Tools to use instead of a knife

[YesIHaveAHammer]

Knives are obviously very versatile and often at hand, but they have their downsides. Skill and attention is required, and it's relatively easy to cut or mark nearby things you didn't intend to - including yourself.

So what tools are a better alternative?

• Electrician's scissors
• Workshop scissors
• Shears (normal/bypass type, i.e. plier with a scissor front end)
• Anvil shears
• Wire stripping pliers (dedicated, or as a feature on another plier)
• Tubing/PEX pipe cutter (may be ratcheting)
• Cordless rotary box cutter

 

[The Cobbler]

depends on the job at hand I'd say

 

[YesIHaveAHammer]

Of course.

I mean if you're in the workshop and have other tools available. Still carry a knife, so not replacing it.

 

[four.cycle]

I usually have a knife at hand.
In those instances where I did not have a knife at hand, I have availed myself to:
- rocks
- seashells
- bones (scapula works best)

.... I'm sure I'll remember more later...

 

[Shiftless]

Don’t use the tip of a $100+ knife to open a paint can. On second thought, don’t use ANY knife to open a paint can. If and when the tip breaks off it might fly through the air and hit you or somebody else in the face. If you don’t have one of those tools that paint stores give away, use that crappy old screwdriver you got from who knows where.

In a bulk tool buy, I got a ‘70s vintage Buck 112 that had the original blade tip cleanly snapped off. Bummer! Buck replaced the blade but the new one lacks the old date code.

 

[niget2002]

Angle grinder with a cutoff wheel?

I'm not sure what you're looking for here. Every cutting object has its place in the shop or there wouldn't be so many ways of accomplishing a similar task.

 

[1Bad55Chevy]

Throatless shear work better then a knife on sheetmetal.

 

[YesIHaveAHammer]

I'm not sure what you're looking for here

Difficult question to ask maybe.

I mean, are there tools that others may not know about, which you can tell them about, that may be an improvement on them using a knife for certain tasks.

Like that rotary powered box cutter, I'd never have known they existed had someone not post one here a little while ago.

 

[lardy1]

Table saw.

 

[YesIHaveAHammer]

Flush cutting pliers for cable ties is another.

 

[YesIHaveAHammer]

Table saw.

You're using a knife to do something for which a table saw is better suited?

 

[niget2002]

Difficult question to ask maybe.

I mean, are there tools that others may not know about, which you can tell them about, that may be an improvement on them using a knife for certain tasks.

Lile that rotary powered box cutter, I'd never have known they existed had someone not post one here a little while ago.

Gotcha. In that case, I give you the utility cutter. This thing is awesome for making sharp cuts.

Husky All-Purpose Utility Cutter 5031 - The Home Depot https://share.google/HrUnI2nDLUzwUzLpC

 

[Shiftless]

You're using a knife to do something for which a table saw is better suited?

It is possible to dig through a concrete wall with a modified spoon. It just takes time.

 

[AEAdam]

This is a weird thread

 

[Shiftless]

I usually have a knife at hand.
In those instances where I did not have a knife at hand, I have availed myself to:
- rocks
- seashells
- bones (scapula works best)

.... I'm sure I'll remember more later...

Me too.
If I am wearing pants, I have a knife handy clipped in a pocket.

 

[PCustoms]

This is a weird thread

Edit: yep

 

[larry_g]

You're using a knife to do something for which a table saw is better suited?

cutting ridged foam insulation..

 

[PCustoms]

Knives are obviously very versatile and often at hand, but they have their downsides. Skill and attention is required, and it's relatively easy to cut or mark nearby things you didn't intend to - including yourself.

So what tools are a better alternative?

• Electrician's scissors
• Workshop scissors
• Shears (normal/bypass type, i.e. plier with a scissor front end)
• Anvil shears
• Wire stripping pliers (dedicated, or as a feature on another plier)
• Tubing/PEX pipe cutter (may be ratcheting)
• Cordless rotary box cutter

You're using a knife to do something for which a table saw is better suited?

This is a little ridiculous. Every tool you post above is purposely designed for a task, and will be better at that task then a knife.

 

[micromind]

A meat axe usually works.......

