What Makes a Utility Blade The Best

Buying Utility blades a short guide getting to the point

A clean-cut is a safe cut Quality over quantity the trade-off.

A poor quality blade can be more dangerous so it's worth getting to know the blades capabilities a thin blade will flex under pressure and can snap if twisted the cutting edge can dull quickly thiss can hurt you or damage material as well as waste time and money you want a blade that will cut through the material smoothly

A Utility blade is normally made out of Steel so the starting process of forging and hardening effect the likely hood of whether you are going to get a good blade at the end.

A blade with a low carbon percentage will be more brittle and poor hardening temperatures during the manufacture can all impact its lifetime meaning it's more likely to lose its cutting edge as the BeBeveledvaled edge becomes more worn down known as dulling. with a High Quality 1.25% Carbon Steel With a Polished Finish this gives an extra hardness to the steel meaning the edge will be maintained for longer.

In resent years theres been development into coating the blade Featuring a TiN Coated Cutting Edge. The Titanium Nitride (TiN) Coating improves wear resistance and extends blade life. This is ideal for preventing breaking when cutting through those more abrasive materials

With prices varying so wildly from brand to brand with the higher end Stanley, Jewel Blades Erwin, Faithful, Olfa, Draper Blackspur as well as numerous other brands. Trade Boxes off 100 blades from £6.00 to £28.99 you want to be confident in what you pay for as if you use these on a daily bases if you keep finding your blade pulling or getting caught up the edge has gone so will need to be replaced or re -honed. on an average my 18mm blade that used every day for cutting cardboard lasts over a month being used 6 days on the week but cardboard not the most demanding material

Whats in a brand name you can find better or comparable blades that are cheaper and often the mid range where price and quality meat as we have to pay for the privilege of knowing a brand after years of marketing and advertising this all costs,

if oten more to do with were the blade is manufactured rather than the brand that supply it often

Looking after the edge of your blad as soon as you come into contact with something hard like a staple nails and screws this would have most likely damaged the edge also cutting on a hard floor like concrete will round off the tip so making sure you cut on a matt or softer material being mindful of were that blade edge is going and going to go nothing in its path or under it (cables, tools , offcuts a clean workspace is a safe and productive place

It does depend on what you are cutting to which blade you might need with a wide variety of different shaped cutting edges the hooked and concave and even to convex style all great for cutting thinner sheet material, Roofing felt, lino, vinyl tiles, carpet the hooked edge is meant to get under the bottom and cut throw instead of the standard straight which cuts down at a 45-degree angle, while the 9mm and 18mm blades are great for deeper cutting of lighter weight items as the blade will be in contact with more of the material especially the solid 18mm non-snap off ideal for foam upholstery

Hear at Doms DIY Store We work with Jewel Blades you might have seen there Made in Sheffield Stamp on your blades,

Sheffield Steel is renowned for its production of steel that's now a Mark of Quality I'm proud to sell these products and I use them with confidence in the quality and at the price the 92A blades off very good value.