Handiest tool on my bench....

Home Model Engine Machinist Forum

Help Support Home Model Engine Machinist Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

toolznthings

Project of the Month Winner
Joined
Dec 11, 2013
Messages
259
Reaction score
183
Location
Ohio
Not an advertisement for this product, but probably one of the handiest tools on my work bench. It is a # 11 X-ACTO kinfe. I use it for everything from doing fine trimming when masking for painting, deburring plastic parts, tiny holes in metals, gasket cutting, and opening those miserable plastic packages. :) I also prefer the blades shown.
USA made and redefine sharp ! Did I say sharp ? :eek:

PS: Opens packages those new tools come in, too !

 
Last edited:
Not an advertisement for this product, but probably one of the handiest tools on my work bench. It is a # 11 X-ACTO kinfe. I use it for everything from doing fine trimming when masking for painting, deburring plastic parts, tiny holes in metals, gasket cutting, and opening those miserable plastic packages. :) I also prefer the blades shown.
USA made and redefine sharp ! Did I say sharp ? :eek:

PS: Opens packages those new tools come in, too !



Personally, I use a #11 blade and a #3 scalpel, but same difference. Ten bucks on e-bay for a handle and a hundred blades. I have found that Xacto is simply too expensive. BTW, an autopsy knife (big honkin' handle, heavy blade) is as good as a Stanley knife.
 
Funny (well maybe not so funny) when I first read the title, I read it as the "hardest tool". These long 12 hour shifts must be getting to me.
 
For many years I have been using an Olfa laminate cutter for all sorts of work, especially deburring.

The blades are carbide and last for many years if you don't bend them too much. I actually deburr by using the part of the blade closest to the handle, and it will debuur most materials we use in the shop, plus it can also be used for scoring and snapping all those plastic bits.

I used to get them much cheaper than this, and by buying in bulk, I could donate one to each visitor to my shop. Once I had shown them how well they work, and how cheap the blades were, they were really grateful.

http://www.knife-point.co.uk/olfa-p...nife-suplied-with-2-x-spare-blades-1789-p.asp


Bogs
 
Thanks for the link. Will have to check this out, too.

Brian
 
For many years I have been using an Olfa laminate cutter for all sorts of work, especially deburring.

The blades are carbide and last for many years if you don't bend them too much. I actually deburr by using the part of the blade closest to the handle, and it will debuur most materials we use in the shop, plus it can also be used for scoring and snapping all those plastic bits.

I used to get them much cheaper than this, and by buying in bulk, I could donate one to each visitor to my shop. Once I had shown them how well they work, and how cheap the blades were, they were really grateful.

http://www.knife-point.co.uk/olfa-p...nife-suplied-with-2-x-spare-blades-1789-p.asp

Bogs

Wish I lived a bit closer!

Dave
The Emerald Isle
 
This is something that I have at each machine.
Take a used triangle file one that is no longer sharp or new if you choose.
Cut the file to two to three inches long. I don't have one in front of me, to take a picture, I'll get one later.
Now, hollow grind the sides of the file.

You will grind the tip to a point.
Or rather, you will taper the tip to a point.

You will end up with a nice three sided, scraper, knife, deburr tool.
Be careful grinding, make sure your pedestal grinder rest, is close to the wheel
when doing this.
Have water on hand, this gets hot, supporting it with your fingers.
A guide, made of wood could be used to support the blade while grinding.

I get a pic. later.
 
For many years I have been using an Olfa laminate cutter for all sorts of work, especially deburring............

They do a nice job scoring circuit board for breaking. The blades aren't carbide. Would be nice if they were.
 
Following the #11 blade hobby knife in second place for me in utililty tools is my pair of kitchen shears. These by Farberware work great for me. They are also about the lowest costing ones around. I have four pair. One in the workshop, one in the kitchen, one in the electronics room and one I use for fardening. The lightly serrated blades keep brass shim stock from squirting out but don't leave a ripple on it. I have used them occasionally on 0.005 stainless steel shim stock with no ill effects on the blades. Great for opening those stubborn blister packaging that seems to be everywhere. A bottle cap gripper in the handle works well for stubborn caps on glue bottles. If you buy a two pack and put one pair in the kitchen you can sneak it into the household budget and not the hobby budget.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005G20HUA/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Gail in NM
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Latest posts

Back
Top