Finally found a use for my Orthopedic Cast Cutter

[tool_scrounge]

Years ago I found an orthopedic cast cutter for sale at an estate sale.

Mrs. Tool_Scrounge inquired "Why do you need that?"

My answer: "Because I do not have one yet"

Public service announcement: The correct answer is never "Because I do not have a FOURTH one yet". Trust me on this one.

What is an orthopedic cast cutter? It is a rotary oscillating tool with a round saw blade on the end. As expected they are really well constructed.

Recently I was asked by Mrs. Tool_Scrounge to help remove large citrus trees from their pots to be replanted. It turns out the cast cutter is awesome for cutting thru plastic pots in a controlled way. Since is it oscillating not rotating it does not run away from you. Made quick work of the project.

 

[Qualitytools]

Brilliant! Nice tool to have.

 

[littlebean]

they're great tools

 

[tdkkart]

I got one made by Dewalt that does the same thing, probably cost more on my end though.

 

[tool_scrounge]

For future reference, it looks like H.H. Stryker patented the cast saw in 1947. Mine looks like the 1947 version in the photo. But they made it for a lot of years so I do not know how old mine is. Link to patent below:

https://patents.google.com/patent/US2427580A/en

 

[tarbellb]

It's a (nice) OMT with limited blade selection

 

[slowtwitch73]

Like any oscillating tool,, Fein, etc.

Man it feels good to have one of those cut a cast off..

 

[Zeus36]

Used one of those for cutting square outlet holes in drywall.

 

[Michigan Mike]

I live in Kalamazoo where that was probably made by Stryker. Those were one of the unobtainium tools In a carpenters box. You had to be friends with doctor or know somebody at Stryker. They were highly prized for repair work on wood lap siding. Im sure they had many other uses also but when somebody got one of them out of there toolbox it was always cause for admiration and comment.

 

[htmdude57]

I used to work on those things when I was in the medical equipment repair field. They made the same shaped cast cutter up until about 8-9 years ago when the did a total redesign. But Stryker wasn't willing to sell parts. I first called them to try to buy a switch, and they're response was "We don't sell parts- you know, for LIABILITY reasons". WTF? I know how to install a f-ing switch. So I had to buy one somewhere else. Probably $3.

Oh, but if they did sell a switch, they would probably want $100 for it! They had a different product that had an o-ring on it. I called them up to buy a bunch of o-rings. They said, no, we don't sell them! So, what, I have to buy the whole thing when the o-ring needs to be replaced? Yes. It costs $400. So naturally, I sourced o-rings somewhere else, probably a penny apiece.

There are accessories you can get for the cast cutter (but not from Stryker). Such as a safety shield. And a vacuum shield for hooking upi to a vacuum cleaner and sucking away the dust.

The thing I most disliked about the cast cutter was how loud it was when in use. In one doctor's office they had 2 pairs of ear protection muffs, one for the user and one for the patient!

 

[htmdude57]

Im sure they had many other uses

Oh, yes. In a hospital I worked in, the autopsy room had one, for bone cutting.

 

[htmdude57]

Just for your info, there were 2 types of blades we could buy, standard steel ones, or a longer lasting one, called "Nichrome" ? I think. IDK if that is the correct name?
Also, there were 2 different hole shapes to attach the round blade to the shaft. A hex shaped hole, or a round hole that fit on a shaft the had a crosspin in it. The cross pin blade could be mounted in 4 different positions, when one area got dulled. The hex shaped hole blade could be repositioned to 6 different ways. There are even some blades that can be bought which have a hole that will work on both shafts!

The later redesign of the saw used a blade that is more like "football" shaped, and but only has 1 cutting edge. Not interchangable with the old design.

 

[anndel]

Looks like the same saw Doctors use to cut skulls with.

 

[southalabama]

Adam Savage utilizes several medical tools in his shop and has shown them in his YouTube channel Tested.

 

[mogandave]

I live in Kalamazoo...

A lot of great product came out of Kalamazoo

 

[pbon]

I have cut casts off my wife’s foot (foot to shin just below knee) 3 times with an oscillating multi tool. I did not want to do it but she was in a lot of pain because the cast did it fit right and it was night so there was no easy access to the doctor. Ideally put a thin strip of metal inside the cast under the cut line but sometimes it is not possible.

 

[littlebean]

I have cut casts off my wife’s foot (foot to shin just below knee) 3 times with an oscillating multi tool. I did not want to do it but she was in a lot of pain because the cast did it fit right and it was night so there was no easy access to the doctor. Ideally put a thin strip of metal inside the cast under the cut line but sometimes it is not possible.

you could hold the blade whilst it was running on the one i used, only cut solid items (fibreglass/carbon/plastic) but not soft ones like skin

 

[mogandave]

you could hold the blade whilst it was running on the one i used, only cut solid items (fibreglass/carbon/plastic) but not soft ones like skin

It has been my experience that they can and do occasionally cut skin, particularly skin that is close to the bone and scarred skin.

 

[Old Man Roger]

Years ago I found an orthopedic cast cutter for sale at an estate sale.

Mrs. Tool_Scrounge inquired "Why do you need that?"

My answer: "Because I do not have one yet"

Public service announcement: The correct answer is never "Because I do not have a FOURTH one yet". Trust me on this one.

What is an orthopedic cast cutter? It is a rotary oscillating tool with a round saw blade on the end. As expected they are really well constructed.

Recently I was asked by Mrs. Tool_Scrounge to help remove large citrus trees from their pots to be replanted. It turns out the cast cutter is awesome for cutting thru plastic pots in a controlled way. Since is it oscillating not rotating it does not run away from you. Made quick work of the project.

The important question here is, did you use this as a teaching moment for the wife? Of course that would be you reminding her that she should never question why you are buying any tool..lol

 

[Snip's]

Interesting... It runs on 115-120 AC/DC and 0-60 cycles...

I'm assuming the round case isn't holding a rotating motor assembly??
Seems like a 115-120 DC supply would be a strange source...

 

[mogandave]

Interesting... It runs on 115-120 AC/DC and 0-60 cycles...

I'm assuming the round case isn't holding a rotating motor assembly??
Seems like a 115-120 DC supply would be a strange source...

Generator power?

Didn't/can't you buy grinders and whatnot that run of welders that provide DC?

 

[Snip's]

Generator power?

Didn't/can't you buy grinders and whatnot that run of welders that provide DC?

Still seems like a strange power requirement....
Sooo much easier to come to the clinic to remove the cast.... I'm tired of firing up the generator to cut casts off...
And besides... The welder is broke....

 

[rlitman]

Interesting... It runs on 115-120 AC/DC and 0-60 cycles...

I'm assuming the round case isn't holding a rotating motor assembly??
Seems like a 115-120 DC supply would be a strange source...

Generator power?

Didn't/can't you buy grinders and whatnot that run of welders that provide DC?

It's a brushed universal motor. Those rectify AC intrinsically. Grinders that don't have variable speed or slow start, or electronic functions will often be labeled as AC/DC too. And yes, many older engine welders have 120VDC outputs.

 

[tool_scrounge]

The important question here is, did you use this as a teaching moment for the wife? Of course that would be you reminding her that she should never question why you are buying any tool..lol

I married well. My wife has always been very understanding on my tool and machine habit. When she found us a house to buy, having a large garage with the understanding that no cars would ever park in it was a requirement of hers. Covid kind of cemented the concept that the fabrication capabilities at home that I had cobbled together for cheap were important due to the inventions and subsequent promotions it enabled at work.