About a tool like stationery knife, a couple of decades ago, no one knew. It wasn't even invented at the time. Today, even a child knows what it is and what it is for. However, not everyone is aware that there are several types of stationery knives, and each of them has a distinctive feature that should be considered when choosing a tool.

What does it consist of

Structurally, the tool consists of several main parts. This is a mechanism for fixing the blade, the blade itself and the body. In addition, the model can be equipped with some innovations that make the clerical knife more reliable, durable and, of course, durable.

Naturally, the cost of the tool depends on such “bells and whistles”. When choosing a clerical knife, there are two main points to consider: how long it should last and for what purposes you need it.

Stationery knife: blade width

It is worth noting that all such tools differ in size, which depend on the width of the blade. It can be 18, 9 and 7 millimeters. Blades for a clerical knife have one important feature. Along the entire length of this part, there are small grooves made to the axis at a certain angle. Thanks to this, the blade can be sharpened quickly and without much difficulty.

During operation, the tool will become dull in any case. You can sharpen it very quickly. It is enough to break off the necessary piece with the help of pliers along the groove. That's it: the blade becomes like new. You can sharpen your knife up to 5 times using this method. When the blade becomes too short, it will have to be replaced with a new one.

Where apply

A tool with a 7 mm blade is usually used only for paper. The material is thicker or denser, it will be very difficult to cut with such a clerical knife. Why? The blade of this tool is too narrow. When cutting dense material, it will bend strongly, and the cut will turn out to be uneven.

A tool with a blade 9 mm wide is more common. With the help of such a clerical knife, you can cut plastic, thin leather, cardboard, paper and other materials, among which even linoleum should be mentioned. It should be noted that this tool is most often used in construction. Of course, it can also be used at home.

But there is another clerical knife. 18 mm is a wider blade that allows the tool to be used exclusively in construction. For clerical work, such a knife is not suitable.

The latch is an important element

Any clerical knife should have such an important element as a latch. This detail is present in every model. In knives with a narrow blade, this element is made of plastic. In appearance, such a latch resembles a sliding part. At the same time, such a device works very simply. If the latch is moved, then the blade can be safely moved, and if moved apart, then the blade is fixed.

As for more "serious" knives, the design of this element in them is more complex. In appearance, the latch resembles a twist with a pressure plate. Such an element is much more reliable than a clamping element. The screw is usually made of metal. Of course, it is much stronger than plastic. If you need a reliable and durable stationery knife, then it is better to choose a model with a screw lock.

The tip of the body matters

When choosing a tool, pay special attention to its tip from the side of the blade. In cheaper models, the case is completely made of ordinary plastic, while in expensive ones there is a metal element in which the blade moves. This detail allows you to create additional rigidity during cutting of denser materials. This allows the part not to bend when force is applied. Metal elements in construction tools are very important. After all, they do not need to cut paper, but denser materials, such as linoleum, plastic, and so on.

The shape varies

The shape of the hull various models stationery knives are almost the same. However, there are some nuances. Of course, it is much more convenient to use a tool with an ergonomic body. However, the cost of such a clerical knife is much higher. If you value convenience while working, then the price will not matter. Do not forget about the nuances of choosing a tool, described above.

How to break a blade

Many do not know how to properly break off a dull blade, and use different instruments, for example, pliers. However, knife makers have thought of everything in advance. There is a plastic tip on the opposite side of the tool. There is a cutout in this piece. This is not a marriage.

To break off a dull blade, you need to remove the tip and insert the part into it. In this case, it needs to be advanced only one division. Otherwise, the blade will break in the wrong place.

Now you need to bend the blade in the place where the separation should occur. It is worth remembering some safety rules. It is not worth bending the blade towards yourself, but away from you. Most often, the broken part remains in the tip.

That's all. Now you can insert the part into place.

Stationery knife: price

The cost of a clerical knife depends on many nuances. Therefore, this difference should not be surprising. For example, an ordinary tool with a plastic case, with a conventional locking system and a blade that is 18 millimeters wide, costs from 30 rubles and more. This is the lowest price.

A tool with an 18 mm blade, with mechanical guides, a blade locking system and a body made not only of plastic, but also of metal, costs from 100 rubles and more.

There are more expensive models. A stationery knife with an 18 mm blade, without mechanical guides, but with a Twist-Lock blade fixed in the form of a wheel and with a body made of metal, costs more than 200 rubles. At the same time, the model has rubber inserts that do not allow the tool to slip out of the hands during operation.

