 07:48 PM
tree68

PK - all of the above, though making such a cut has been a while.

The NYS extrication course doesn't get into hydraulics until the last class (or didn't, when I took it). We also learned how to use half a lawnmower blade (notched at the business end) and a big hammer to cut the sheet metal. Noisy, but effective.

We recently ran an in-house drill using both the sawzall and the jaws for such cuts. The participants learned a lot.
08-24-2010, 08:46 AM
Squad50FF

We had a call for a 2 y/o male with his foot caught in the bars of a recliner. We were told by command to bring the porta-power up to the apartment but another FD and EMS were able to free the pt. without the porta-power, but it goes to show there are an almost infinite amount of situations where you could use one.
08-24-2010, 08:53 AM
hwoods

Sudden Thought..............

Has anyone ever used a Porto Power to remove a "Minor Wrinkle" in Aluminum Diamondplate that was attached to a piece of Apparatus?? Late at night, when only a few folks could have known.......... :eek: Not that I ever have, just an example........ :D :D :p
08-24-2010, 09:05 AM
CaptOldTimer

Quote:

Originally Posted by hwoods

Has anyone ever used a Porto Power to remove a "Minor Wrinkle" in Aluminum Diamondplate that was attached to a piece of Apparatus?? Late at night, when only a few folks could have known.......... :eek: Not that I ever have, just an example........ :D :D :p

I am not telling! ;)
08-24-2010, 09:10 AM
PaladinKnight

Quote:

Originally Posted by hwoods

Has anyone ever used a Porto Power to remove a "Minor Wrinkle" in Aluminum Diamondplate

Describe MINOR please...

Minor as in just a little bowed;

or slightly more than a bow, but less than a crease, somewhere around

torqued?
08-24-2010, 09:11 AM
Rescue101

As a matter of fact,YES I have. And not a SMALL dent either. T.C.
08-24-2010, 11:04 AM
...

Quote:

Originally Posted by hwoods

Has anyone ever used a Porto Power to remove a "Minor Wrinkle" in Aluminum Diamondplate that was attached to a piece of Apparatus?? Late at night, when only a few folks could have known.......... :eek: Not that I ever have, just an example........ :D :D :p

That's what they were invented for.;)
08-27-2010, 03:51 AM
Dickey

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaladinKnight

I am curious:

How many of you still carry a hack saw? YES!

How many of you have cut an "A" Post with a hack saw? YES! many times.

How many of you know what a hack saw is? YES!

We have actually been faster with a hack saw and a bottle of soapy water for some lubrication than power/hydraulic tools. Whenever we do extrication training, I create a little competition to see who can do it faster. 9 times out of 10, the hack saw wins. :D

I thought a hack saw is standard issue, maybe they are not??
08-27-2010, 02:38 PM
dmleblanc

Quote:

Originally Posted by hwoods

Has anyone ever used a Porto Power to remove a "Minor Wrinkle" in Aluminum Diamondplate that was attached to a piece of Apparatus?? Late at night, when only a few folks could have known.......... :eek: Not that I ever have, just an example........ :D :D :p

No, but I did use one to remove a similar "minor wrinkle" on my own POV. Didn't get it out completely but made it a little better :)

By the way, can you still buy the complete "Blackhawk" extrication set with all the Porta Power tools in it? That's the set we have, got to be from at least 30 years ago. I'd like to buy the whole set since ours is kinda trashed, but I don't think they still sell them as a set.
08-27-2010, 04:12 PM
hwoods

Hey Dwayne!!......

Do a Search on "Blackhawk Porto Power" ........... Results even suprised me...:)
08-27-2010, 04:23 PM
CaptOldTimer

Quote:

Originally Posted by hwoods

Do a Search on "Blackhawk Porto Power" ........... Results even suprised me...:)

Easy there big fellow. I have a bucket of oats for you over here. :D;)

It is a little more than what we used 50 years ago and up to the later years.

Still a great tool. :D
08-27-2010, 05:15 PM
dmleblanc

Quote:

Originally Posted by hwoods

Do a Search on "Blackhawk Porto Power" ........... Results even suprised me...:)

I did. They still make the Porto Power hand pump and the ram and the small spreader. Our Blackhawk set has a larger spreader too, and this is the item I can't seem to locate. The small red spreader is about 8" long, I guess. We had a larger, yellow one that was more like the size of a standard hydraulic rescue spreader. It was part of the same kit.

Our kit also has a cable come-along and a few other odds and ends not shown with the kit on the website. Although it is possible that these items were added to the kit later, I suppose. I just don't see anything that resembles the original Blackhawk kit that we have.
08-27-2010, 09:26 PM
...

I think this might be what you are looking for:

http://www.specialserviceandsupply.c..._Extractor.htm
08-27-2010, 11:44 PM
hwoods

Yep................

Quote:

Originally Posted by FireRescue61

I think this might be what you are looking for:

http://www.specialserviceandsupply.c..._Extractor.htm

By George, He Found It............. :D :D

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