Trauma shears/bandage scissors

[FigureItOut]

Anybody have any recommendations on a pair of scissors like these? I'm looking for a very compact pair, like no more than 4.5" long. I found a few but nothing looked great or from a manufacturer I knew. Anybody know anything good?

 

[pstemari]

Anybody have any recommendations on a pair of scissors like these?

I don't think I've every seen a "good" pair of those. The ones I have are stamped with serrated edges to grab what you're cutting.

 

[Derek420]

Just make sure they are from a good coo. That's everything with those a lot of surgical and dental tools are made in Pakistan as they deal with stainless the most I think.

 

[southalabama]

The best medical instruments I've seen were German. Don't waste your money on Pakistan. The ones I've seen marked CE which I think means approved in the European Union have been fairly decent.

 

[Infinia]

Ive seen some really high end mini SS scissors marked 'Pakistan'. This was ~30 years ago from my aerospace years, in-fact I still have a pair here I use for my go-to ones everyday.
sorry not the bandage cutter ones, are you certain they even make em that small?

 

[Danglerb]

Plenty of 5 star reviewed for as little as $5, https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=bandage+shears

 

[IndyGarage]

Prestige medical flouride shears are the best I've found.

I have a pair in every toolbox and they get used all the time.

Even the cheap ones from Harbor Freight work, but the Prestige ones are way better.

 

[Stevenn1]

I've seen some of those in a True Value Hardware store, Master Mechanic brand. But for the life of me I can't imagine why a tech/mechanic would need those in his box. I have tons of pliers; needle nose, cutting, slip joint, long, short.... What non surgical uses are there???

 

[T45]

Ive seen some really high end mini SS scissors marked 'Pakistan'. This was ~30 years ago from my aerospace years, in-fact I still have a pair here I use for my go-to ones everyday.
sorry not the bandage cutter ones, are you certain they even make em that small?

This. Not sure why, but pakistan seems to have a specialty with these things.

 

[grandall4]

If cost is not important, check these out.
https://www.leatherman.com/raptor-51.html

 

[BajaBound]

I am a Paramedic in a high trauma area, I have used all kinds of shears and the leatherman Raptor is the first tool that that I have worn on my belt. They are the best.

 

[IndyGarage]

I've seen some of those in a True Value Hardware store, Master Mechanic brand. But for the life of me I can't imagine why a tech/mechanic would need those in his box. I have tons of pliers; needle nose, cutting, slip joint, long, short.... What non surgical uses are there???

They aren't really made for surgery. They are made to cut clothes off in an emergency situation.

They have tons of uses in the shop: They cut open those heat fused packages that normally take dynamite to open.

They can cut normal thin stuff like scissors, but also thick stuff like leather, cardboard, plastic and wire as well. I use them to trim zip ties. They will cut heater and radiator hose to length easily. I often use them to cut sheetmetal shims from pop cans.

If you buy the good ones, they will become one of your most used tools .

 

[FigureItOut]

I'm looking at them for the smooth flat surface on the bottom, so you can cut a layer, without nicking anything underneath. Most recently I had to get into a length of wire loom I'd just wrapped, that would've come in very handy. I've seen them as small as 3.5". As was said, once I have some, I'll probably find many instances where they're the best tool for the job.

 

[Infinia]

As was said, once I have some, I'll probably find many instances where they're the best tool for the job.

you'll figure it out

 

[FigureItOut]

you'll figure it out

Yes I will, ha ha. Got some good info.

I need a sig line to explain my username I think. It's a reminder to myself to persevere when a project gets daunting and I feel like giving up.

 

[Ign]

I've seen some of those in a True Value Hardware store, Master Mechanic brand. But for the life of me I can't imagine why a tech/mechanic would need those in his box. I have tons of pliers; needle nose, cutting, slip joint, long, short.... What non surgical uses are there???

They're great as sacrificial cutters for aluminum cans and shim stock of all varieties. I once trashed a nice pair of Kershaw scissors trying to cut steel shim stock.

That said, the small size the OP is seeking won't afford the leverage to cut much metal.

 

[txvwnut]

I just bought these off the Matco truck. They're an inch longer than what you are looking for but are good quality shears.

https://www.matcotools.com/catalog/product/HDWS2A/5-1-2-WORK-SHEARS/

 

[Infinia]

I just bought these off the Matco truck. They're an inch longer than what you are looking for but are good quality shears.

https://www.matcotools.com/catalog/product/HDWS2A/5-1-2-WORK-SHEARS/

My supplier also carries those, called Kevlar shears. they were designed for cutting tough Kevlar fabrics. I use a pair 7" duck bill snips for cutting rope, plastic clam shells, thin sheet metal stock etc Don't abuse or over extend the tool and it will last a lifetime.