As you can see, there are a lot of varieties of stationery knives. Therefore, when choosing such a tool, you should pay attention to even the smallest details. Of course, cost also matters. However, ease of use is much more important.

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

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

A bit of history

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

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

When one appeared, the integral design of such a knife was not without flaws. It was a sharp and thin blade, but the problem began when it got dull - how to sharpen it as perfectly evenly 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 dull piece, replace it and continue to work 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 the OLFA company, which produced stationery knives.

Features and Benefits

You can talk about the convenience of this device for a very long time, comparing it with older large brothers. But for each tool there is a niche, a clerical 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 change the blade if necessary. This saved the owners from the need for additional maintenance fuss.
• Undoubtedly, one of the main features of modern design is the ability to adjust the length of the working part. By holding on to a plastic or even a wooden handle, you can independently extend the tool to the required length in order to use it as efficiently as possible.
• Wide scope. Once upon a time, they really kept it in a desk drawer to open envelopes with it. But today you can cut wallpaper with this knife, strip a wire, modify some element of a sculpture, or use it for any design solution.

Kinds

Initially, there was only one type - the classic. But over time, they began to produce many variations of stationery knives that meet the needs of users.

The handles of these tools are made from various materials blades are also different. In addition to these differences, the cutting element can be wide or narrow. Different widths allow you to diversify usage scenarios.

It is worth noting that a knife with a plastic handle is cheaper. But the strength of the structure itself leaves much to be desired. Sometimes the design can simply crack or simply “play” in the hand very unpleasantly, which definitely leaves an unpleasant impression of work. Therefore, experts recommend paying more attention to metal products.

Such knives are pleasantly heavy in the hand, break less and less often, and are safer and more comfortable to use. There are even separate aesthetic options with a wooden case. 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 become yours depends entirely on where and how the tool will be used. For example, if your task is more related to repairs, and especially working with wiring, then you should not choose a knife with a metal handle. It will be safer to use a wooden or plastic frame.

In the case when paper work is required, it is understood that this is a reusable and frequently used option. Because the body may have nice shape and coloring, and the point itself to be incredibly sharp and small.

In addition, in the case of cutting wallpaper or other similar materials, the option with a twisting latch is perfect. Typically, the retainer is used flat and can be accidentally shifted during operation. 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 use on the construction site. These are more professional tools that have a special (usually rubberized) handle and a more durable wide tip.

Since the range of application of stationery knives is very wide, there are different proposals for this demand. You can choose from large or small tools, with a variety of fixing solutions and different point widths.

There are even small devices no larger than a pen. This compact design is convenient to carry around, and its sharpness is perfect not only for ordinary tasks, but also for cutting photo paper. To date a mini knife is being bought more and more often, since a larger one is often not needed by the user.

For even more features in one cutter, a pencil sharpener option is available. And in general, then you immediately open two options for sharpening: with the blade itself or with a special sharpener.

Selection rules

To get the most benefit and even enjoyment from using a utility knife, whatever you need it for, it is important to pay attention to its blade.

• Width in 7 mm and smaller is ideal for the intended use of the knife, whether 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.
• Point of 9 millimeters is, in principle, universal and the most frequent case, it is precisely the same assistant tool in any field. If you do not have clear preferences regarding the scope, then this will be a great option for you.
• Wide blade 18mm wide usually comes in a large rubberized case and does a great job not only with wallpaper, but also with wires. Simply put, for renovation work, this is an excellent choice.

To choose a knife individually for yourself, first of all decide on the scope of use, depending on which you should pay attention to large or small blades. If this issue is already resolved, just take the knife in your hand. And if it lies comfortably, you like how it feels, it is firmly fixed, then this is your choice.

If you want to please close person or a colleague, you can buy not only a beautiful knife, but also a whole gift set. Often such a knife comes with a stylized set of pencils, pens and other stationery.

Before buying, make a control cut on paper to make sure that the functionality suits you perfectly.

A couple of decades ago, no one knew anything about this tool. It didn’t exist yet, it wasn’t invented in general. But now ask any adult and even a child and he will say what it is. In our article, we decided to describe the distinctive features various kinds this tool, so that you can choose high-quality and convenient.

Structurally, a clerical knife consists of a body, a blade and a mechanism for fixing the blade. Also, some models have some "bells and whistles" that increase the reliability, strength and durability of the knife.

