Utility Knife

[RicodJour]

Okay, a utility knife isn't the sexiest tool in the toolbox, but it's
damn...errr....utile! I must have gone through 30 of the suckers over
the years. Almost all of them were Stanley, some better than others.
Most knives hold five extra blades and there are several ways to change
blades. Some knives have to be opened with a screwdriver to change the
blade. Others have a button you push to release the blade and a
swingout holder for the spare blades, and the new blade is inserted in
the front of the knife. Stanley must have had ten different versions
of utility knives in all.

I had one I liked and it went walkabout, so I was using my
less-than-favorite backup while I looked for a replacement. Then I ran
across this Lawson autoloading knife on eBay
http://tinyurl.com/mlcoh

What a great knife! The blade is removed by depressing a button on the
front of the knife in the usual way when it is in the fully extended
position. Then you pull back the blade retract button and a new blade
is automatically loaded and ready to go. It takes less than two
seconds to change a blade. I must have changed _thousands_ of blades
over the years and wish I'd found this years ago.

It's a little larger and heavier than most utility knives, which is
fine with me as it fits the hand better. It's also a bright yellow
making it easier to locate when it's misplaced or dropped off of a roof
into the ivy.

Anyway, just wanted to share that with anyone who might be interested.

R

 

[Robatoy]

I must have changed _thousands_ of blades
over the years and wish I'd found this years ago.

"JUST" a utility knife? I'm always lobbing the ends of silicon tubes and
cutting stuff. I have tried dozens of 'new' ideas...and they always
sucked. Back to ol' Stanley. Utility knives are a staple in my
repertoire.

Thanks for the URL.

 

[RicodJour]

"JUST" a utility knife? I'm always lobbing the ends of silicon tubes and
cutting stuff. I have tried dozens of 'new' ideas...and they always
sucked. Back to ol' Stanley. Utility knives are a staple in my
repertoire.

Thanks for the URL.

You're welcome. I'm a bit of a tool whore, or aficionado, depending on
your take on it, and I'm usually not too happy with Stanley's
performance as the 900 pound gorilla of the industry. It's well known
that back in the day Stanley would buy competitors and kill the newly
acquired tool line off - even if the tools were superior. It was all
about profitability. Can anyone say Microsoft?

Stanley's utility knives are all pretty weak. Some are such dated,
uncomfortable designs that the only reason they're still made is
because the production line is already set up.

R

 

[DarthClown]

I teach Technical Theatre and Set Construction. I always tell my
students that the Stanley Knife is the most dangerous tool in the shop.
The danger of the tool is inversely porportonial to the amount of noise
it makes. I have seen a few horrific injuries with a table saw or a
radial arm, but I have seen more injuries with a stanley knife than any
other tool.

 

[RicodJour]

I teach Technical Theatre and Set Construction. I always tell my
students that the Stanley Knife is the most dangerous tool in the shop.
The danger of the tool is inversely porportonial to the amount of noise
it makes. I have seen a few horrific injuries with a table saw or a
radial arm, but I have seen more injuries with a stanley knife than any
other tool.

Interesting theory. I've always heard you have to watch out for the
quiet ones, but I assumed they were talking about people!

My utility knife did a nifty self-filet on my left thumb around 3 AM
one morning as I was trying to finish some work that was going to be
photographed the next day. I just squeezed the cut shut, taped it up
and kept working. It healed just fine...although there is a little
less sensitivity in one area, so I know I got a nerve. Or the time
the hook blade slipped while cutting carpet, went through my shoe and
got my toe. Or the time... You get the idea.

R

 

[Joe Barta]

I teach Technical Theatre and Set Construction. I always tell my
students that the Stanley Knife is the most dangerous tool in the
shop. The danger of the tool is inversely porportonial to the
amount of noise it makes. I have seen a few horrific injuries with
a table saw or a radial arm, but I have seen more injuries with a
stanley knife than any other tool.

Count me among the injuries. Once, in my late teens I was cutting open
boxes and accidently cut open my hand and wrist... about 15 stitches.
Hit a vein just right and blood exploded out of my arm. Almost
completely severed a tendon. I was actually pretty lucky. That wrist
is still a little more fragile than the other. Yeah, those things will
hurt you ;-)

Joe Barta

 

[Matt Barrow]

Interesting theory. I've always heard you have to watch out for the
quiet ones, but I assumed they were talking about people!

My utility knife did a nifty self-filet on my left thumb around 3 AM
one morning as I was trying to finish some work that was going to be
photographed the next day. I just squeezed the cut shut, taped it up
and kept working. It healed just fine...although there is a little
less sensitivity in one area, so I know I got a nerve. Or the time
the hook blade slipped while cutting carpet, went through my shoe and
got my toe. Or the time... You get the idea.

Yeah...we get the idea: you're a klutz! :~)

 

[Leon]

Snip

What a great knife! The blade is removed by depressing a button on the
front of the knife in the usual way when it is in the fully extended
position. Then you pull back the blade retract button and a new blade
is automatically loaded and ready to go. It takes less than two
seconds to change a blade. I must have changed _thousands_ of blades
over the years and wish I'd found this years ago.

It's a little larger and heavier than most utility knives, which is
fine with me as it fits the hand better. It's also a bright yellow
making it easier to locate when it's misplaced or dropped off of a roof
into the ivy.

I have switched after trying all the single blade knives to the "break off
the end to renew the tip style utility knife". It has a slide button for
positioning the blade that also locks the blade in place when you quit
pushing or pulling. Best utility knife I have ever owned. Blades are cheap
considering that you renew each blade 8 to 10 times and changing blades is a
10 second job.

