Modellers and Knives: need advice

[XPADREX]

Are X-Acto significantly better for modelling than TCP Global? Ever heard of the latter? Will it matter?

I have a son who crafts things- in fact, as I might write about later, he shocked me with the precision in which he wielded a pair of scissors and a nail to produce crisp angles on a fusion reactor- but I digress.

Long story short, he deserves the right tools.

I saw these:

http://www.amazon.com/Scrapbook-Modelmakin...5016&sr=8-8

...and it seemed a mega-kit for the price.

For similar scratch, X-Acto gets you:

http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/x-acto...ife-set-602417/

[]I)Money]

the blades are interchageable between mfgrs, so I would say, get that one. If later, there is a specific handle or something that is significantly better by xacto, then add that.

As I type, I am looking at a 32? year-old scar on my left index finger from a model-building-exacto experience.

[Motornoggin]

I remember trying to use a pocket knife to cut out parts for home made balsa gliders. Didn't take long for my dad to get me the big set of Xacto razors. I still have most of them. I don't know that any one brand is better than another, just as long as they hold the blades nice and tight.

[JimVonBaden]

My experience with X-acto knives? Get the better set. I am no tool snob, but I have broken more cheap hobby knives than I can shake a stick at, but the X-acto brand always held up better. Buy the good set, and add a nice assortment of inexpensive blades.

Jim

[XPADREX]

Sounds like a good call, Jim.

I'll visit a Hobby Store- perhaps take him with me- and we'll see what's up.

Thanks to all who replied- after seeing what he did with "nothing"- well... he deserves to get better than an old pair of kitchen shears. I had no idea what he was making, until late last night.

This is my 14 year old, who despite a diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes this past Oct. 31, manages to get straight A's without prompting, maintains a diet and blood glucose log that the doctors copied to show others, and in short- has been a true inspiration to me throughout his short life.

[AlanCT]

I loved building models (WWII German aircraft) in my teens and I still return to that hobby from time to time as an adult. I always liked X-acto knives vs. whatever random cutting tools I would sometimes resort to.


Get the boy a Dremel and an airbrush while you're at it!

[Bender]

Xacto!!

[Chilipepper]

If he needs good sharp knives you might want to think of scalpels to use for modelling. You can get ones that are unsterilized at medical supply or college book stores. They last a very long time and can make xacto blades feel like using a butter knife.

[Mini Trail]

I sold these things for years. That knockoff set is probably good enough, but I have gone through a lot of crappy handles and there's nothing like a tight Xacto Gripster that tightens from the bottom (not the top like the chrome ones in the link). Next, buy a box of 100 #11 blades, the knockoffs do fine in this respect. You'll never need the other 49 blade designs and sizes in those kits. With the money you save on skipping the wooden box, get a hobby saw. Either Xacto or the cheap ones. Get a corded Dremel with extra cutoff wheels, I like the thicker ones that come in the tube, but not the big ones that look like fiberglass. Now you can cut anything.

[coppertop]

that the part that grips the blade is not plastic. (so that's why the hobby knife set at Harbor Freight was so cheap...) and get the good blades. I've had thin ones snap off and was very glad I was wearing safety glasses when one did...