A utility knife is a compact tool that allows people to cut through many different surfaces without any regard for the thickness of the surface. To further elaborate, with a utility knife, one has the ability to cut through paper, foam, wood, drywall, and many others.
Utility knives are known to be one of the safest cutting tools available, especially nowadays, since they are equipped with enhanced safety features. Numerous utility knife brands have dedicated much time to improve their tools to provide a better experience for their users. One such brand is Slice Products, which has introduced innovative utility knives into the market by creating ergonomic products that provide users comfort and additional grip during the cutting process. On the other hand, Big Idea Design has started to create knives with Titanium to provide safer blades to their customers.
Thus, a utility knife is a compact and innovative tool that provides people with numerous features that help improve the cutting process and provide additional security.
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The advantages of using a utility knife
As utility knives are equipped with numerous features, they have provided many advantages and benefits to users.
One of the most important benefits is the safety aspect that comes with using a utility knife. Nowadays, most utility knives have finger-friendly blades that can cut through numerous hard materials but does not cut through the skin. For instance, Slice Products started to use a ceramic blade to provide this advantage to its customer, and Allway Tools stuck with steel blades but with rounded tips that also reduces the chances of injuries.
On the other hand, many utility knives have lock features that can be used for two purposes; one, to lock the blade in its place to prevent it from slipping when cutting through materials, and second, to lock the blade in its place after cutting to ensure it is stored safely.
Different types of a utility knife
As companies started to produce safer utility knives, they started to produce different types of utility knives.
The most common and basic type is the manual utility knife, mostly used in households and offices that do not require heavy work. The manual utility knife has an ambidextrous and ergonomic frame, allowing people a comfortable experience.
Another type is the auto-retractable utility knife. This type of utility knife allows people to use the tool quickly. The most important feature of this type is that the blade is retracted easily and quickly by pressing a button, reducing the time it takes to use the utility knife.
Lastly, the precision knife is used mostly by DIY-ers as it provides a small and comfortable frame and a thin but sharp blade tip that cuts through most surfaces. The advantage of a precision knife is that it allows people to cut complex designs and reach places that a normal utility knife cannot.
How to store and handle a utility knife to ensure safety
1- Always lock the blade inside the frame
As mentioned before, a lock feature is one of the most important features of a utility knife. The lock feature increases the safety of the users since it ensures that the blade will stay in its place and not slip. Thus, turning the lock feature to ensure the utility knife is stored safely is best.
2- Use the utility knife with the proper techniques
Using the utility knife with the proper techniques is important to ensure safety. Each type of utility knife is used in a different manner, and it is best to read the provided manuals to understand the right ways of using each type.
However, one technique that applies to all types is to use the blades at an angle away from your body. This technique will reduce the chances of cutting oneself since even though the blade slips, it will not go through one’s skin.
3- Ensure to use the right type of utility knife for a project
On the other hand, using the right type of utility knife for a project is an important aspect to ensure safety. For instance, using a manual utility knife to cut through wood is not suggested, as one will have to apply additional pressure, potentially leading to an accident.
Hence, to ensure safety, use the right types for each project.
4- Always keep the tip of the blade sharp
Frequently and constantly using a utility knife will cause the blade to lose its sharpness. When a blade is not sharp enough, it will not cut through certain materials, making handling utility knives difficult.
Thus, one of the best ways to handle a utility knife is to ensure the tip is sharp enough.
Conclusion
To conclude, utility knives are compact and ambidextrous tools that allow people a safer and better cutting experience. However, to ensure safety to the fullest extent, try to use the right type, use the lock feature, and keep the blade tip as sharp as possible at all times.
