X-Acto Blades - Which Ones?

Because I got tired of switching the blades every time I wanted to do something different, I've got no fewer than four knives, three with #11 blades, but each knife has a specific purpose. First, I have one that I use for what I call "general cutting." This is removing parts from sprue, scraping off excess plastic, cutting sheet styrene, stuff like that. If I want the extra sharpness of a new blade, I'll go to the knife that has the brand new #11 blade. (When this starts wearing out, I'll switch it to the "general cutting" knife and the old blade from that knife gets discarded.) Finally, a #11 blade that was dulled by scraping it on the cement is in the third knife; this knife is the putty knife. I dipped the handles of two of the knives in different colored paints for identification.

The fourth knife has a #10 blade in it. I don't use it real often but it's handy if I have to cut at a certain angle; it's especially good for cutting strip styrene. The handle on this knife was also dipped in paint. For heavier duty cutting, I have a handle with the #2 blade and even a couple of saws. Those are things I almost never use, but when I want them...

Easy I DON'T USE THEM

Way to brittle andkeep a poor edge

Buy a SwanMorton handel and good type of surgical blades....cheeper and better

But use 10 10a and 11 blades

Alasdair

I tend to use #10, #11 and #15 for most of mine those 3 tend to cover it all.

I use a #10 and # 11blades. They handle most of the work for me.

Everything you wanted to know about X-acto blades!

http://www.x-actoblades.com/xacto/gridpg.htm

You know what, I've got a nice knife sharpening kit that says it'll do xacto blades. Problem is i always seem to break the tip off mine. Anyone have a list of all xacto's blades and what they are good for???

I used to buy # 11 blades, now I just resharpen the old ones. When I bought a couple of Norton waterstones for sharpening woodworking chisels I thought I would try them on an exacto blade. I used the #4000 grit and #8000 grit to put a perfect edge on an old #11, drew the blade a couple of times across a razor strop, and it was so sharp it was scary.

I know you can buy the new blades for almost nothing, but sharpening them yourself actually gives you a better edge than you can get on the new ones. It's nice to shave a tiny sliver of plastic off without the blade digging in and gouging. Just make sure your health insurance is paid up 'cause you'll need it to pay for the stitches.

Just my

#11 count me in too
PS i have heard some singers on the radio that sound like they gargle with old rusty ones

I never found any use for anything other than the good old No. 11. That, and I always kept an entire box of single-edged razor blades around.

Brian B.

I use almost only the n°23 blade ( round on both edges) with a n°2 handle as I don't like the n°1 handle grip ( too thin , it gives me cramps in hand )

I too use the number 11 most - for cutting, scraping, applying small amounts of putty, all sorts of things. The can also be modified for other uses using a grinding wheel - the usual warnings apply here, safety glasses and so forth. I have even mounted a dremel grinding disc in my lathe, held the blade with the tool holder, and made very small custom scribers out of them. Very versatile.

I like the chisel blade as well, which needs the larger handle - I think it is a number 18. Works great for removing unwanted surface details, and by reversing and scraping lets you produce a nice 90 degree inside joint.

Single edge razor blades have their place too - probably my most used model tool.

Kurt

That's a #11 blade, not 11 mm. A VERY useful one. I buy them in boxes of 100, so I'm always using a sharp blade, and I'm not tempted to "keep slogging on" with a less-than-sharp one.

Other than that, I use a lot of #2, which go in the heavier-style Xacto handle, and are really useful for cutting thicker styrene. #11 and #2 will NOT fit in the same handle. You need 2 different knives.

I believe the numbering system for Xacto blades is taken from the numbering system used by the medical community for scapel blades and it refers someway to the shape of the blade (the blade on a #11 scapel blade is shaped just like the Xacto #11 blade, but the shank is somewhat longer plus the Xacto blade is somewhat thicker and stiffer)

I keep and use Xacto #11s, #10s (rounded tips) and #16s (sharp point but blade is about 1/8" wide). I also use scapel blades #11 and #15 (rounded tip like a #10 but only about 3/32 wide).

new and sharp #11's
and i also use #10 rounded, #16 & #12's
......you can never have too many shapes that are sharp and cut

The #11 blade is the most useful, but I keep a second one with a #10 blade as well.

Regards, Rick

I also use the 11, good for trimming and clean up work as you stated. I also use new blades to bore holes in gun barrels.

I usually use the number 11 blade and I think they are longer than 11mm but it can take it.
also, a standard width knife will take any blades of the same width