Brief Introduction to Hobby Knife
A hobby knife is a traditional tool that features a handle with a pointed, replaceable blade at one end that’s about an inch long. The blade is mounted on a pen-like aluminum body. As a handy tool for use in the creation of various craft projects, the hobby knife is a single-bladed knife that easily cuts through a variety of different materials, making the task of engaging in craft projects much easier. It may also be called a utility knife, or precision knife.
Characterized by a single sharp blade, the body or handle of the craft knife may be composed of wood or metal. The metal types of craft knives usually allow the blade to be inserted into the body by opening the two sections of the knife, placing the blade in the chamber, and then resealing the body with the use of a single screw. The blade can be retracted or exposed with the use of a slide mechanism on the side of the body.
The Usage of Hobby Blade
Hobby knives can be used in a variety of ways. They’re not just used by hobbyists, but by artists, designers, seamstresses, soap makers, and DIYers, to name a few. They’re used to trim, carve, cut, and make shapes in materials like plastic, paper, leather, and even wood. Here are some of the common uses for hobby knives: scrapbooking, cutting fabric, bookbinding, and wood carving.
Craft knives are used for cutting and shaping light materials, such as cards. Thus, the hobby knife is ideal for use with any type of paper craft. Whether the paper is relatively thin or is composed of stiff cardboard, a good quality craft knife will easily make a clean cut. This type of knife is also great for use with sheets of plastic of varying thicknesses, making it easy to score a seam and then pop the two sections apart. What’s more, they are very useful during the model-making stage of the design process.
The Types of Hobby Knife Blade
There are various hobby blades available that can attach to a hobby knife to be used for different tasks.
Light-duty blades are usually smaller and fit into a standard handle. They’re good for small projects that require precision and targeted cutting, carving, or shaping.
Medium-duty blades are a bit larger and have a wider shank. This means they require a different handle meant for a larger blade.
Be sure to note which handle is the right one for your blade as not all handles fit every blade.
Blades have industry-standard numbers. These numbers are usually indicated on the packaging of the blade. We listed some of the most popular ones below.
1. Large Fine Point Blade #2
A large fine point blade is are perfect blade for cutting and trimming thicker material, it’s made from carbon steel and usually used for trimming, cutting, linoleum, foam core, plastic, cardboard, plaster cast, cork, metal, stone, wood, balsa wood, rubber, wax, clay and more.
2. Micro Stencil Edge Blade #6
Micro stencil edge blade is a light duty blade made from carbon steel, usually used for cutting, trimming or scoring delicate materials, and best used on projects where targeted precision is needed.
3. Heavy Duty Whittling Blade #7
A whittling blade is a heavy-duty blade designed for trimming rough or coarse materials. It is capable of cutting through these types of materials due to its thick yet razor-sharp blade edge, which is longer than other types of blade.
4. Curved Edge Blade #10
A curved edge blade is a light-duty blade made from carbon steel, it can add maneuverability to larger-scale projects.This one is also called a general purpose blade, it can be used for multiple purposes, and is recommended if you are planning on buying only one type of blade. It enables the user to perform a variety of tasks, including heavy-duty cutting on thick materials, carving, slicing, and trimming.
5. Fine Point Blade #11
A fine point blade is a medium-duty blade with a fine point, which is perfect for precise and detailed cuts, due to its design. The fine, sharp point of the blade means it can be used to cut elaborate and intricate shapes without difficulty.
6. Scoring Blade, Stencil Blade #16
A scoring blade is a delicate instrument used for cutting and scratching notches or lines into a lightweight and delicate materials. Its unique blade shape allows it to easily change direction during a cut and enables users to perform intricate and detailed cuts without tearing the material being worked on. The double honed replacement blade has a strong tip and flex so you do not have to worry about breaking its edge and tip.
7. Chiselling Blade #17
There are two main types of chiseling blades - regular and angled. A regular blade can also come in light-duty and heavy-duty versions, which are smaller and larger respectively. A chiseling blade is designed with a thin profile for removing fine layers of material and creating detailed patterns in a workpiece.
8. Heavy Duty Chiseling Blade #18
Heavy duty chiseling blade is a medium duty blade made from carbon steel. As the name, it has a straight edge and is used to remove layers, shape materials, and for light chiseling. It’s also good for foam core, plastic, cardboard, balsa wood, rubber, wax, clay, plaster, and more.
9. Angled Chiselling Blade #19
These Sharp Edge Angled Blades are the perfect blade made from carbon steel for angled chiseling, shaving, cutting, and trimming. The 1-inch sharp edge gives you the ultimate precision that allows for heavy chiseling and shaping. The angled edge allows you to make more skillful cuts than your traditional chisel blade. The blade is coated with a thin layer of oil for rust protection.
10. Curved Edge Blade #22
The large curved edge blade made from carbon steel gives you the ultimate precision that allows you to make a more skillful cut than your traditional blade. It’s razor-sharp, and the curved edge is for added maneuverability. The blade is coated with a thin layer of oil for rust protection.
11. Deburring Blade #24
As the name suggests, a deburring blade is ideal for deburring, the process of removing any undesired raised edges or small pieces of material that are attached to a workpiece. Along with deburring, this blade can also be used for stripping (removing a top coating or layer from a workpiece) and cutting gaskets (a rubber sheet or ring which seals the junction between two surfaces). This is due to its sharp, tapered blade edge and fine point. Its design enables users to cut clean edges and tight corners.
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