X-acto choice ?

[sundayhero]

Hi,

I'm currently thinking to change my cheap modelling knife for a good genuine X-acto knife.

I'm a bit lost on the versions numbers, blades types, etc...

What all around (mostly for scenery modelling, cutting foam, foamboard, cork, cardboard, styrofoam, paper) model would you advise ?


Thank you for your help.

[matakishi]

I use a Stanley knife (box cutter to our American friends) for all my scenery needs. I use a scalpel with #10 blade for miniatures. I've never liked the blade angles on X-Acto knives.

[Hammers]

Get a proper xacto hilt where the fastening dohicky is of god-fearing, Christian aluminium. Some cheap knockoffs come plastic equivalents and are worthless.

While the standard blade has its uses I agree with matakishi that it is not as general purpose as it is marketed to bi. It is good for paper and pvc cutting, sculpting and had to reach scraping but thats it.

For carving and general deburring I recommend the #12 curved mini carving blade



For more  carving I suggest the #10 general purpose blad.



The #16 scoring...



...and the #17 chisel...



...I find almost indispensable to.

I stand by the box cutter to as a integral part of ones arsenal but it can replace an xacto, imo.

[Andrew May]

As Matakishi said, I use a Swann Morton scalpel with no.10 blades for most light, precise work but I'm mainly using it for delicate sculpting/shaping. A decent Stanley knife is my preferred thing for heavier work.

[Mitch K]

I use a series of Swann-Mortons: I use B3 handles,which are in my experience the easiest to use. They knock standard #3 and #7 handles into a cocked hat. I use a 10A blade as my go-to, and a 15 and 15A for delicate work.

For big, precise cuts I use a Swann PM8 with a #60 blade.

Above that, it's a Stanley knife.

Bigger than that, table saw!

These lot will supply what you want and are very reliable, based on several years dealing with them:
http://www.scalpelsandblades.co.uk/index.php

[Elk101]

I recently upgraded to xacto knives and found them much better than my other knives. I also got a foam board cutter which can be set to cut at 45 degree angles and it's been great. I think it's #X7747.

[sundayhero]

Thanks for the answers,


Concerning heavy cutter, I already have a japanese OLFA L1 model, with stanley blades. I'm very happy with it, now I'd like to find a high end modelling knife to complete it.


On every modelling website I go, they are speaking about X-acto, wich seems to be a good high end product too.

I especially want sharp and sturdy blades, to avoid any injuries. I never thought about surgical products.

I especially want something to cut cardboard and heavy paper, and maybe thin foamboard. The Xacto 45degrees cutting tool is very interesting.

I'd like to go for a genuine Xacto, at least to not die idiot (as we say in france), and finally discover this product after 15 years modelling. What model shoud I choose ?

Thanks

[Hellbeard]

I use #11 in a type 1 handle. I switch blades whenever it dulls. Every 3 to 5 sessions, I guess.

[Michi]

Have a look for German "Martor Boy" and compare prices. Blades are interchangeable...

[Glitzer]

I prefer scalpel blade #23 its great for cutting and sculpting.

[snitcythedog]

Hi,
I'm currently thinking to change my cheap modelling knife for a good genuine X-acto knife.
I'm a bit lost on the versions numbers, blades types, etc...
What all around (mostly for scenery modelling, cutting foam, foamboard, cork, cardboard, styrofoam, paper) model would you advise ?
Thank you for your help.

For official X-actos it does not really matter.  I have about fifteen different knives that fit the no 11 blades and I only use the one that is closest to hand.  Just purchase the blades in bulk.  X-acto has a 100 pack of the no. 11 blades so look for that one. 

For terrain work I use a razor cutter.  It fits a single straight edge razor blade which are cheap and easy to replace. 

Blades

Hope that helps.
Snitchy sends.

[Braz]

I use two metal blade holders marked differently and switch between them. One has the freshest, sharpest blade for sharp detailed cutting and the other has the older but still good enough blade for coarser work. Switch blades as soon as it becomes too dull. The freshest blade then becomes the older okay one. Buy in bulk; it's cheaper and you will need all the blades anyway. I use both Xacto and Excel no 11 blades for 90% of what I do (I should try some of the other blade types).  Both are great but prefer the Excel as it seems to keep a usable edge longer and the tip seems more durable (a totally anecdotal and circumstantial impression) as well as being cheaper.

I also use a variety of box cutters (Stanley/Olfa knives), especially for cardboard. Snap off the blades before it gets dull.

[sundayhero]

Thanks for your help !

I'll go for a X-acto with n11 blades, and we'll see how it is. Later I 'll try other brands, but for now I'd like to test this famous brand.

[Vermis]

Just to join in: I use Swann Morton knives, but for sharpening pencils. For modelling, I use a small mix. Pic here!

You can read the descriptions there too. I still use all three. The new one on the right is an excel knife. The latter two use #11 style blades for general cutting, scraping and so forth. Obviously the newer, sharper excel and impex blades get used more for cutting! I don't have many complaints about them, but I might give a curved blade a try after reading this topic.
The impex knife with the JE68 blade (#6 if you're buying excel, I notice) is used for lighter, finer cutting and flash-cleaning; but slightly dulled, is used a lot more for marking, cutting and scraping putty during and after sculpting. Useful when a blade with a similar fine point but a larger size, might be a bit awkward for inch-high models. It doesn't get used as much for general sculpting as my main tool, but it's still one of the must-haves in my sculpting kit.

And then there's the old stanley knife too, of course.

I don't think I've ever seen X-acto knives over here (I'll have to check next time I'm in Belfast) and I'm not sure if they're that common in UK webstores either. Is there much of a spike in quality? And is it a law that hobby knife brands have an X in the name...?

[sundayhero]

I don't know, I just know that X-acto is well known in graphics arts industry, and miniature modelling. It's why I'd like to test their quality.