Zactoman Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 Time for me to re-order some #11 blades. I've tended to stick with X-Acto but have heard others use Excel. From what I understand: Excel blades are more durable/longer lasting but don't have as good a point as X-Acto. X-Acto has a really nice point but it breaks off if you look at it wrong. What about Stainless Steel vs. Carbon Steel? Is there any advantage to paying more and using Stainless other than it won't rust (which doesn't matter to me anyways)? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
blunce Posted April 23, 2011 Share Posted April 23, 2011 X-acto here. Not sure I've ever used Excel, but tried the Revell option after Michaels stopped carrying X-Acto (or so I thought- still avail. in drafting section), and omg what junk. I'll stick with X-acto thanks. Besides, with your name, are you not obligated to use X-acto for life? :blink: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
galileo1 Posted April 23, 2011 Share Posted April 23, 2011 I don't think I've ever really used X-Acto. My first ever hobby knife was an Excel and I have stuck with them for 15 years or so now...Not because of quality over X-acto but mainly because that's all my HLS always seems to carry. And yes, Revell blades are the biggest junk I've ever used. Coming to think of it, I need to order me some more. Thanks for the reminder, Chris! Rob P.S. Where do you all order your blades from? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PlasticWeapons Posted April 23, 2011 Share Posted April 23, 2011 (edited) I find the Excel blades are much sharper than the Xacto blades. To compare, I scraped the mold line off a Hasegawa SBD-4 Dauntless landing gear leg and the Excel blade easily removed the mold line whereas the Xacto blade used exactly in the same manner, tended to drag along the same mold line. Both blades used were fresh blades. (BTW, I'm a long time Xacto user.) Shop at Amazon, I bought several 15-blade packs for less than $4 each. Edited April 23, 2011 by PlasticWeapons Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lucas C. Posted April 23, 2011 Share Posted April 23, 2011 I use X-Acto X-Life blades (the blue ones), which are more durable than the standard X-Acto and Excel blades, and hold their point much better. With the standard blades, I always seemed to break the tip off quickly, but I have yet to break the tip on any of the X-Life blades I've used. I scored two 100-packs for $30 (including shipping) on eBay a year ago, so I'm set for a while and each blades comes out to $0.15. I did a quick search on eBay and found one seller that's good a pretty good price here. At the price listed here, each blade would cost less than getting a 15-pack of the regular ones. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Patrick_Nevin Posted April 23, 2011 Share Posted April 23, 2011 (edited) Swann-Morton here (UK.) Readily available by the hundred in carbon steel: never seen it proved, but from other things assumed this composition as less brittle than stainless. Not sure if this is a myth, but I carry it through from vehicle work :) The firm because of established high quality and easy familiarity. I just had a nose round this place and needed to buy a Unitool for nostalgia alone (thing like a pen-knife.) Not to mention blades for their SF1 which are priced to make a happy man very poor, a bit close to Dead Ringers territory but quite useful on occasion... Patrick Edited April 23, 2011 by Patrick_Nevin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
galileo1 Posted April 23, 2011 Share Posted April 23, 2011 I use X-Acto X-Life blades (the blue ones), which are more durable than the standard X-Acto and Excel blades, and hold their point much better. With the standard blades, I always seemed to break the tip off quickly, but I have yet to break the tip on any of the X-Life blades I've used. I scored two 100-packs for $30 (including shipping) on eBay a year ago, so I'm set for a while and each blades comes out to $0.15. I did a quick search on eBay and found one seller that's good a pretty good price here. At the price listed here, each blade would cost less than getting a 15-pack of the regular ones. Hey, Lucas, thanks for the link! I went ahead and bought the pack. Never tried these blue blades before so I'm looking forward to them. Rob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MattC Posted April 23, 2011 Share Posted April 23, 2011 Swann-Morton blades for me, I've tried various others but these are the best, buy them in boxes. Got a few of their new Cygnetic blades which are rather nice, but for you detail fans, take a look at their micro-surgery blades; http://www.swann-morton.com/product_range/5.php Or for those hard to reach places, Myringotomy blades! http://www.swann-morton.com/product/79.php Can't beat surgical stuff for sharpness IMHO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MarkW Posted April 23, 2011 Share Posted April 23, 2011 For #11s, I've never noticed enough difference. I do know the blade handle material Excel uses feels cheaper. I almost exclusively now use Olfa or Tamiya design knife blades, as the shape seems to work better than the long #11. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Edgar Posted April 23, 2011 Share Posted April 23, 2011 Swann-Morton blades for me, I've tried various others but these are the best, buy them in boxes. Likewise, and, with a flat handle, it doesn't roll off the table, and puncture your.......pomposity. Edgar Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cyrus Tan Posted April 23, 2011 Share Posted April 23, 2011 From what I understand:Excel blades are more durable/longer lasting but don't have as good a point as X-Acto. X-Acto has a really nice point but it breaks off if you look at it wrong. What about Stainless Steel vs. Carbon Steel? Is there any advantage to paying more and using Stainless other than it won't rust (which doesn't matter to me anyways)? Hey Chris! I stopped using X-acto and Excel blades a long time ago, because the tips were too fragile and break off. It's kind of a waste when the rest of the blade was still useable. I can't comment on stainless steel blades (never tried them), but I did try Carbon scalpel blades and haven't looked back. They're more durable and seem to stay sharp longer than X-acto or Excel. The tips don't break as easy and I haven't had any rusting issues either. Quite honestly, they look like they're made to higher standards and are even packaged seperately. I bought a pack of 25 from Squardon a few years ago and I still got a good supply left. Here's a link HTH? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jmathews Posted April 24, 2011 Share Posted April 24, 2011 I've been very happy with both Olfa and Alvin. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
