Paper and card stock is tough on any kind of blade.
Ya Know:
I used to understand why. But, the newer papers with what I am sure is some recycle product in there, seems coarser in the microscopic level. Typing paper for instance used to have a higher and finer " Rag" content.
I suspect the recycling process accumulates minerals. Sort of like how animals near the bottom of the food chain do.
Related, when I made flying models and cut a lot of balsa, I was amazed to see how hard it was on knives and razor blades. Then I read about how balsa trees had a relatively high mineral density, even though the wood itself was low density.
You know ,Don;
You are probably right. I remember card models from years before the " Recycle Boom" hit the paper industry. I could use one blade for a whole 1/250 model. This is proof that recycling isn’t necessarily perfect. It takes a very High Tech Setup for the machines to create better paper now.
I have to agree on the Balsa. I carve too. Mainly Fish, but there is a definitive curve to carving Balsa. It might be light but it is Dense. I have to continually strop my knife when carving it!
Interesting thread. What I discovered this year, I decided to buy testor’s disposable knives since, like everyone else, I discovered the Exel blades just didn’t seem to last. The Testor’s knives last me about 6,7 or more models. I use one for trimming and scraping, and one for trimming decals. That’s twice as long as most other blades I’ve used.
I still use may old Xacto kit with various blades for cutting small masks. But the blades just don’t last. I might resharpen some when doint masks, or use razor blades.
Hey Gobears01;
I, since writing that original post, have discovered some fine abrasive compound called Stropping compound. A friend gave it to me. he didn’t like it! I tried it on my K-Bar and some old X-Acto blades. Brilliant.The blades are as sharp as they used to be.
The biggest problem? Finding a leather Belt to do the stropping on. Finally found an old one that Circumference Wise, doesn’t do the job any more. Rubbed the stuff into the rough leather surface on the back and WOW, did it ever bring these blades back to life.
I cannot give you a name because there’s no label on the jar. The jar is about the size of a Chewing Tobacco container.
Jewelers Rouge - you can get it from Amazon. Peace- Boris
Thank You Boris;
I thought it might be, but wasn’t sure. That’s the same stuff I used to use on my carving knives.
Yes, same stuff. Different colors are different ‘grits’. Most common are green and white. Grit might very from manufacture to manufacture.
Peace-
Boris
I buy my blades by the hundreds for pretty cheap off Amazon. for me they stay sharp enough, long enough and are cheap enough to change when they break or dull.
[dto:]
Whatever anyone does, I don’t recommend getting this generic hobby knife set:
I bought one years ago at a woodworking show, from one of those dealers who sells tools from close-outs, bankruptcies, and auctions. I have proper X-Acto brand knives and saws, but I figured I’d use it in my traveling tool kit. Apparently Walmart sells them today. They probably come from the PRC.
The problem I found with these knives is that the clamp, the part that holds the blade under the ferrule, is made of plastic on these generic knives. On X-Actos, this piece is metal. And eventually, the threaded plastic shaft that fits into the handle will snap, leaving the knife useless.
I thought about replacing the clamp with an X-Acto piece, but unfortunately, they aren’t threaded the same, so the X-Acto piece won’t fit.
The Nr 2 handle, with the red grip, also has a plastic clamp inside, but I’ve hardly used it, so it hasn’t broken yet.
Fortunately, I only spent about seven bucks on it. But it illustrates the lesson that I learned from the Frugal Gourmet, back in the day-“Frugal does not mean you’re cheap, it means you don’t waste anything. A tool that is more expensive but lasts a long time is a savings compared to buying cheap tools that wear out frequently and have to be replaced frequently.” Invest in good tools.