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Re: Big Lots
Board: Tools of the Trade
Reply to: #114467 by FFersCraftyWife
Aug 1, 2007 4:48am
Thread (disabled) Board
The Big Lots ink pads are crap. Don't waste your money. If you have a Giant Tiger near you, they have their version of Lock n Locks for 99 cents and 1.99, depending on the shape you want. We just stocked up after the Northern NY gather.

LW PhD
"Nice Counts"
Re: Big Lots
Board: Tools of the Trade
Reply to: #114530 by Pioneer Spirit
Aug 1, 2007 11:23am
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote I'm still using my 35 year old X-actos and newer modified swivel knife however.


Hah! I think one of my X-Actos is about that old, too. I have a whole box of #11 blades for it, left over from a place I worked at having them in stock for use by the draftsmen -- they primarily used them to trim up the electric erasers.

I generally find the X-Actos a bit clunky, though, especially compared to these el cheapo razor knives with a #3 blade in it.

I've never used a swivel knife. How do you use it? And how did you modify it?
Re: Big Lots
Board: Tools of the Trade
Reply to: #114430 by Kirbert
Aug 3, 2007 6:35am
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote ...in the tools section I found a "51 PC HOBBY KNIFE SET" by Pro-Source...

...One of the handles has the tightening knob on the back end of the handle. As a result of the collet running the full length of the handle, you can fully bury some of the blades, notably the double-ended ones. You can sink so much of the blade into the handle that only the very point sticks out, so you can grip it closer to the point than before.


It should perhaps be noted that this handle works best with particular types of blades. The standard #11 X-Acto blade is widest at the very base of the cutting edge, just above the end that goes into the handle. This area is too wide to fit down inside this handle with the full-length collet, so those blades won't go into this handle any farther than into any other handle. So, they work the same in this handle as any other handle.

The blades for which the benefit shows are the blades that are no wider anywhere than the part that goes into the handle. In a regular handle, these blades won't go far in anyway, they hit the bottom of the slot in the collet. But in this handle, you can slide them in as far as you please.

Of the 42 blades that come with this set, about 15 fit this description. Only about 8 of those would be useful for stamp carving, in my estimation. Interestingly, the blade that is chucked up in this handle when you buy the package is not one of these 15 blades, it's a blade that won't go far into the handle.

I did find one really nice use for this handle! A couple of years ago, a doctor gave me several #11 scalpel blades. They are clearly a step higher in quality than most of the razor knife blades we get, since the broad flat sides are very shiny, almost a mirror finish, and each blade comes wrapped in a sterile foil packet.

Unfortunately, they haven't actually worked very well for rubber stamp carving. The problem is that they're a bit too long and slender, and they have a slot through the mounting end that runs half the length of the blade. As a result, when you chuck one up in an X-Acto handle, they're sticking out too far, and part of the slot is exposed which makes them rather flexible. All in all, they work, but they don't work well, so I've never put them to much use.

But with this handle with the tightening knob on the back end, all that changes. Since these scalpel blades are narrow over their entire length, I can bury one as far as I want, leaving just 1/2" or so protruding. That way I can grip the tool close enough to the cutting tip to do very detailed work, and the tip is held very rigidly and securely.
Re: Big Lots
Board: Tools of the Trade
Reply to: #115035 by Kirbert
Aug 3, 2007 6:51am
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...each blade comes wrapped in a sterile foil packet.


So... do you use a fresh blade for each "patient" or do they have to share dirty scalpels?
Re: Modifying Swivel blade
Board: Tools of the Trade
Reply to: #115042 by Pioneer Spirit
Aug 3, 2007 7:15am
Thread (disabled) Board
Thanks so much for this tip, PS. I had one of these swivel blades and it wasn't getting much use..but now I can see a million ways I can use this! Thank you thank you thank you!

LW PhD *whose tools have to EARN a place in her letterboxing hobbybox*
"Nice Counts"
Re: Big Lots
Board: Tools of the Trade
Reply to: #115040 by BrewHiker
Aug 3, 2007 7:19am
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote So... do you use a fresh blade for each "patient" or do they have to share dirty scalpels?


A couple of years ago, I bought a set at Dollar Tree that came with two handles and six blades for $1. One of those blades became my favorite, I've been using it exclusively for carving ever since. I've sharpened it a couple of times, although I can't actually claim it ever really needed it. It's still going strong.

Now all of a sudden I have an embarrassment of riches. From this 51-piece set, there are at least ten blades that work as well as that one, and two that work significantly better. And now I suspect my scalpel blades will also work better.

At this point I'm not sure what I'm gonna do. Only one of my scalpel blades has ever been taken out of its foil wrapper, and I expect it's gonna stay that way for a while.

In theory, a blade should last nearly forever carving rubber, because there is nothing in the rubber that might dull the blade. If you mistreat the blade, though, obviously you're going to have trouble with it and may need replacements. Don't drop it on its point on the concrete floor, and don't use it to cut anything that might dull it.
Re: Big Lots
Board: Tools of the Trade
Reply to: #115042 by Pioneer Spirit
Aug 3, 2007 7:23am
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote
Quote I've never used a swivel knife. How do you use it? And how did you modify it?


Put a piece of pink stuff inside the barrel at the base of the swivel blade and then tighten the handle. The blade can't swivel anymore so you have a tiny fixed blade.


Hah! I can understand how to use a tiny fixed blade!

Did you ever understand why the blade swivels? Is there some application where this is a desirable feature? Did it swivel really smoothly, like it's on ball bearings, or would it be likely to jam and catch while cutting?
Re: Big Lots
Board: Tools of the Trade
Reply to: #115050 by Pioneer Spirit
Aug 3, 2007 7:55am
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote
Quote Did you ever understand why the blade swivels?


I believe it's for carving around stencils and such.


IOW, using a stencil to carve a shape out of some other material? Why would this call for a swivel?

Gee, now I kinda want to try one. I have a whole bunch of plastic stencils laying around. Where can one buy one of these swivelling knives?
Re: Big Lots
Board: Tools of the Trade
Reply to: #115055 by Kirbert
Aug 3, 2007 9:22am
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote Where can one buy one of these swivelling knives?



Coluzzle is a stencil style that is used for cardmaking and scrapbooking. You can find the system at any Michaesl Joanns or Hobby Lobby. You can also buy it from a consultant that sells either stamps or scrapbooking.
The swivel makes it very easy to follow the Pattern. Here's a link

http://www.coluzzle.com/products/catalog.php?cl=coluzzle&scl=starter%20kits

deniserows
Re: Big Lots
Board: Tools of the Trade
Reply to: #115055 by Kirbert
Aug 3, 2007 9:26am
Thread (disabled) Board
Where can one buy one of these swivelling knives?


I saw 'em in Wal-Mart in the model section of the toy department, which is where ours have their x-acto knives and stuff.
Re: Big Lots
Board: Tools of the Trade
Reply to: #115042 by Pioneer Spirit
Aug 3, 2007 7:41pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Thaks for the tip,I'll have to try that. I like the idea of that tiny blade.

Shiloh