martin_sam_2000 Posted April 24, 2011 Share Posted April 24, 2011 I use X-Acto X-Life blades (the blue ones), which are more durable than the standard X-Acto and Excel blades, and hold their point much better. With the standard blades, I always seemed to break the tip off quickly, but I have yet to break the tip on any of the X-Life blades I've used. I scored two 100-packs for $30 (including shipping) on eBay a year ago, so I'm set for a while and each blades comes out to $0.15. I did a quick search on eBay and found one seller that's good a pretty good price here. At the price listed here, each blade would cost less than getting a 15-pack of the regular ones. Thanks for the link to those. I may have to give them a try. They charge an arm and a leg round here for blades and I can save alot of $$ buying these online. Sean Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tgoetz Posted April 24, 2011 Share Posted April 24, 2011 Just a tip. If you decide to use the Swann-Morton blades, I would use thier surgical grade products instead of the hobby grade. Also, they are much cheaper if you buy the non-sterile blades. I my opinion, they are the only why to go. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Neo Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 Tried both And i like Excel better although i buy 100blade no name bulk pack witch come out better but i always keep a couple excel around for Foiling. As for handle i have 2 Excel and 1 X-acto and i HATE the x-acto one it dosent hold the blades as hard and to polished finish is slippery Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hawkeye's Hobbies Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 X-acto at one time made their own blades, then opted to outsource them from China. Due to the poor quality of those blades which hurt X-acto's reputation, they bounced around with different suppliers and are now getting their blades produced on spec from Excel. I prefer Excel because they are good blades and available through most craft, hardware and hobby stores and are affordable. Their knife handles also IMO do the best at holding the blade tight and secure, never coming loose. The one pictured also doesn't roll across the bench when you set it down. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
galileo1 Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 (edited) Thanks for the link to those. I may have to give them a try. They charge an arm and a leg round here for blades and I can save alot of $$ buying these online. Sean Hey Sean, That link Lucas provided is a great find. I ordered as soon as I saw it and the blades shipped just a couple of hours after I placed the order. Haven't received them yet but should be here today or tomorrow. Looking forward to them as well. Rob Edited April 25, 2011 by TOPGUN Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chukw Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 Scalpel blades. I have an old Xacto that I sharpen on a stone for rougher work. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
majortomski Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 I think I have a bulk pack of these now: http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXDS77&P=ML They have been holding up well on my current 1/4 scale rc build and they have been cutting and triming plastic projects well too. Don't think I've snapped a tip off yet. T Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ranger_Chris61 Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 I say go x-act as you can order them from dickblick in bulk Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sdtomcat Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 Grew up with x-acto. Never really had a big problem with them. Tip breaks off easily. Other than that can't really complain. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Expat Tomcat Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 I have both X-acto and Excel blades but I'm still burning though the surgical scalpel blades I got from the tec-reps from Grumman back in 1987. I got two boxes of 10 gross from the Grumman trailers when they closed up shop after the F-14B and test bench mods. Haven't bought a blade since. The surgical blades I have put both X-acto and Excel blades to shame. They don't have as fine of a tip as X-acto but they last and stay sharper much longer, and the tips hardly ever break off. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MarkW Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 I have both X-acto and Excel blades but I'm still burning though the surgical scalpel blades I got from the tec-reps from Grumman back in 1987. I got two boxes of 10 gross from the Grumman trailers when they closed up shop after the F-14B and test bench mods. Haven't bought a blade since. The surgical blades I have put both X-acto and Excel blades to shame. They don't have as fine of a tip as X-acto but they last and stay sharper much longer, and the tips hardly ever break off. Have you had a chance to compare the quality of the ones you have to other commercially available ones? I.E., are they standard surgical grade scalpels? Otherwise, I'd think we'd need a hot tub time machine to get the deal you got! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Expat Tomcat Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 Have you had a chance to compare the quality of the ones you have to other commercially available ones? I.E., are they standard surgical grade scalpels? Otherwise, I'd think we'd need a hot tub time machine to get the deal you got! Yeah I got A LOT of stuff from that little acquisition, I was involved with the test bench modifications on the F-14B. Grumman just took the paper files and publications and left all the materieal there, just walked away. The blades I have last a very long time and are actually very hard to break the actual tip, they usually split where the handle attaches through the hole in the blade. They last about 3 times longer than an X-acto blade, and as far as I know they are standard scalpel blades. They come in a foil pack for putting them in an autoclave to sterilize them. I'm finally getting near the end of them though, it's only taken 16 yrs. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MoFo Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 (edited) Tip for #11 tips. Yes, they're fragile, but a simple mod will make them a lot more robust. Grind or sand the tip on an angle, as below. It alters the angle enough to make the blade a lot stronger, and less prone to breakage. Bonus tip: since you're basically grinding the tip of the blade off, you can also do this *after* the tip has snapped on an un-modded blade, effectively doubling the usability of each blade. Edited April 29, 2011 by MoFo Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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