Has anyone used equalizers sidewinder tool? It advertises one-man wire outs. I am a gadget junkie, and will often buy tools on the "just in case" scenario. But at 159.00 I am not willing to test drive it.

The Sidewinder at Equalizer

Just to make the thread more interesting, does anyone have a favorite tool that is rarely used? So far I have a pry out bar from Equalizer that pushes gasket set w/s out so my back doesn't quit on me.

my favorite tool is my little flat pocket screw driver... I can take apart anything with it on a good day!

It works pretty dang good, although i think its an equalizer product and equalizer is a good company but there sales ladys shoooosh man i thought the DMV women were cranky ....

Ever had a problem keeping the wire tight to the glass away from moldings etc?

Reason I asked is that a buddy of mine says that wire is a two man job thus no need for the sidewinder. He believes that one guy will have a tough time keeping the wire away from the perishibles.

Oh and I love my lil craftsman pocket flattip also.

I have the tool and use it once in a while . It works good , but I did buy a heaver spring at Ace hardware short and longer. It does help on the return of the wire to the inside and also helps the wire stay tight.I have not had a problem with the wire being loose. I also love my little screwdriver.

I don't know about anyone else but after being popped in the eye with a wire and cutting a dash before, i went out and bought a fein knife and a equalizer express. But back in the day we had no choices...

I wouldn't know about back in the day (hence the handle). I use an express knife as well. Trying to find an electric fein on EBAY but they get bid up so quick it's amazing.

Gloves, safety glasses,cold knife, Equalizer Express & Squire wire from Equalizer. You don't need the gadget tool. You don't have to saw back & forth that much if you run the wire so that you are doing all the work from the inside. The wire slices through the urethane easily as long as the urethane is not gobbed on or you hang up on a spot weld. Use a water bottle with the wire if you have to. I find it's the best way to keep from disturbing the pinchweld on some applications.

Speaking of back in the day. I hate Fiats, loctite epoxy cups(I can still smell it), early 1970 Ford Mustangs (loctite epoxy cups), butyl tape, gaskets on 1970's foreign cars, bannana knives, and rusted out pinchwelds on back glasses. Still like my cold knife.

Rookie question alert! Whoop Whoop!

How do you run the wire so that you are doing all the work from the inside? One end of the wire is outside yes? Thanks for the answer and patience.

You can usually cut the bottom with either your cold knife or express without disturbing the paint. Run the wire around the perimeter of the glass and push both ends through the bottom where you have already cut. I do allot of r&i in body shops and don't really use it much on replacement unless I have an exposed pinchweld that is common on allot of the new models. I use allot of wire but I don't pull it out unless I have too. Body shops and their painters will love you and cut you some slack if you are not creating more work for them every time you pull a glass.

I find it amazing the amount of tools mentioned just in this topic. Haven't any of you guys got a BTB tool?

I haven't had to use ANY other cut-out tool since getting one 6 years ago and have only just recently purchased their current model, keeping my old one as a second tool. BTB even offered to refurbish my old tool up to current spec but I haven't seen the need!

Isn't purchasing and maintaining all those other tools costing you all a fortune, let alone the jobs they can't do?

Times are tight enough without having 4 or 5 cutout tools.

I did have to buy a compressor but less than 90 bucks from Advance Auto Parts and I was in business and mobile, and was surprised that I didn't need one of those monster sized compressors. You can then blow leaves etc out of the cowl area, leak test, blow up balloons and all sorts of things!

I'm pretty sure any Dewalt dealer can take care of any problems I have with my suped up saws all.

Larry, try the BlueShield or Defender blade from Equalizer. It is a coated cold knife blade designed for the exposed pinchweld vehicle models.

Thanks, I'll check them out.

They work real well on the new Dodge trucks

It looks like to me that the wire would get stuck, and the spring wouldn't be strong enough. I like the BTB also. But if you can't lay the bucks down for it right now try this.
You can one man cut out glass using seat belts from a junked car. Pull the seatbelt (the male end) all the way out and cut it off. You need two. At the job, Wrap the wire around the metal end, push the wire through the urethane from out side with needlenose plyers and tie to the other seat belt inside the vehicle. Cut around the corner keeping the wire close to the glass on the inside to avoid the headliner, cut across the top as far as you can reach. foot or so then go to the other side, the 3' seatbelt lengths will allow you to pull across the rest of the way.
If you do the sides, remove A pillars. If you do the cowl area use an old license plate on the dash to protect the wire from cuttin the dash.
lastly I really like the Equalizer "Squire" wire. Part #SSW508.

For Larry, CaptRon, Bachmans, and Greg. I apprecieate the tips. Guess I don't need the gadget although the tool addiction is still there. Thanks again.

I got one of them Y-handled cold knives. Works great after you get used to the different feel. Hit a tight spot, reverse the handles, and you can lean into it and push it like a jackplane (with control no less). Freakin awesome.

The Sidewinder tool is used by BMW dealerships here in the UK. Any BMW technician who goes on the approved windscreen course is taught to use it. It's a labourious tool to use and needs constant adjustment across the screen. I own a small windscreen company in England and we specialise in bodyshop r & r's. I use square wire and two handles to chop out all laminated front screens which are not broken. In Britain it is considered a one man job. So we all train over here to do it by ourselves, the only two man jobs are some big vans and trucks(rigs).

Hey Porky, Thanks. I guess I am going to try the around the perimeter method described above the next time I have to save one. Since I am new at this, I appreciate everyone's input. Have a good one.