Archived from the Tools In Action forum (Hand Tools). This thread is read-only.
I’m looking to buy a new utility knife. I have the Milwaukee fastback 2 at the moment which I kind of like but I was wondering if anyone has a better suggestion? The popular choices seem to be Milwaukee and Dewalt. Anything else I’m missing? I love German hand tool brands like Wera, Knipex, Wiha, … Do any of these brands make a great utility knife that I’m not aware of?
How about one of these. I use this more than my utility.
[External image (www.stanleysites.com), not copied]
I’d avoid the German brands. Hazet has one that is $50 and made in China! WTF?!
Knipex has the insulated one. It’s like $30, uses proprietary blades that are one-sided and like $15 each. I think Gedore has one too, not sure of the cost.
I like the Olfa stuff, made in Japan. There are some decent Kobalt ones too, I have one that looks a LOT like the Milwaukee but with a different texture. https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-11-Blade-Utility-Knife/50289429
I have the Milwaukee and like it a lot. The quick open and close are something I’m not willing to give up.
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
Do you want a folding one or a fixed retracting one?
I have one made by Hart. It’s aluminium so the weight is very light (~200g) The handle holds spare blades and can also turn a 1/4 inch hex bit.
Blade change is easy, just press the black button at the front and pull the old blade out, put a new one in.
For people in Aus, you can get these at Bunnings for $15 AUD.
Very similar to the Milwaukee
rrich1 wrote:
7 hours ago, rrich1 said:I have the Milwaukee and like it a lot. The quick open and close are something I’m not willing to give up.
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
I like that too. The Kobalt one I linked is the same style but textured. I have the Milwaukee with a straight blade and the Kobalt with the hook blade, texture gives a little extra grip and easily distinguished.
Didn’t see that. Nice. I’d lose that in a heartbeat though being all black.BMack37 wrote:
I like that too. The Kobalt one I linked is the same style but textured. I have the Milwaukee with a straight blade and the Kobalt with the hook blade, texture gives a little extra grip and easily distinguished.
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
rrich1 wrote:
5 hours ago, rrich1 said:Didn’t see that. Nice. I’d lose that in a heartbeat though being all black.
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
#BlackKnivesMatter
I have a handful of dewalt blades the older ones with more rubber over molding on it, very comfortable the front drops on a slight angle and blade change is simple.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
@Pouet my fatmax is pretty good. It is the dual blade version. Bostich also makes the same knife in a different color scheme. I like how I can have 2 blades at the ready.
I have a bunch of different utility knives, but always go for the DeWalt versions. The standard retractable blade ones sold at Home Depot are outstanding, especially when they go on sale at $12.97 for two. The older all yellow versions have issues with the blade release (something I’m able to live with), but the newer metal ones have been problem-free thus far. I also have the folding retractable knife, some of the auto-loading ones, and maybe one or two more DeWalt knives I can’t recall at the moment.
Store-brand knives seem okay, as do the Stanley versions and many others. Milwaukee’s Fastback and mini-Fastback are great knives, and ones I’ll occasionally carry in lieu of a pocket knife. In the end, it’s kind of hard to mess up a utility knife, though I’m sure some companies do so.
Thank everyone for the suggestions! I think I’ll try the Dewalt that is foldable and retractable. The thing I don’t like with the fastback is that when you are close to the wall (which happen a lot when cutting drywall), you lack space to open the knife. Maybe I’m exaggerating the motion but I really miss having a retractable knife right now.
Those things come in a few different blade sizes and Olfa has 3 different blade materials, plain steel, one with a black coating and stainless for wet situations. The stainless blades seemed to hold an edge better than the plain steel, for any purpose. I like them too. You have to be careful breaking off the end for a new blade as they can break wrong and ruin the next blade.StrippedScrew wrote:
How about one of these. I use this more than my utility.
[External image (www.stanleysites.com), not copied]
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
I just got something new on my news feed.
https://www.core77.com/posts/78958/The-Everyday-Blade-A-Tiny-Flip-Out-Knife-That-Takes-Standard-X-Acto-Blades
It doesn’t exist yet but the inventer has raised a lot of cash on Kickstarter. It is a really nice little folding knife that uses X-Acto blades. Watch the short video. They show it with the popular #11 blade, that I use for all kinds of stuff. I’d buy one at the right price.
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk