"xacto knife" Topic

I find that no matter how tight I screw a blade in, before I get up from my work table the blade will become lose. Any suggestion for TIGHTENING it.

TIA

I sometimes use a pair of pliers to tighten up the locking mechanisim (whatever it's called.)

I have the same problem

For such a staple item, it's extraordinarily badly designed

Unless there is wisdom from our ancestors that hasn't been passed down

John

Tis not meant for mortals to tighten.

Stanley knife :)

Get a better knife handle.

I have more than a half dozen handles. Xacto branded ones are generally easier to use, but the ability of each handle to hold onto a blade varies more by style than brand.

My favorite one is the weirdest: it's a b17c4 and a half to get it tight – it doesn't like to turn, the chuck often slips instead of tightening, and it usually takes multiple tries to get it cinched down – but once it's tight, it stays tight forever.

I have several handles of various sizes and a variety of blades and I've been using all of it for 30+ years and never notice this issue.

If it comes loose when you get up from the table…then don't get up from the table!!
🤣🤣🤣

Gave up on 'modelling' knives years ago, mainly due to the overpriced blades. Switched to medical scalpels (Swann Morton) with various handles and blade sizes. The blades are so much cheaper it doesn't matter so much when they blunt or break.

Recommend No3 handles. My most used blades are 10A (avoid 11 – too brittle for use on metal figures – be okay on plastic, possibly).

Blades are about £15.00 GBP for 100 blades.

For heavy cutting (2mm MDF, heavy flash, etc.) I use a Stanley Knife.

I put masking tape on one or both sides of the blade, to increase its thickness enough for the collets to grip.

79thPA
I sometimes use a pair of pliers to tighten up the locking mechanisim (whatever it's called.)

Don't know why I never thought of that. Will try it tonight.

Yellow Admiral
Get a better knife handle.

Yes you are right. Small expense for permanent solution, and who can't use more knife handles? But I worry the new handle will have the same problem, and don't do it.

Quality varies by brand and by individual handle. Buy enough and you eventually get a good one. Avoid the cheapo ones from dollar stores and Amazon sellers with computer-generated names.

I'm now thinking about following in olicana's shoes and trying medical grade scalpels. It never even occurred to me they might be cheaper, so I've never looked.

I think I saw a reddit where someone was using plumbing tape.

Olicana, what's the difference between a #3 and #4 handle?

Grimm