Everything you need to know about stationery knives

A stationery knife is a very useful thing in any household, it not only brings practical benefits, but also helps to create real masterpieces. This tool is essentially a small gadget that is easy and convenient to carry with you. In addition, you can easily replace the blade if the previous one has become unusable.

The stationery knife was once invented in order to be used for cutting paper. However, the more time passes, the wider the scope of this wonderful device becomes.

If we talk about when and why these knives appeared, several interesting facts can be noted.

For example, the original application of this device was to open letter envelopes. In those days, when most of humanity communicated remotely using paper messages, there was a very shortage of a thin and sharp knife for conveniently extracting a letter from an envelope.

When such appeared, the integral design of such a knife was not devoid of flaws. It was a sharp and thin blade, but the problem began when it became dull - how to sharpen it as perfectly smoothly and functionally was absolutely incomprehensible.

In the middle of the twentieth century, a Japanese inventor decided that it would be more correct to make the blade removable. Today, with such a clerical knife, you can easily break off a blunt piece, replace it and continue working with a new and sharp one.

The idea was embodied in production and was so accepted by users with a bang that the inventor even created OLFA, which produced stationery knives.

We can talk about the convenience of this device for a very long time, comparing it with its older big brothers. But for each tool there is a niche, the stationery knife is firmly based in its own.

• It does not require sharpening, you can buy it once and use it for a very long time, just changing the blade if necessary. This eliminated the need for additional maintenance hassle for the owners.
• Undoubtedly, one of the main features of modern design is the ability to adjust the length of the working part. Holding on to a plastic or even wooden handle, you can independently extend the tool to the required length in order to use it as efficiently as possible.
• Wide range of applications. Once upon a time, it was, indeed, kept in a desk drawer to open envelopes with. But today you can cut the wallpaper with this knife, strip the wire, modify some element of the sculpture, or use it for any design solution.

Initially, there was only one type - the classic. But over time, many variations of stationery knives began to be produced, corresponding to the needs of users.

The handles of these tools are made from different materials, and the blades are also different. In addition to these differences, the cutting element can be wide or narrow. Different widths allow for a variety of use cases.

Such knives are pleasantly heavy in the hand, break less and less often, and are safer and more comfortable to use. There are even some aesthetic options with a wooden body. True, they are more suitable for the interior of an expensive office, but if you like such a thing, then why not. Convenience is just as important as practicality.

Which option will be yours depends entirely on where and how the tool will be used. For example, if your task is more related to repairs, and especially to work with wiring, then you should not choose a knife with a metal handle. It is safer to use a wooden or plastic frame.

In addition, in the case of cutting wallpaper or other similar materials, the option with a twist lock is perfect. Usually the latch is flat and can be accidentally moved during use. But in the case of a twist, a more reliable design is obtained, because in order to move the mechanism, it will be necessary to cope with this very twist.

There are also options for everyday construction site use. These are more professional tools that have a special (usually rubberized) grip and a more durable wide point.

Since the range of application of stationery knives is very wide, there are different proposals for this demand. You can choose from a large or small instrument, with a wide variety of fixation solutions, as well as with different tip widths.

There are even small gadgets no bigger than a pen. Such a compact design is convenient to carry with you, and its sharpness is perfect not only for ordinary tasks, but also for cutting photographic paper. Today a mini-knife is bought more and more often, since a larger user often does not need it.

To get the maximum benefit and even enjoyment from using a clerical knife, no matter what you need it for, it is important to pay attention to its blade.

• 7 mm wide and less is ideal for using the knife for its intended purpose, whether it is cutting thin paper or sharpening a pencil. This option is not suitable for any construction work, it will not even be able to cut the wallpaper correctly the first time.
• 9 mm blade is, in principle, a universal and most frequent case, it is precisely the very same tool-helper in any area. If you don't have a clear preference for the application, then this is a great option for you.
• Wide blade 18 mm wide usually comes in a large rubberized case and does an excellent job not only with wallpaper, but also with wires. Simply put, it is a great choice for renovation work.

If you want to please a loved one or a colleague, you can purchase not only a beautiful knife, but also a whole gift set. Often a stylized set of pencils, pens and other stationery goes to such a knife.

Before buying, make a test cut on the paper to make sure that the functionality is fine for you.

A stationery knife has a sharp blade, so you should be careful when working with it, following simple rules.

1. To never be injured by a knife, do not cut by weight. Better to do this business calmly and slowly.
2. Since the sharpening is really sharp there, you need to be careful so as not to get hurt.
3. Do not pull out too long a section of the blade, tighten the retainer well, and most importantly, hold the tool firmly in your hand.
4. Sometimes you need to break off a piece that has already fallen into disrepair, and to make it safer, "bite off" everything you need along the existing drawn line. Thus, you will receive an updated handy tool that will be the perfect extension of your hand in any work you need.

For information on how to make a clerical knife, see the next video.