Cutting turnout fabric?

**techdragon** · 16th November 10, 09:21 PM

I had a fireman send me 5 yards of turnout gear fabric to make him a kilt and wow... I am having some terrible problems cutting it. (I know that this is to be expected since it is safety gear and stronger than all get out). I cannot use my rotary cutter, my normal scissors, my leather shears or even the serrated blade. I have managed some crude cuts with a box cutter and my husband tried paper cutters, air snips and finally his metal shears.... and nothing works very productively. The largest cut we can get at a time is with the metal shears and it about 1" each cut (and this isn't really practical for cutting and shaping 5 yards!)

Any ideas?

**MacMillans son** · 16th November 10, 09:37 PM

Wow!! That stuff sounds tough Techdragon!

Perhaps a phone call to a company that makes turnout gear to see what they use in their fabrication ? I assume they may use some kind of giant machine shears for major repetitive cuts, but it seems there must be some amount of small cuts in the garment manufacturing that must be done by hand.

I wonder how it's going to pleat up?

Keep us posted!

**kc8ufv** · 16th November 10, 09:43 PM

I am curious how this is going to turn out. I've been around a firestation since I was born, and that stuff is pretty durable stuff. And it just keeps getting better. I'm sorry I don't have suggestions on cutting it, but I wish you good luck.

**RockyR** · 16th November 10, 09:53 PM

How about a box cutter, a stack of blades, a mat (used for rotary cutter) and a straight metal edge.

Lay the material on the mat
Line up the metal edge (metal yard stick if you have it) where you want the cut
make 2 or 3 or 27 passes with the box cutter and replace blades as necessary.

I hope this helps / WORKS!

**Burly Brute** · 16th November 10, 09:55 PM

Maybe one of thos black and decker mini saw tools? lol just a suggestion.

**number17** · 16th November 10, 10:03 PM

If it's a kevlar or spectra based fabric you might try putting masking tape on the cut lines ( both sides) and cut it through the tape.

**Jerry** · 17th November 10, 03:49 AM

If you can't cut, it seems to me that it would be very difficult to pleat and sew. I would also guess that a finished kilt would be very heavy.

**Barb T** · 17th November 10, 04:32 AM

Good lord, how are you going to sew this stuff?!? Keep us posted!

**longhuntr74** · 17th November 10, 04:32 AM

Originally Posted by Jerry

If you can't cut, it seems to me that it would be very difficult to pleat and sew. I would also guess that a finished kilt would be very heavy.

If it's that heavy, I'm not sure it will make a very good kilt...how are you going to sew it? That being said, heat is your solution for cutting I think. Being in the Army and doing several modifications to tactical gear and the like, I use an old butter knife that I set on a stove burner and heat it up...and then melt/cut through the nylon. It gives a nice finished edge too. Just don't use a knife you ever want to use for anything else again...because it will be ruined!

**kc8ufv** · 17th November 10, 06:28 AM

Originally Posted by longhuntr74

If it's that heavy, I'm not sure it will make a very good kilt...how are you going to sew it? That being said, heat is your solution for cutting I think. Being in the Army and doing several modifications to tactical gear and the like, I use an old butter knife that I set on a stove burner and heat it up...and then melt/cut through the nylon. It gives a nice finished edge too. Just don't use a knife you ever want to use for anything else again...because it will be ruined!

That might work, but I have my doubts. That stuff is designed to easily withstand several hundred degrees for several minutes (a SCOTT pack gives them 20-30 minutes of air) and keep the inside to a (relatively) cool temperature. Temperatures in a burning building can easily reach 1000F