Blade Circular
Having worked in the construction industry for quite some time I have to say that I am surprised that I never saw a blade circular many years earlier. I first came across them when talking to a person who lays plasterboard and gyprock, and they need knives which are high quality. You can have the best knife in the world but at the end of the day the way it cuts comes down to the type of blade that you are running. Most blades are flat along the cutting side, which has advantages. However, there has been a new type of blade out for quite some time now, known as a blade circular. The main difference is very obvious; the cutting edge has a big curve along it, and the tip of the blade is very pointy.
The difference; a lot! Looks might be deceptive on this, but you will soon find out after using them that they are much better for a number of things. Of course, this has its exceptions but you can use them for what you want. If you think about it, when do you ever use the whole of the flat bit for cutting anyway? Would it make any difference using one that isn’t flat along there? In almost every situation a curved blade will do the same job as a flat blade, which is great as it is able to multi task. What this really means is that standard Utility Knife Blades are not worth buying!
Consider now that the point on a blade circular is considerably sharper. The bulk of your cutting is done with the tip of the blade, which is why these are so good. For scoring timber, plasterboard or gyprock, the curved blades work so much better. Because they have a sharper point they can cut much quicker and cleaner. The result is a blade which is twice as effective. This results in having to do less work, which is always a good thing! You can get these blades for about the same price as a standard one; meaning you don’t lose out at all.
If you haven’t tried these, give them a go. They are truly awesome, but you wouldn’t figure that by just looking at them. Be aware though that the point on the curved blades is often so sharp you will hurt yourself on it, if you aren’t careful! You can get these blades to fit into any Stanley knife, along with various other knives. A good quality knife will be able to accept the blades regardless of their shape. Remember that even with the best knife without a high quality blade you are going to find it difficult to do what you need. I would suggest starting off with a good Stanley Cutter is a great way to go!
These blades are not snap off; once they are worn you can turn them around (if they are double sided) or you have to throw the blade circular out. This is fine, as you can buy them in bulk for a good bargain. Keep them safe, and be careful when changing the blades and you won’t regret switching over to a blade that is curved!