Scalpel Blades

[zenrat]

I did once dress as DEATH one new year's eve for a fancy dress party with a black & white theme.

I buy #11 blades in boxes of 100.
Which reminds me, I need to reorder.

I collect all the used blades in pot and one day (I may have told you all this before) I will build something like this...

...which will be the first model banned from Expo on Health & Safety grounds.
Needless to say I will cut myself many times building it.

[PR19_Kit]

Needless to say I will cut myself many times building it.

That would make you a Modelling Masochist I guess? 

[NARSES2]

I buy my blades in boxes of 100, used ones are used to apply putty with and then get collected and recycled, when of no farther use. Far to dangerous just to discard.

[PR19_Kit]

The problem with re-cycling them is finding the blasted things after they've broken and fired themselves into orbit! 

My model room should be carpeted with busted No 11 blades, but I've only found maybe 10-15% of the darn things.

[Old Wombat]

The problem with re-cycling them is finding the blasted things after they've broken and fired themselves into orbit! 

My model room should be carpeted with busted No 11 blades, but I've only found maybe 10-15% of the darn things.

They've probably penetrated into the wall & ceiling spaces, try looking there!

[Hobbes]

I use #18 (curved knife edge) for general purpose cutting. Last year, I added #15a (with a straight edge) to the mix. When removing raised panel lines and such, I usually place the blade flat on the plastic. If you do that with a curved blade, it tends to dig in at the point where the edge touches the plastic. A flat blade glides along the surface without digging in.


I also found out that the original Swann-Morton blades are thicker and less likely to break than the compatible blades I've used in the past.

[McColm]

What's the best way to use a scalpel without cutting yourself?

[JayBee]

What's the best way to use a scalpel without cutting yourself?

Be VERY, VERY carefull! 

[Rheged]

The problem with re-cycling them is finding the blasted things after they've broken and fired themselves into orbit! 

My model room should be carpeted with busted No 11 blades, but I've only found maybe 10-15% of the darn things.

They've probably penetrated into the wall & ceiling spaces, try looking there!

Sweep VERY CAREFULLY over the floor with a magnet in a poly bag.   It's saved me injuries as a technique many times!

[Hobbes]

What's the best way to use a scalpel without cutting yourself?

Apply some logical thinking to it. When you're about to make a cut, ask yourself, "where will the blade end up if I overshoot/apply too much force?"
The nice thing about having a very sharp blade is it'll cut without having to apply much force.

[McColm]

What's the best way to use a scalpel without cutting yourself?

Apply some logical thinking to it. When you're about to make a cut, ask yourself, "where will the blade end up if I overshoot/apply too much force?"
The nice thing about having a very sharp blade is it'll cut without having to apply much force.

Thanks for the advice,but I'll stick to the pound shop.

[Weaver]

I have two Swann Morton retractable handles, which are normally fitted with a 10A or 11 in one and a 15 in the other. I also have an X-acto handle that I use almost exclusively for chisel blades, which Swann Morton don't do. I also have a pair of Xuron sprue cutters which are a godsend, and various saws. My favorite tools are probably my little archemedian drill and a pin vice that I use for bigger drill bits. Don't know why, but I one of the few knacks I actually seem to have is drilling tiny holes right by eye...

[Hobbes]

What's the best way to use a scalpel without cutting yourself?

Apply some logical thinking to it. When you're about to make a cut, ask yourself, "where will the blade end up if I overshoot/apply too much force?"
The nice thing about having a very sharp blade is it'll cut without having to apply much force.

Thanks for the advice,but I'll stick to the pound shop.

I bought 100 blades (enough to last me 10 years) for about £10...