To begin with, we note that all stationery knives vary in size depending on the width of the blade. On sale exists 3 blade sizes: 7mm, 9mm and 18mm. The blades on these knives are distinguishing feature. Along the entire length of the blade at regular intervals there are grooves at an angle to the axis of the blade. This was done to quickly "sharpen" the blade. When the blade becomes dull during operation, with the help of pliers, the dull piece breaks off along the groove and the knife becomes like that again. as sharp as new. In this way, you can sharpen the knife 4-5 times. After that, the blade becomes too short and must be replaced with a new one.

A utility knife with a 7 mm wide blade is used exclusively for cutting paper. It is difficult to cut a denser or thicker material with it, primarily due to the fact that the blade is quite thin and bends when cut and the cut turns out to be crooked. A knife with a 9 mm blade is the most common. With it, you can cut paper, cardboard, thin leather, plastic and much more, up to linoleum.

By the way, this knife is very widely used in construction. It can simply be used for both domestic and construction purposes - as they say, "one strike with two birds with one stone." Well, the largest clerical knife with a blade 18 mm wide is already an exclusively construction knife and has nothing to do with clerical matters.

The next element that differs in different models it retainer. On small knives, it is completely made of plastic and looks like a sliding element. When it is moved apart, the blade is fixed; when it is moved, the blade can be moved along the body. However, in good knives the latch is made in the form of a twist with a pressure plate. This type of retainer is more reliable, since the screw is made of steel and is more durable than a plastic element. If you buy a tool not for once, but for many years, choose a screw retainer.

And finally, one more element that you should pay attention to when choosing a clerical knife is body tip from the side of the blade. In cheap models, the case is completely made of plastic, and in expensive and good ones, a metal element is built into the tip of the case, inside which the blade moves.

This element creates additional rigidity to the blade when cutting hard materials, which does not allow the blade to bend when significant forces are applied. For those types of stationery knives that are used in construction, this is very important, since they do not cut thin paper, but durable plastic, linoleum and similar materials.

We will not dwell on the features of the hull shape. Let everyone choose here. But remember that very comfortable ergonomic cases of stationery knives significantly increase the cost - several times. If you are ready to spend a lot of money for such convenience, please, and if you just need a reliable tool, just take a model with a reasonable price, but taking into account the nuances described above.

A stationery knife is an indispensable thing in the household of real hostesses and needlewomen who can create beauty with their own hands. This small but incredibly practical and multi tool can easily work wonders in your home. It is a small knife with a folding blade, which, if necessary, can be easily replaced with a new one.

Initially, its main purpose was to cut paper. But very quickly, such a convenient tool significantly expanded its scope and is now considered to be perhaps the most necessary, in fact, indispensable thing, both at work and at home.

Invention history

Such a convenient multifunctional tool was officially invented not so long ago - in the middle of the 20th century. But its simplest predecessors existed as early as the 17th-18th centuries. and were used by Europeans to open received letters. modern version with replaceable blades invented by the resourceful Japanese Okado.

The main goal of the inventor was to create a practical paper cutting tool that could be used successfully for a long time without the need for sharpening. Okado succeeded in realizing what he wanted, because the knife he invented was widely used in various fields of activity. The same Japanese created the first company for the production of stationery knives - "OLFA" (an abbreviation for the combination "breaking off fragments"), which still remains iconic brand.

Advantages

All in one

This simple tool is popular among both office workers and professional craftsmen in the field. design, construction and repair. But in the house he is able to replace whole line similar, but often quite expensive instruments. This is the main advantage of a clerical knife. They can cut wallpaper and foam, linoleum and drywall, cut out pictures from paper and strip electrical wires. For all these works, you can use special tools, but within the framework of single manipulations, it is more economical and more convenient to use a clerical knife.

No sharpening

Usually any type of such knives is produced with special cut-offs on the blade, which makes it easy to break off the dull part and continue to use the same reliable tool. Most simple models equipped with a removable part that allows you to easily replace worn blades. All this provides perfectly accurate cutting of any elements.

Security at the highest level

When working, you can always choose the most successful blade length, which is provided by a special regulator. With the help of a lock, the selected position can be securely fixed, which guarantees maximum safety. Unexpected loss of the sharp part is simply excluded. Special metal guides provide good resistance to increased loads and reduce the likelihood of injury to zero.

Types of stationery knives

There are many various variations, but most common 2 types of their classification:

• according to the material of the case;
• blade width

It is these parameters that are taken into account in the first place when choosing such a useful thing for the home.

Housing material

Plastic is valued cheaper than metal, but a significant disadvantage of such a case is fragility, as well as a high probability of sudden chips and injuries. Therefore, if you want to purchase a safe knife, it is better not to save money and opt for a metal case. This type of tool will be reliably protected from the blade, which guarantees a minimal risk of injury when working with it.