 

[Edwin Pawlowski]

Count me among the injuries. Once, in my late teens I was cutting open
boxes and accidently cut open my hand and wrist... about 15 stitches.
Hit a vein just right and blood exploded out of my arm. Almost
completely severed a tendon. I was actually pretty lucky. That wrist
is still a little more fragile than the other. Yeah, those things will
hurt you ;-)

Joe Barta

Hyde makes a knife good for cutting boxes. The blade self retracts and you
have to hold your thumb on it to keep the blade out. It extends enough to
go through the corrugated, but not enough for the major injury of a regular
knife. Our Workman's Comp insurance company was giving them out to promote
safety.

 

[RayV]

I'm with you. I have three Stanley 99Es and have no interest in
changing to the 'new & improved' knives with the rubber handles and
swiveling heads.

I also have an old Hyde knife I like but have been unable to find
replacement blades because it requires the kind with a hole in the
middle.

 

[Steve B]

I teach Technical Theatre and Set Construction. I always tell my
students that the Stanley Knife is the most dangerous tool in the shop.
The danger of the tool is inversely porportonial to the amount of noise
it makes. I have seen a few horrific injuries with a table saw or a
radial arm, but I have seen more injuries with a stanley knife than any
other tool.

The most dangerous tool in the box is a "Bloody Mary." That is a utility
knife that uses a double edge carpet blade. The blade stays out because it
is meant to. You can set it to stay out at an adjustable distance so that
you can cut carpet to a specific depth. I have seen more injuries with
those, and they are always very bloody.

Just MHO from hours and hours and hours of laying carpet for conventions.

Steve

 

[Mike Berger]

Does it use standard blades?

 

[RicodJour]

Oooh! You munged the URL, you URL-munger!

Does it use standard blades?

Yep. I use hook blades frequently. I bought two of the Lawson's so I
can have one loaded with each type of blade.

It's a funny thing about the weight of it. In general one would think
that lighter would be better. Then you pick up a nice tool with some
heft to it, and it just feels better in the hand.

R

 

[Robatoy]

Then you pick up a nice tool with some
heft to it, and it just feels better in the hand.

I feel that way every time I take a whiz.
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Oh come ON!.. SOMEbody had to say that!

 

[Oren]

I feel that way every time I take a whiz.

And then you woke up.

Oren
"My doctor says I have a malformed public-duty gland
and a natural deficiency in moral fiber, and that I am therefore
excused from saving Universes."

 

[jimmy]

The only one worth a damn IMO. Dangerous as hell because of the long blade but
strong like ox and always sharp. I have used the same one for a couple decades
now. I even have 6 stitches in my thumb from it . My only serious work related
injury.

http://www.danielsmith.com/catalog/products/?T1=172010008

 

[jimmy]

I use the same type. Mine is an Olfa with the rubber back for a bit
more grip.

Isn't it great. How do you break one of these. And that long blade can be very
handy for cutting Styrofoam or insulation batts. I couldn't live without my
Olfa.
I buy the big case of blades and they do me a year.

 

[jimmy]

The only one worth a damn IMO. Dangerous as hell because of the long blade but
strong like ox and always sharp. I have used the same one for a couple decades
now. I even have 6 stitches in my thumb from it . My only serious work related
injury.

http://www.danielsmith.com/catalog/products/?T1=172010008

I should add mine has a straight handle which is good because I'm left handed.
This new curved handle model would suck as it puts the rubber side of the knife
on the wrong side of your hand.
I had to modify the slider blade holding thingy on mines so I could put my
blades in backwards. It serves me well.

 

[tom_murphy]

Okay, a utility knife isn't the sexiest tool in the toolbox, but it's
damn...errr....utile! I must have gone through 30 of the suckers over
the years. Almost all of them were Stanley, some better than others.
Most knives hold five extra blades and there are several ways to change
blades. Some knives have to be opened with a screwdriver to change the
blade. Others have a button you push to release the blade and a
swingout holder for the spare blades, and the new blade is inserted in
the front of the knife. Stanley must have had ten different versions
of utility knives in all.

I had one I liked and it went walkabout, so I was using my
less-than-favorite backup while I looked for a replacement. Then I ran
across this Lawson autoloading knife on eBay
http://tinyurl.com/mlcoh

What a great knife! The blade is removed by depressing a button on the
front of the knife in the usual way when it is in the fully extended
position. Then you pull back the blade retract button and a new blade
is automatically loaded and ready to go. It takes less than two
seconds to change a blade. I must have changed _thousands_ of blades
over the years and wish I'd found this years ago.

It's a little larger and heavier than most utility knives, which is
fine with me as it fits the hand better. It's also a bright yellow
making it easier to locate when it's misplaced or dropped off of a roof
into the ivy.

Anyway, just wanted to share that with anyone who might be interested.

R

I found a similar one in a "multi pack" at Home Depot. I reload the
used blade in reverse to utilize the other side.

Tom M.

 

[tom_murphy]

"JUST" a utility knife? I'm always lobbing the ends of silicon tubes and
cutting stuff. I have tried dozens of 'new' ideas...and they always
sucked. Back to ol' Stanley. Utility knives are a staple in my
repertoire.

Thanks for the URL.

Mine too. It's pretty much much part of my Saturday "uniform". I throw
on the old jeans, the work boots and the utility knife in the back
pocket.

It's kind of like an unbrella - If you don't take it with you, you're
guaranteed to need it.