Carpet Knife

[Haroldson]

Don't often buy something on impulse but I stopped at Harbor Freight to pick up a Jacobs 1/2" drill chuck today and while walking around I saw a utility knife with an angled blade for just a few dollars so I bought it for the leatherworking tool box. Turns out it is a carpet knife that uses rectangular blades with two edges. Looks like 4 edges when all is said and done. Top and bottom edges, two ends. Has anyone tried something like this for leather work?

[BearMan]

Yes, They work pretty nice for general cutting. Just watch out as most of those knife don't have retractable blades,,, & they are very sharp. My uncle was a carpet installer for many years,,, & he told me many horror story's about people getting cut really bad by those. Ed

[Haroldson]

Thanks, good to hear they work.

I had some scraps left over from cutting out my first holster shaped object, I think they will get made into a blade cover.

[Tina]

I only use utility knifes (with ordinary blades) and scalpells to cut leather. I got use to them so my round knife is still to be broken in I never use anything else but a steel ruler with rubber backing for straight cuts, makes it safer....

[Haroldson]

I was looking for a long ruler with some kind or ridge in the center for long cuts, I think I would like something that the knife isn't likely to skip over or cut through. Had one finger stitched up years ago after shaking hands with a robot, don't care to repeat the experience.

Can't believe the cost of a good cutting board, I got a 12x12 for twenty bucks, but the table top size ones were crazy expensive.

[electrathon]

& he told me many horror story's about people getting cut really bad by those. Ed

They are know as a "bloody Mary" to carpet installers.

[Beaverslayer]

Haroldson,

I was out the other day shopping for supplies and went to a Quilting store. The sales lady was cutting fabric on the table with a rotary knife and a real cool looking ruler. I asked her about it, and she told me it was a quilting ruler. They sold them there, and I got one that is 6" wide by 24" long for $24.99. It's quite thick and it has little raised bumps on the underside that hold the material while cutting, my rotary knife just slides right along the thick edge.

I've checked on-line for them, and there are quite a few places that sell them, You can also purchase an anti-slip stick on film for them.

Just Google "quilters quilting ruler" and you'll be able to find someplace near you that sells them.

[TwinOaks]

When looking for your cutting board, see if there's any kitchen supply companies near you. They should have slightly better prices for cutting boards....at least the one down here does. I picked up 2 18x24" boards for around $15 each.

[Haroldson]

Thanks for the tips, I will have to try a larger quilting store, I was idling around while my wife shopped when I found the 12 in square cutting board that I bought. I didn't see any rulers other than the clear plastic triangles. Gee, I wonder if she would like to go hunting quilt stores this weekend.

[Cyberthrasher]

If you're loooking for a cutting mat with the grid and measurements on it, now's a good time to hit up Joanne's Fabric. A lot of those are already on sale this time of year and they have coupons for 50% off if they're not.