Ewweb 744 Idealutilitysaw595
Ewweb 744 Idealutilitysaw595
Ewweb 744 Idealutilitysaw595
Ewweb 744 Idealutilitysaw595
Ewweb 744 Idealutilitysaw595

Utility saw cuts through guy wire

May 5, 2014
Ideal’s Merlin PowerBlade fits onto the standard corded or cordless drills that electricians carry with them everyday, so there is no need to waste time with special battery packs or chargers.

Utility linemen have limited options when it comes to cutting high-capacity, high-strength ACSR (Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced) cable commonly used in overhead power lines, or the "guy wire" tensioned cable installed to improve utility pole stability. Old-fashioned loppers and manual cutters will distort ACSR cable into an egg shape, or leave it with dangerous burrs and sharp edges. More recently, companies have introduced stand-alone battery-powered ACSR cutters but these cost several thousands of dollars while requiring extensive maintenance, putting a strain on cash-strapped municipalities.

Ideal’s  Merlin PowerBlade is designed to service this need. It fits onto the standard corded or cordless drills that electricians carry with them everyday, so there is no need to waste time with special battery packs or chargers. Once installed, the Merlin Power Blade is held securely in place with an adjustable torque arm, while the user grips an ergonomic, textured Santoprene handle for added stability. Next, the user simply pulls the drill's trigger to cut through thick ACSR cables in 20 seconds or less. This compares very favorably with manual cutters that typically require 2-3 minutes to cut through ACSR. To assure little or no cable distortion, the Merlin PowerBlade blade is uniquely contoured to provide clean, rounded cutting of ACSR cable.

Ideal Industries