Utility Knife

[scratchedup]

Has anyone found a standard utility knife with standard replaceable blade that really holds the blade firmly.

They all seem to have slop ...blade movement under heavy cutting. I find this detracts from the usefulness of the tool and its annoying.

Seems one really needs a separate tighten screw close to the blade for extra holding power.

 

[lardy1]

I have a couple old Stanley's with the fixed blade. They aren't the safest thing to leave laying around loose in a drawer but they are very stable.

 

[kd3pc]

I have a couple of Sheffield folding cutters, with belt spring that are really good, almost as good as my 40 year old Stanley that Lardy mentions above. Same warning about both, they will cut you.

 

[rlitman]

Has anyone found a standard utility knife with standard replaceable blade that really holds the blade firmly...

In a standard utility knife blade? Not that I'm aware of. But there are other replaceable blade standards that do clamp firmly. Like firmly enough to carve with.

Take an industrial leather knife for example:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0036LKEYC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[jimmyin3D]

I use a Stanley 10-049 folding blade knife, the blade is replaceable and is very strong. I carry it with me everyday and love how compact and sharp it is, also i believe they are still made in USA or at least mine is. It’s about 4” folded and 6.5” with the blade out

 

[Minnesota Steve]

The Husky folding knife is not too bad. It holds the blade well, and it's still easy to change blades. There's no storage on the knife for extra blades which is about it's only downside.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-S...ack-Utility-Knife-Set-2-Piece-99770/309614771

 

[The Cobbler]

those old Stanley's are awesome.
I have a couple of the cast iron ones.

 

[Shootinok]

The old Stanley 199 fixed blade is probably the least amount of blade movement as others have said.

Folders do have their place, but if you’re cutting through some serious materials (say a stall mat or a Tire) you do need something that’s solid.

I like the Lutz #82 for a retractable blade knife. It’s pretty beefy and good quality.
Definitely watch for the sides to have an interlocking flap over the blade in the casting. Cheapos will split open over the blade if cast in even halves.
I’ve wanted to try the Lenox gold as they look good too, but haven’t been driven enough to buy one when I’m happy with the Lutz ones.
The Lenox blades are awesome.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[kctyphoon]

Best utility knife out there is the Milwaukee fastback... hands down.

 

[OHMS LAW]

Yup the fastback is great.

 

[MarvinBerry]

I have a couple fastbacks, they're ok I guess... Light duty, like cutting tape on Amazon boxes is fine but always feel like I'm gonna slice my hand open. Kinda small for my big paws, not comfortable.

Fixed blade? No movement?

Stanley 199. Keep one on top of my chest & used almost daily.

 

[kctyphoon]

I have a couple fastbacks, they're ok I guess... Light duty, like cutting tape on Amazon boxes is fine but always feel like I'm gonna slice my hand open. Kinda small for my big paws, not comfortable.

Fixed blade? No movement?

Stanley 199. Keep one on top of my chest & used almost daily.

Therre are like 4 or 5 different fastback versions. Definitely not "light duty". I still think the original is the best.

 

[WittHay]

Either the straight fixed blade Stanley/ SBD Craftsman both made in USA or the more curved Lennox. Most of the time i use a 25mm OLFA made in Japan

 

[rlitman]

The old Stanley 199 fixed blade is probably the least amount of blade movement as others have said.

Folders do have their place, but if you’re cutting through some serious materials (say a stall mat or a Tire) you do need something that’s solid...

I guess. But if I'm cutting through a stall mat or tire, I'll be using a power tool. Probably a blade on my oscillating multitool. Even with a fixed blade, these sorts of cuts with a knife are just too dangerous for my tastes.

Either the straight fixed blade Stanley/ SBD Craftsman both made in USA or the more curved Lennox. Most of the time i use a 25mm OLFA made in Japan

I've got a bunch of Olfa snap-off knives (both 25mm and 9mm). But I wouldn't consider them a substitute for a fixed blade.