 

[PCustoms]

 

[Shiftless]

 

[AEAdam]

Still don’t really understand this thread, but maybe this will help.

I’m doing a lot of carpentry, home building/restoration. I carry a Kershaw shuffle 2 which has a very short “tanto” style blade that gives me 2 flat edges. I find it more helpful for what I do than a normal pocket knife with a thinner curved blade. I don’t need a weapon in my pocket. I’m not stabbing anything or skinning an animal for dinner.

I always have that knife and keep it sharp. But other tools I use for similar purposes include my trusty Stanley no 60 1” **** chisel, which I’ll grab to open boxes, or especially those frustrating clear plastic packages. Keeping it sharp is pretty key to its usefulness, like all edge tools.

The other tool I sharpen, but not to a fine edge is my putty knife. It’s sharp enough to double as a blade for some tasks (like opening boxes).

I also sharpen utility knife blades and single edged razor blades used in paint scrapers. Both are pretty soft and sharpen easily.

In my wood shop, I find a small light hatchet to be invaluable. That thing is like a kitchen knife. You can cut or chop with it. I hew boards occasionally, as it can be faster and makes no dust or noise. But my hatchet is sharp enough to use like a slick. I can push it and make shavings with it. That’s a bit unusual maybe.

 

[PCustoms]

Still don’t really understand this thread,

Go look at OP thread history. Make sense now?

 

[mike93lx]

Go look at OP thread history. Make sense now?

When you have a brand, it's important to cultivate it

 

[Lassen Forge]

Of course, the quesiton is what IS a knife by this definition? I was thinking lino knife or hookbill, but those are knives.
You also have various scissors or clippers, but they are in an aspect the same - sharpened edge tool.
You have the Ships scraper (which I was used yesterday) but it has a sharpened edge, like a knife.

Maybe a laser? Hot wire? IDK, I usually have a variety of cutting edge tools either on me or within easy reach, it all depends on what the intended use is.

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

I’ll play. Jokari “Cable knife” 28H Standard.

Cable Knife No. 28H Standard for stripping round cables 8 - 28 mm Ø 5/16" - 1.1/8" Ø | JOKARI

Suitable for stripping all common round cables, often used for NYM-J, NYY-J, NHXMH-J, e.g. 3x1.5 or 5x2.5

jokari.de

You can do all of this with anything from a pocket knife, electrician‘s pocket knife, box cutter, (…) to a small fixed blade (electrician’s) knife. And maybe even other tools.

But here we are, Jokari “Cable knife” 28H Standard:





Set depth.



Plunge.



Cut horizontal.



Cut vertical.



The result is a perfectly cut mantle without disturbing/marring the insulated conductors inside.







I mean NYM is really easy to just score and break but it gets the use across.

Also works fantastic when you want to sectionally dismantle.

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[niget2002]

I’ll play. Jokari “Cable knife” 28H Standard.

Cable Knife No. 28H Standard for stripping round cables 8 - 28 mm Ø 5/16" - 1.1/8" Ø | JOKARI

Suitable for stripping all common round cables, often used for NYM-J, NYY-J, NHXMH-J, e.g. 3x1.5 or 5x2.5

jokari.de

You can do all of this with anything from a pocket knife, electrician‘s pocket knife, box cutter, (…) to a small fixed blade (electrician’s) knife. And maybe even other tools.

But here we are, Jokari “Cable knife” 28H Standard:





Set depth.



Plunge.



Cut horizontal.



Cut vertical.



The result is a perfectly cut mantle without disturbing/marring the insulated conductors inside.







I mean NYM is really easy to just score and break but it gets the use across.

Also works fantastic when you want to sectionally dismantle.

Kind regards,
Olli

****. I knew this thread would end up costing me money.

 

[mike93lx]

****. I knew this thread would end up costing me money.

I only ever see those used by European sparkies due to the cable types they run. I guess if you run a lot of flexible cordage in the US they could be nice to have

 

[niget2002]

I only ever see those used by European sparkies due to the cable types they run. I guess if you run a lot of flexible cordage in the US they could be nice to have

I'm do a lot of electronics projects where I need to strip 2 -> 4 wire cables. I usually just grab a box cutter to cut the outer sheath off, but it never fails I'll nick one of the inner wires when I do it.