Blade width

blade width should be taken into account, focusing on the type of work, since excessive loads when choosing the wrong type are fraught with damage to the tool and possible injuries. A 7 mm stationery knife is suitable for cutting decorative figures and various paper decorations, but this is completely bad option to work with wallpaper.

There are three most popular types of blade width: 7, 9 and 18 mm. The 7mm knife is only suitable for cutting thin paper. With thick cardboard, such a knife will either not cope at all, or it will leave oblique cuts and hooks. Knife 9 mm considered universal for use in many construction and finishing works, but can also be used as a stationery. It cuts well both thick cardboard and thin leather and even linoleum. An 18 mm knife is called a construction knife, since it is used exclusively in such work.

Right choice

You can buy a knife at any stationery store. If your goal is to work not only with paper, then in the store of building materials and tools you can buy a large knife, which is ideal for working with wallpaper. First of all, it is worth focusing on your goals for using a clerical knife. But when choosing such a tool, it is also important to take into account other important nuances.

• The knife should fit comfortably in your hand. Therefore, it is important to choose the right model for you in terms of weight and dimensions.
• The knife must be safe for you. Therefore, it is important to make sure that the blade feed mechanism is in good condition, which should slide out easily and smoothly from the body.
• The blades must be made of high-quality stainless steel, otherwise they will simply become unusable for work very quickly.
• Plastic latches can break quickly. Therefore, it is better to choose a model with reliable screw clamps.
• If you choose a paper knife, then it must certainly move easily along it, without leaving any hooks behind it. The cut should be even, without burrs.

Work safety

• It is necessary to work with this tool especially carefully and exclusively on the work surface.
• For work, it is worth putting forward only the required length of the blade and without fail fixing it.
• In the case when all work with the use of a knife is completed, be sure to put the blade back into the body. This will protect you and others from the possibility of injury.
• How to break off the blade of a clerical knife and not get hurt at the same time is a question that many hostesses think about. It is best to use pliers for this purpose. In the device of such knives, a lid with a puzzle is certainly provided, ideally corresponding to the size of the piece that breaks off. This allows you to break the worn element along a clearly defined contour, without fear of possible injury.

The clerical knife will become your faithful assistant in various works on the arrangement of the interior of your home. Replaceable blades, which are easy to purchase and replace if necessary, will ensure long-term operation and allow you to save profitably. This useful acquisition for your home will help you realize far more than one creative idea design, and our WESTWING shopping club will always tell you where to draw inspiration from.

A stationery knife is a versatile modern tool that has found wide application in repairs, construction work, and just in the office. But even such a common and seemingly uncomplicated tool has its own secrets that you must know.

A stationery knife is a common tool with which you can conveniently and with minimal effort cut paper, cardboard, and even plastic. This tool will come in handy during repairs in the apartment. So, a clerical knife will become a worthless salvation when it is necessary to adjust the wallpaper when gluing walls and ceilings, or to align the “tails” of already pasted wallpaper. Moreover, after using a clerical knife, there are no wavy cuts and irregularities, as when using scissors.

The cavity in the knife handle that holds the spare blade

The body of a clerical knife is usually made of plastic or metal. High-quality tools can also be rubberized, which makes them more comfortable to use.

But the main detail that you should pay attention to when buying is the blade. It should be made of durable steel, and on the body of the tool there should be a device that allows you to fix the extended blade or, on the contrary, hide it. The blade must be broken off as it becomes dull.

If the blade of a clerical knife is over, do not rush to the store for a new one. Some models have a cavity in the knife handle that stores spare blades.

What is the slot on the back cover of the knife for, or how to break off a dull blade correctly

Sooner or later, the blade of a clerical knife becomes dull. To restore the functionality of the tool, it is necessary to break off the blade along the oblique mark on the blade surface. But not everyone knows how to do it conveniently and safely. This is where another secret of a clerical knife comes in handy - an inconspicuous gap on the back cover of the handle.

The blunt edge of the knife blade must be placed in the slot on the removed cover. The tool must be held in the hands so that the blade is facing up with the side where there are no dividing marks. After that, it is necessary to bend the blade along the fracture line AWAY. In this case, the blunted fragment remains in the slot of the cover, and the tool again becomes suitable for full-fledged work.

It remains to be noted that the most seemingly familiar things have their secrets. Not all even the most ardent fans of sushi guess. And this is a very important secret!