 

[Ton ton]

I got a Snap on squeeze action utility knife that takes a special blade. I put the wrong blade in and jammed it. I tore it apart and couldn't get back together.

 

[shelteredV]

if it doesn't take a regular blade, that seems to be a waste of money.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

I've used a Stanley 99 for almost 50 years,the same one. But I picked up a Bessey lock back, it's pretty good.

 

[neophyte]

I guess. But if I'm cutting through a stall mat or tire, I'll be using a power tool. Probably a blade on my oscillating multitool. Even with a fixed blade, these sorts of cuts with a knife are just too dangerous for my tastes.



I've got a bunch of Olfa snap-off knives (both 25mm and 9mm). But I wouldn't consider them a substitute for a fixed blade.

Either the straight fixed blade Stanley/ SBD Craftsman both made in USA or the more curved Lennox. Most of the time i use a 25mm OLFA made in Japan

I agree.

I’m not certain, but I believe the Snap off Japanese style utility knives use three standardized blade sizes that most manufacturers adhere to.
Some but not all the manufactuers of the “Snap-Off” knife designs manufacture a variety of blade types including Stainless and Carbon steel versions, as well as one piece blades for yse were the blade might get twisted, and you specifically don’t want the blades to snap off.
You can also find saw blades that fit the handles, and usually blades with more acute points for delicate cutting tasks.
There may also be serated blades as well, but I’m not sure.
Between Olfa, and NT Cutter you can usually find a decent assortment of the blade styles.

 

[CobraRed]

The best utility knife is having 10 utility knives

 

[rlitman]

The best utility knife is having 10 utility knives

Ain't that the truth. The same goes for Sharpies, carpenter's pencils and tape measures.

 

[HondaCBMan]

Best utility knife out there is the Milwaukee fastback... hands down.

Therre are like 4 or 5 different fastback versions. Definitely not "light duty". I still think the original is the best.

What made the original the best? I recently got a set of the new ones. They seem okay so far. Like that they upgraded the blade release, so it's harder to accidentally press,

 

[M6erfan]

Either the straight fixed blade Stanley/ SBD Craftsman both made in USA or the more curved Lennox. Most of the time i use a 25mm OLFA made in Japan

I was going to say OLFA too. Great knife, no blade movement I can discern. I have the standard 25mm non HD version.

I wonder how solid the blade holding is on a carpet/roofing type knife. Like the Delphin, Gundlach, etc. 'shark' knives.

 

[Lyt]

I use to make architectural models and needed no deflection in my blades. My go-to became the Stanley Classic 99 as I tested many and it was the most deflection-free utility knife out of the bunch. I don't do models anymore, so I use a Olfa 9mm knife with NT Cutter blades for general use. I find NT Cutter makes better blades than Olfa.

 

[kctyphoon]

What made the original the best? I recently got a set of the new ones. They seem okay so far. Like that they upgraded the blade release, so it's harder to accidentally press,

Actually didnt know they released the new revamped version yet. But i think it was the fastback, fastback2 , fastback 3? (Maybe) and that mini version. I like the original just for the size. It doesn’t hold any spare blades, but because it doesnt, its thinner. Less intrusive to carry in your pocket everyday. True one handed use, absolutely no slop in the thing at all. What’s nice with them is it keeps the blade away from your hand too. Its really the only folding utility knife i ever had enough confindence in that there was NO way it the blade would slip, or the knife would separate of fail in some way that would result in some serious stitches. You’re not holding those things where you have fingers wrapped under the half of the blade thats not in use. IMO those are the safest utility knives out there. Just in general design, and the fact it’s SO EASY and SO FAST to close, you actually WILL as soon as your done making the cut.

 

[WittHay]

I was going to say OLFA too. Great knife, no blade movement I can discern. I have the standard 25mm non HD version.

I wonder how solid the blade holding is on a carpet/roofing type knife. Like the Delphin, Gundlach, etc. 'shark' knives.