 

[T45]

That said, the small size the OP is seeking won't afford the leverage to cut much metal.

The medical ones are sold in several grades, including 'disposable'. Other ones are more expensive and get sterilized and resued. They are part of suture packs IIRC. RNs will also occasionally use them to trip cloth tape and the like in general use.

 

[Vvmvbb]

I might try the Clauss for <$8

 

[M6erfan]

These may not fit the OP's size requirements but I bought these for the same use...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005QTRJA4/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Much better quality than the pressed hinge type trauma shears typically available

 

[Ign]

I might try the Clauss for <$8

Size: 7 inches

Anybody have any recommendations on a pair of scissors like these? I'm looking for a very compact pair, like no more than 4.5" long. I found a few but nothing looked great or from a manufacturer I knew. Anybody know anything good?

 

[FigureItOut]

Paul has one 5.3" total length, however you gotta import it.

Who's that, a member?

 

[T45]

The solid metal ones are called Lister bandage scissors. The plastic handles are EMT shears.The bandage scissors are used to get the covering off, and then a suture removal kit will be used after that. (I may have mis-spoken earlier in that the suture kits have another type of scissor altogether.)

Amazon has a suprisingly decent selection, at least for showing types of these available.
For picture only, these are unknown quality/brand.

 

[M6erfan]

I think one issue is that the OP asks for two different things? "Trauma shears/bandage scissors" don't exist. The former will work for both, the latter will not (at least not with great affect). AFAIK there is no such thing as 4.5" trauma shears.

It's like asking for 125mm needle nose pliers/200mm Cobras...

 

[FigureItOut]

I think one issue is that the OP asks for two different things? "Trauma shears/bandage scissors" don't exist. The former will work for both, the latter will not (at least not with great affect). AFAIK there is no such thing as 4.5" trauma shears.

It's like asking for 125mm needle nose pliers/200mm Cobras...

I hadn't known the difference, you're correct. The main thing I'm looking for is the smooth, blunt bottom portion. I like the the Lister style specified above. I'll look at the brand mentioned by IndyGarage or just grab whatever looks good on Amazon. While I'm at it, I think I may grab those Engineer scissors you linked to. They're Japan COO I'm guessing?

 

[M6erfan]

BTW, I have those fluoride trauma shears, they're ok but the hinge wears out fairly quickly with regular use. I consider these types of trauma shears pretty much disposable.

Yes, the Engineer scissors are Japan and the price that I linked to ($18) is the lowest I've seen for those, I may pick up another pair myself...

 

[FigureItOut]

I like these, they have a larger finger ring than others. It looks like even the "better" ones are pretty cheap, so I can try them until I find some I like. Thanks for the info folks.

 

[Ttown24]

I have a pair of the CRKT el santo shears. I'm a lefty so the ambidextrous handle worked out. Only downside is the size, 8" I think. I believe they all come with a sheath as well. I apologize for no link. My iPad isn't cooperating..

 

[texasfiremedic]

I have lost to many pairs to the helicopter to give a good account. I no longer care about where they are made. But there are differences in them.

 

[Infinia]

ImThinkingOutLoud now
Id like to think this imagined tool isn't an ideal solution to FigureItOuts problem, I reckon it's probably a design fab/process issue. I'm paraphrasing his earlirer post>" a wire harnesses and he uses scissors removes a tape layer w/o disturbing lower wraps"? why not look at what others OEMs do >tape really? why not heat shrink or tie wraps and perhaps connectors/plugs to allow removal of the harness for any rework. Use a scalpel to remove all the tape layers and replace using another method.

 

[FigureItOut]

ImThinkingOutLoud now
Id like to think this imagined tool isn't an ideal solution to FigureItOuts problem, I reckon it's probably a design fab/process issue. I'm paraphrasing his earlirer post>" a wire harnesses and he uses scissors removes a tape layer w/o disturbing lower wraps"? why not look at what others OEMs do >tape really? why not heat shrink or tie wraps and perhaps connectors/plugs to allow removal of the harness for any rework.

Funny you mention that. I do as close a copy to OEM as I can without spending a ton on dozens of different types of loom and tape. My process is a couple wraps at the end of the bundle, then without cutting the tape, the split loom goes over with the tape in the slit, and wrap from there. It secures the loom not only over the bundle, but to the bundle. It's an exact copy of a method I frequently see in OEM. If not that, I do a wrap with Tesa tape. I've actually never seen a tie wrap and very rarely see heat shrink in OEM work, and I work with auto electrical everyday. So I think I will try out this "imagined" tool that's been pictured, and linked to, multiple times in this thread, and see if it works as well as I think it will.