Fillet Knives plug in style?

[Steve]

I have a question regarding fillet knives. I was planning on buying an electric fillet knife. I would like to get the electric fillet knife that plugs in. Such as an American angler or American Fisherman or some people have recommended Black and Decker as an even better knife. But someone told me once that in the instruction book for the plug in knife it says do not use outdoors. Has anyone heard about this or seen this before? I prefer to get the plug in type because we normally clean our fish in the driveway or at the cleaning station if available at the lake with a plug in. I really don't want the kind that plugs to the cigarrete lighter or battery since I will most likely always have access to a plug in when cleaning. So, if someone with a plug in fillet knife could tell me if it is okay to use it outdoors I will appreciate it. Thanks for the information.

[Atomic Eye]

Exercise the same caution you would with other electric appliances outdoors. That means you should use a plug that is on a ground fault interrupter (GFI) circuit for safety.

Atomic Eye -- "Gone Fission!"

[brushpile]

It might not be a good idea to stand in a puddle of water while using it either.

[BD]

I have a Mister Twister Electric Fisherman. It has been used outside and in fish houses since grandpa received it as a present years ago. The warning label reads "Mister Twister Inc. does not represent that this knife has been weather proofed and does not endorse or approve exposure of any part of it to rain or moisture. Such exposure may risk causing fire and / or electrical shock." I have no problem with using it outside but avoid doing it in the rain and do not hose it down when in the fish house. A GFI plug in should be used for shock protection when using any appliance outside.

[REW]

I do have to admit, that I have been "juiced" a bit with one of my Mr. Twister.

I was standing on a damp kitchen floor in my bare feet cleaning fish.

The fix was simple - I turned over the plug in the AC socket. The problem was - was a tiny bit of electrical leakage - through the knife - down through my hand to the damp floor.

By turning over the plug - the "ground" side of the power was grounded to the knife and no further problems.

I do see this as a potential problem though, in that some of the knives do NOT use a polarized plug on the knife. This is made worse - if you don't use a polarized extension cord - or if the outlet that you are plugged into, is not wired correctly.

As one of the other posts suggest - a GFI is an excellent aid - in avoiding these type of shocks.

p.s.
It was only a short time after that - that that knife went to the happy hunting ground for knives - i.e. it went up in smoke - I have had no problems with its replacement. It is likely that the knives insulation was beginning to break down, when I received the first "tickle" of juice through my toes.

Take care

REW

[Atomic Eye]

REW,

Isn't it code that your outlets near the sink have to be GFI for safety? If yours aren't, I think I've seen some GFI outlets that are easy to add on for only about $40. Might be an excellent "insurance policy?"

Atomic Eye (New Mexico) -- "Gone Fission!"

[REW]

Good point.
My house is a few years old, that doesn't have GFI.

I just finished putting a bunch of GFI outlets in my daughters home. I guess that I need to take the lesson to heart, and take care of my own.

As the saying goes, the mechanic is the one driving the broken car.

Thanks for the heads up.

REW

[Curt De Boer]

I clean fish on the side for cash, during weekends and peak times etc. It is not uncommon for me to clean between 200-500 fish a day. (Walleyes, panfish, you name it) I have a definite opinion about about electric filet knives.

I started with Mister Twister. My first last probably 1500 fish. Now I admit, I use the knife in short bursts, which is hard on the motors and it says so right on the knife, but thats how I clean...To get to the point, I burn through mister twister knives like butter...

I then tried "American angler's ultra" (Or whatever they called their best model) Righ away I could hear a difference. You could hear the difference not just when it was running but when you let off the trigger, the ending was smooth. The handle was not quite as user friendly, but once you get used to it, you dont notice it. After a couple thousand fish with this knife, I liked it so well that I bought a spare, (Even though I have 3 spare "twisters") and as of yet, I havent needed to replace the orignal one.

I have no experience with the BLack and decker, didnt know they made one.


Hope this helps