I had to look up the shark knives. We have a Canadian company called Richard that makes flooring tools but different design than these knives.

The Gundlach looks like a solid tool. Might work for the OP

 

[Climatecreator]

This is my favorite and EDC on the HVAC trade. https://amzn.to/2KDXT30 I use it almost daily but good luck finding one now I haven't seen them in forever best stability of any pocket clip utility knife for sure.

CC

 

[FSrepair&fabrication]

Im a big fan of Lenox for cutting tools/ consumables. The Lenox utility knives and hose cutters are my favorite. And Lenox brand razor blades (gold edge) seem to hold their edge the longest

 

[PugetDude]

Stanley 10-399 Swivel-lock Fixed blade knife. Very rigid blade mount, very easy to to change blades without tools.
I hate retractable knives, they always want to collapse when I bear down on the grip when cutting.

 

[Ton ton]

Nice thread.

 

[Ainsley]

I'm partial to the Lenox Utility knives, folding, retractable, or fixed blade... they all have their place.

 

[HondaCBMan]

Actually didnt know they released the new revamped version yet. But i think it was the fastback, fastback2 , fastback 3? (Maybe) and that mini version. I like the original just for the size. It doesn’t hold any spare blades, but because it doesnt, its thinner. Less intrusive to carry in your pocket everyday. True one handed use, absolutely no slop in the thing at all. What’s nice with them is it keeps the blade away from your hand too. Its really the only folding utility knife i ever had enough confindence in that there was NO way it the blade would slip, or the knife would separate of fail in some way that would result in some serious stitches. You’re not holding those things where you have fingers wrapped under the half of the blade thats not in use. IMO those are the safest utility knives out there. Just in general design, and the fact it’s SO EASY and SO FAST to close, you actually WILL as soon as your done making the cut.

Yeah the new blade release is on the other side and it has a bar over it (to prevent accidental pressing). The belt clip is also changed. From what I hear the flipping action isn't as smooth as the older version. But I haven't tried the older version to know.

The new ones are in HomeDepots holiday 2 pack with 50 blades promo.

 

[lardy1]

Old school awesome and stable as hell. It weighs nearly a half pound.

 

[frank001]

Has anyone found a standard utility knife with standard replaceable blade that really holds the blade firmly.


I would drill and tap an 8-32 hole about 3/8" or 1/2" from where the blade exits the holder. Then put a screw in the hole that is long enough to contact the blade and hold it in position.

 

[d.mcfarland]

^^ Set screw style it sounds like.

 

[Fialaja]

Hyde 42080 great knife nice grip, easy blade change.

 

[Alaniho]

I've got through a lot of knives on the farm and the best i have used for durability are the 'Dolphin' style knives. They are coming more from the floor laying trades and are usually found in shops with the flooring accessories instead of the tool aisles. They are very cheap too, mine was less than £10 when i got it. I like the fastback too though and use it round the house as a boxcutter.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QAS8K3A/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Shiftless]

Like others, I prefer these Stanley 199s.
I pick them up whenever I see ‘em at garage sales. I probably have 4 or 5. I have one or two retractable Stanleys but those get no use.
Of course I don’t carry the 199s. My Buck 112 is almost always in my pocket.
The Stanleys reside in a small shallow drawer in my rollaway only a step away from my workbench.

 

[kctyphoon]

Yeah the new blade release is on the other side and it has a bar over it (to prevent accidental pressing). The belt clip is also changed. From what I hear the flipping action isn't as smooth as the older version. But I haven't tried the older version to know.

The new ones are in HomeDepots holiday 2 pack with 50 blades promo.

That definitely looks like a smaller one.

 

[Ton ton]

Sweet knives.

 

[Shootinok]

Here’s a 199 that got the paint stripped and polished.
This one stays in easy reach on the peg board above my bench for opening packaging.
I like the blades without a point as it’s not as easy to damage whatever’s inside the pkg.
I know you can buy the rounded tip blades but I have so many blades, I just bump the end with a grinder.