Friskars Swivel knife

Weaver · September 19, 2009, 01:39:55 AM

Just picked up one of these in a local art shop:

http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_fingertip-swivel-knife.aspx

The blade swivels to follow your hand as you "drag" it around, and the around-the-finger handle design helps you keep it vertical. I'm not sure how thick material you could cut with it since the blade is very delicate, but my immediate thought is home-print decals. If they're printed on white paper then you have no option but to cut precisely around curved shapes, and that can be a real challenge, particularly on small roundels where any ovality will still stick out like a sore thumb.

lancer · September 23, 2009, 01:09:19 PM

Oh that will be a great help when cutting camouflage masking patterns !!! I think I might just have to buy one!

Mossie · September 29, 2009, 07:24:18 AM

Me too, I always end up with ragged corners!

EDIT, There's also a larger craft knife available. I don't think it has the 'swivel', but has the same handle & gives you some control over exactly were the blade is going.
http://www.fiskarscraft.co.uk/uk/products/view/1352/default.aspx

dragon · September 29, 2009, 01:31:13 PM

They are nice. I use mine (with an X-acto #11 blade) to do very close-in work. For example trimming a little of the masking tape so as not to dig a trench near the masking tape.

I found out about this type of knife from my aunt, an avid scrap-booker.

Ed S · September 29, 2009, 08:56:14 PM

Quote from: Mossie on September 29, 2009, 07:24:18 AM
EDIT, There's also a larger craft knife available. I don't think it has the 'swivel', but has the same handle & gives you some control over exactly were the blade is going.
http://www.fiskarscraft.co.uk/uk/products/view/1352/default.aspx

I have one of these, I found at Jo-Ann's Craft Store. I like it for scribing styrene to snap off pieces. You don't feel like your hand will slip when you put some pressure on the blade as it might with a regular X-acto type handle. It also works well cutting masks and trimming decals before application.

The swivel blade version might be handy as well. I'll have to look into it.

Ed

frank2056 · October 03, 2009, 02:37:49 PM

I just got one (and a couple of replacement blades) from Jo-Ann's. They were having a big online sale (it may still be going on)

Mossie · October 04, 2009, 03:07:49 AM

A Hobbycraft opens in Hull next week (finally, one within 60 miles!) so I'll see if they stock them. I'll probably pick up plenty of other goodies too. If not, I'll get hold of them off t'interweb.

lancer · October 04, 2009, 08:12:18 AM

Quote from: Mossie on October 04, 2009, 03:07:49 AM
A Hobbycraft opens in Hull next week (finally, one within 60 miles!) so I'll see if they stock them. I'll probably pick up plenty of other goodies too. If not, I'll get hold of them off t'interweb.

I had a look in the Reading Hobbycraft this morning and couldn't see them anywhere....yet.

Weaver · October 04, 2009, 11:00:50 AM

I was looking around the Stockport Hobbycraft on Friday: they had the fixed blade one but not the swivel one.

Mossie · October 15, 2009, 01:32:27 PM

The Hobbycraft shop opened in Hull on Saturday, I popped in on Tuesday & found they had both. I gave them both a quick trial, it may take a little bit of getting used to the unusual handle. I'll let you know how they fair when I use them in anger.

lancer · October 20, 2009, 02:51:11 PM

I finally found one today at John Lewis in Reading

mx918 · November 20, 2009, 11:25:37 AM

Hi all, I picked up one of these in Hobbycraft in Bicester, UK and am happy to confirm that they are the dogs doofaas! Great for cuting out masking sheet for use in 1/72nd scale and very easy to use. One of the best tools to come along in ages; if you do al lot of "hard" masking, you can't go far wrong for the price.

Mossie · November 20, 2009, 11:50:27 AM

I've used mine for the first time on my Ka-58 canopy, did some trials first on the raised detail on Tamiya tape dispensers. I'm not as enthusiastic as mx, but that's quite possibly because I'm just cack-handed anyway & the results are a little better than using other knives. The swivel head seems better for doing rounded corners, the conventional blade for straight edges.