Knives/Knife Blades
Utility Knives for Cutting and Jobsite Tasks
There are a few tools you'll use on every job, every tile, every drywall, every roofing, every flooring, every packaging - and one of those is a utility knife. Our range of utility knives at Tool Academy includes a variety of blades ranging from disposable to auto-lock, from a knife to a box cutter - many that will last a whole decade of jobsite abuse.
Cardboard, drywall, carpet, vinyl flooring, roofing felt, insulation, and shrink wrap are cut with a utility knife. They are used by contractors to score tile backer board, cut underlayment and open bulk material bags, and to clean up unfinished edges after cutting. If you're cutting cardboard or packaging materials all day long, a tool like the Olfa L-1 Ratchet Lock Utility Knife makes changing your blade a breeze without having to battle a screw lock. If you repeatedly cut drywall and flooring, a heavier knife, such as the Olfa XH-1 Extra Heavy-Duty knife, will perform better because it won't flex or snap mid-cut. A hook blade rather than a straight blade is usually preferred by roofing crews as it will attach shingles and felt from below, preventing the blade from skating across the material.
Retractable, Folding, and Fixed-Blade Designs
Not all utility knives operate in the same manner, and selecting a type that is not right will cause you to slow down or risk giving yourself an injury.
Retractable knives allow the blade to be pushed back into the housing between cuts. That's the best way to keep your knife safe throughout the day if you are using it with a tool belt or pocket.
Folding knives fold up like a pocket knife. They are compact and ideal for those who need a knife plus a few other features (one tool can double as a screwdriver and wire stripper) without carrying extra tools.
In addition to fixed-blade knives, we offer one-piece knives that retract and fold. First, it's designed to last. There's no moving mechanism, so no loose or broken parts after use, which is ideal when using the item so much that you don't have to worry about it getting lost in your pocket.
Auto-lock and ratchet-lock knives prevent the blade from moving or retracting mid-cut. The locking part is most important if you're applying uniform pressure over a thick surface, such as carpet padding or laminate.
How to Choose and Use a Utility Knife Safely
The blade type is as important as the knife type. Most of the conventional cutting requirements are met by standard straight blades. Hook blades are best suited for roofing and vinyl. Serrated blades are used to hold onto rope, carpet fiber, and other materials that would otherwise slip through a smooth edge. Knives such as the Olfa Safety Knife with Tape Slitter have safety blades that automatically retract when not engaged in cutting, reducing unwanted cuts when slitting tape or opening boxes quickly.
Most utility knives in Tool Academy accept 18mm or 25mm blades, which snap off at the bevel when they become dull, so you replace the blade rather than the whole knife. We come out with standard and UltraSharp versions. They are available in packs of 5 to 100, so they don't need to be reordered every time a jobsite crew runs out of a specific version.
Some utility box cutter models come with rubber inset or fiberglass-reinforced handles. These prevent your hands from slipping and last longer than plastic handles if you drop the knife on concrete when your hands are sweaty.
Keep blades and knives out of other tools in a separate dry case or pouch. One way people get cut is by reaching for something else and having loose blades in the tool bag. Always store extra blades in original packaging. Always fully retract and fold knives before putting them in a bag.
Your Trusted Source of Professional Utility Knives
For more than 35 years, Tool Academy has provided contractors and tradespeople with tiling tools and accessories. If you don't know which type of knife or blade is the proper one for your work, we can help you pick the right one for you.