 

[logical]

For basic EDC, a backpack cutting torch covers most of my needs.

 

[PCustoms]

For basic EDC, a backpack cutting torch covers most of my needs.

You should get a thigh holster for the left too, it really lifts and separates

 

[mike93lx]

You should get a thigh holster for the left too, it really lifts and separates

Need to leave the left pocket accessible for donuts

 

[AEAdam]

Me too.
If I am wearing pants, I have a knife handy clipped in a pocket.

Where is your knife clipped when you aren’t wearing pants? Asking for a friend.

 

[rmanrman]

Plasma torch. For the more difficult stuff

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

Martor Rapid 594 cartridge knife & nozzle cutter as shown here:

Share unique tools others may not know about

I used a tool like that on my property out in the country where someone started cutting the padlock off my gate and illegally dumping on my property, so I spread a bunch of those around and dumped grass clippings/leaves on top of them on the inlet road just inside my gate. Police caught the guy...

www.garagejournal.com

Martor “Snitty” paper & foil cutter as shown here:

Show your new tool arrivals

We went by Menards for a few things this afternoon. After buying the 10" pair of these and liking the way they felt, I grabbed the 6" pair for $6.49.

www.garagejournal.com

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[bwringer]

Don’t use the tip of a $100+ knife to open a paint can. On second thought, don’t use ANY knife to open a paint can. If and when the tip breaks off it might fly through the air and hit you or somebody else in the face. If you don’t have one of those tools that paint stores give away, use that crappy old screwdriver you got from who knows where.

If you're my college roommate, don't use the $150 chef's knife my Mom gave me for my birthday, pretty much the only precious thing I owned, to pry apart frozen hamburgers and irretrievably bend the tip.

No, it's NOT "just a knife".



As to what little I can make out of the actual topic, perhaps we could discuss the "spudger", a thin, strong, plastic or metal tool intended for prying parts and devices apart. It's essential for things like electronics repair. AKA an "opening tool".

iSesamo is probably the most popular brand of metal spudger, with a very thin, very strong and springy blade of perfectly deburred stainless steel.

iSesamo Opening Tool: Flexible Phone Opener

Springy steel blade features a smart tip design and a handle with a great no-slip grip. Effortlessly pops open iPod, iPad, iPhone and many other tablets, smartphones, and devices.

www.ifixit.com

iFixit also sells a lot of high-quality spudgers and opening tools in general for poking and prying your widgetry.

Prying and Opening Tools | iFixit

<p>Safely remove components like screens, batteries, motherboards, and more with professional opening and pry tools. Designed to fix iPhones, iPads, Android phones, PC laptops, and other gadgets, these tools reduce the risk of damaging fragile parts.</p>

www.ifixit.com

There's a similar, larger pry tool, often called "Superman's fingernail", a thin strong blade intended for separating sheet metal in auto body work and other work with sheet metal. I think the proper name is "skin wedge prybar", and it's useful for all sorts of prying.

https://www.amazon.com/ARES-10099-Double-Curved-Straight/dp/B0BRQRDB2J/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[PCustoms]

Need to leave the left pocket accessible for donuts

Tactical Cargo pants finally make sense

 

[WisJim]

In my wood shop, I find a small light hatchet to be invaluable. That thing is like a kitchen knife. You can cut or chop with it. I hew boards occasionally, as it can be faster and makes no dust or noise. But my hatchet is sharp enough to use like a slick. I can push it and make shavings with it. That’s a bit unusual maybe.

One of my grandfathers had been a carpenter and used a hatchet a lot to trim boards etc., things that I might use a table saw to do, such as rip a piece of vertical trim to width. He would just take his razor sharp hatch and hew the edge of the board to size with the board nailed in place. It was a broad hatchet, so flat on one side. I still have it around someplace, although probably not as sharp as he used it.

 

[finn]

I have a common single edge razor blade on top of almost every toolbox and workbench. I think I use the razor blade 100 times for every time I use my pocket knife or a scraper.

 

[rust in the eye]

This is a weird thread

Especially given the OP's screen name.