File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
How long do you guys go between changing blades? Is it just a "its pulling instead of cutting" thing or do you just toss them after a certain number of projects?
>> Anonymous
>>130491
I have an E-xacto brand knife, and I thought it was okay... until it gave me this huge blister on my finger... which was filled with pus... and hurt like a bitch... and the blades break after, like, 20 minutes... Moral of the story? Dont go E-xacto.
>> Anonymous
has anyone tried sharpening them??? I'll try that on mine.
>> Anonymous
>>130494
I've been using the exact same X-Acto blade for a year now. It's dull, but it has never broken. Also I have received no blisters. Maybe you just apply way too much pressure?
>> Anonymous
>>130506
A few quick circles for both sides against a cheap aluminum oxide sharpening block, deburring by dragging against the side of boot heel. Do this every 5-6 pages of cutting after the original edge dulls. Only need to keep about 1/8" of the tip sharp for papercraft.
>> Anonymous
As an Architecture student, i've been regularly using x-acto blades for 4 years now and they are excellent.

To the posters above, if youre getting a blister from use, x-acto sells more ergonomic bladeholders with gel linings that I have found to be exrtaordinary with hours of use. As far as blade breakage, the only time i've ever seen such an event, it involved excessive pressure which is unnecessary with a fresh, sharp blade.

Changing blades really depends on how many cuts you make and through which materials you cut. As far as papercraft, craft blades can easily last for several hundred cuts. Considering the cost of blades when purchased in bulk (I usually purchase by the hundred), the craftsmanship of your models will be quite apparent with frequent renewal.
>> Anonymous
I've never actually managed to break or bend a blade doing anything that wouldn't be easier with a knife or scissors. I stop using a blade on card stock when it becomes a chore, so I shuffle them into the printer paper only pack, and then I throw them out when it takes more than one slice to cut regular paper.
>> Anonymous
>>130450

Lol, how's this for irony - i use that same knife...

but on topic, i just change whenever it isn't cutting anymore. if it seems like its gonna damage my model, i think its time to change over.
>> Anonymous
I like to use a dull razor, when i cut myself, so I can really feel the pain.
>> Anonymous
>>130880
No, sir. Trust me, to cut yourself you want to use a SHARP blade. The sharper the blade, the more it goes into the flesh, causing a longer lasting pain.
>> Anonymous
>>130921
Thanks, but I am sure it wont last as long as the pain in my heart. QQ
>> Anonymous
>>131035
/po/ - emo
>> Anonymous
>>131035
I know how that is.

>>131041
I think we all have a little bit of emo in us all, I just have too much.
>> Anonymous
I like to use my older blades as a glue brush, so when it starts getting a little dull I switch it out for a sharp one and put the old one in my "brush".
>> Anonymous
>>131054
I like to tape my old dull blades into my diary, so i can reminisce about cutting myself. Seeing the dried blood on the dull blade really brings my to almost complete ecstasy.
>> Anonymous
>>131123
I like to tape the bloody fingernails of my victims to the pages of my diary.
>> Anonymous
>>130506
You can't sharpen these blades, they're made to stay sharp (most brands anyway), and shatter if you hit them the wrong way, or bend them. Why would you risk finger injury vs getting new ones for 2$?
>> Anonymous
>>131144never tried sharpening and is embarrassed so is denouncing the idea of sharpening to maintain pride.
fix'd

$2 can rapidly become $100, I used to go through 5 blades of week between paper, resin, wood and plaster. Put a fine grit smooth faced stone into my dremel and in a minute I've sharpened $2 worth of blades that no longer cost $100 a year.
New blades are used for extremely fine finishing work, otherwise re-sharpened blades have saved me $100s in the last decade. Those $100s go into kits, ink refill, cardstock and other supplies. Sucks to be you, /po/oper.
>> Anonymous
>>131144
Because band-aids are cheap.
>> Anonymous
I cut myself more often when pulling out a new one, or when it escapes the workbench and kamikazes. Sharpening has had no difference on finger cutting. X-acto brand does seem to be the most brittle, lose the tips too often, then I re-grind and sharpen anyway.
Also; #11 blades are good, but 2cm of razor sharp edge... and the material is a fraction of a millimeter, making the blade easily 200 times the thickness of what it's cutting. Which is like cutting a cake with 160foot long knife; fuck yeah if you're a clumsy fucktard there's gonna be blood.
>> Anonymous
>>131144You can't sharpen these blades
Seriously, you can rub the blades against a wetstone to sharpen it without breaking it. If you can't, that has nothing to do with the blade, but with your motoric skills.
Same with getting blisters and stuff like that: don't try to squeeze the moisture out of your knives, cutting through paper should go easy without you cramping your hand and fingers.
>> Anonymous
>>131163
lose the tips too often
My friend had the same problem, until I taught him to cut the paper, not the cutting mat. He was pressing way too hard, so the blade went through the paper, and halfway into the rubber of the cutting mat. Then when he turned the blade to cut the corner, the tip of his #11 blades would always break off. Well duh...
It happens to him "less often" now, still happens sometimes, because it's just such a pointy tip. But it's not like the blade breaks in half, maybe the first quarter of a millimeter breaks of, leaving you with a new pointy (and sharp again lol) edge. But it's the same as with all things: use what's readily available to you. If you can't get X-acto knives, use something else, breakaway blades or box cutters are just as fine.
>> Anonymous
I like using a boxcutter blade for not to detailed parts. For the really small parts or parts with lots of curving I use the X-acto one. So I really dont have a need to change blades often.
>> Anonymous
>>131254
I haven't broken the tips during papercrafting. When capping, dropping or non-paper cutting, but not when cutting paper. Only those who HAVE NO FUCKING BUSNESS PAPERCRAFTING will break the tip while cutting paper.
If you fail in this way I recommend /d/ and playing with your soft dull instrument.
>> Anonymous
>>131148
Jew.
>> Anonymous
>>130454
me too i cant find blades any where here
yay Europe
>> Anonymous
i have a good sharp pair of scsiors i use for larger pieces then finish the detail work with my x-acto (ive never had any problems with x-acto as long as ive had them) and i change blades when they stop really cutting + a new blade just feels good when you can cut with out even trying =)
>> european glue fails Anonymous
>>131497
LOL europe, lrn2 GLUE
>> Anonymous
>>131562
LOL (subjects home country here), lrn2 STAY ON TOPIC
>> Anonymous
sage for nationalistic fucktards