need a good utility knife for art school

Z

zdri

Joined
Sep 4, 2007
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7
I'm going to art college in rhode island, I can't have any blade bigger than 3 inches. I want a folding knife.

I was thinking of the atlantic salt since I'll be around liquids, and it's not pointy. The less dangerous it looks, the safer it is for me to use at school. (It won't look as cool though... I want something cool looking like the dejavoo but black things scare people.) I already have a swiss army knife, but it's pretty old and I want something with more cutting power and less likelyhood of closing on my hand. I'll be cutting canvases and who knows what else. This will probably also be my only kitchen knife for a while (if I ever get the time to cook).

The rules say I can't have a knife that isn't designed for artistic purposes. Which is pretty open to interpretation. But current students say it's a good idea to bring a good utility knife and a cutting board.
 
More stupid rules. I was recently at a garage sale thing and he had a knife that he didn't know anything about .It was a matt knife ! Of course that's designed specifically to cut matt board but has a long blade that slips into the handle. A utility knife with small interchangeable blades is probably a better choice for you . But that won't work as a kitchen knife, for that get something larger.
 
I want something cool looking like the dejavoo but black things scare people.
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Knives don't need to be black to look cool.

How about a Kershaw Rainbow Leek (a Ken Onion design)......


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The BRKT Tusk or the Lil Tusk would be a great tool for your art school tasks. Personally, I'd go with the full-sized Tusk, but I think my son prefers the smaller one.

I couldn't recommend them mas kitchen knives though - they'd work after a fashion, but they aren't designed for kitchen duty!
 
How much cutting power do you need? Swiss Army Knives are very good cutters in general. And they don't spontaneously close on one's hand. They need to be made to close.

I find most folding knives are poor performers in the kitchen compared to a cheap Victorinox paring knife. They are non theatening, inexpensive kitchen knives. And a cheap, retractable blade utility knife is great for non kitchen applications. Those two will run you less than $10.

But it sounds like you may be looking for an excuse to buy a nice sharpened object. I'm afraid I can't talk you out of that one.
 
I suggest you look at the Spyderco ZDP/carbon fiber Calypso III or the ZDP/FRN Calypso Jr. They're both fairly small relatively non-threatening knives with a lot of cutting power due to the blade geometry and the ZDP steel. I have both, and they do work well in the kitchen and are otherwise excellent all around utility knives.

They are both still available at www.knifeworks.com.
 
shecky said:
How much cutting power do you need? Swiss Army Knives are very good cutters in general. And they don't spontaneously close on one's hand. They need to be made to close.

I find most folding knives are poor performers in the kitchen compared to a cheap Victorinox paring knife. They are non theatening, inexpensive kitchen knives. And a cheap, retractable blade utility knife is great for non kitchen applications. Those two will run you less than $10.

But it sounds like you may be looking for an excuse to buy a nice sharpened object. I'm afraid I can't talk you out of that one.
Click to expand...
're right, I am kind of looking for an excuse. I shouldn't waste my money.

I don't know exactly what I'll need. But I know I will be working in 3d so I'll need to cut things other than paper. I've kind of abused my swiss army knife, I got it when I was a kid and I would carve wood with it and hold it over burning candles and stuff.It looks ok though.
 
I suggest you look at the Opinels. They are so cheap, you can get a small one for most art work and a slightly larger one for the kitchen. (I bought my first Opinel at Williams-Sonoma.)

Click on Opinel brand knives, the fourth line down.
 
Craftsmanship counts!

For cutting things like foamcore, you're gonna want a very thin, very sharp blade in order to keep your cuts looking nice. I know it's not as cool as a real foldier, but those folding knives that take the utility blade inserts are not a bad option. The nice thing about them is you don't have to take time sharpen anything. Just swap the blade and keep working. If the curriculum at your school is anything like the one I attended, you're going to be pulling more than a few all-nighters. Every little bit helps.

I personally like the snap off utility blades. They can be pushed out for knifelike work with a larger blade, or they can be pulled in and used for heavy duty utility cutting (cardboard, mat board, etc). When the tip gets dull, just snap it off and you will have a fresh sharp tip. They are nice and thin too!

You'll ruin a pocket knife trying to use it for every cutting task you'll encounter in art school and you won't be happy with the quality of the cut in many cases. (Been there done that!) Keep your good EDC folder for everyday cutting chores and use the utility knife for art projects. The small blade and large handle are designed for that kind of work. Take advantage of it.

For kitchen work, get a kitchen knife. You don't have to break the bank to get something good enough to get you through school. Just keep it sharp and you'll do fine.

my $.02

Good luck with school!
 
I forgot to mention, the Kershaw "Needs Work", which works very well as a utility knife. The blade length is at your upper limit of 3". And, you have to be careful using the Assisted Opening in front of "Sheeple".

Dean
 
i'll second the Opinel, and raise you a Douk-Douk.

or, for more PC cutting power, a locking SAK. or even a multitool with a one handed locking blade (LM Wave, etc...)
 
I know you're not going to believe this, but the Myerco auto opener is a fantastic knife. When it finally breaks, it's so inexpensive just buy a new one. Go to Knifecenter.com

Meyerco Razor Folding Assisted Opener Box Cutter Composition Handle
Part Number: MEY1500
Manufacturer: Meyerco
Retail Price: $25.00
You Pay: $14.95

Knife experts are always complaining about the spring, but I've had mine for 5 years without a problem. It actually feels like a much more expensive knife, it's always sharp because of the replaceable blades and........IT LOOKS VERY COOL AND COMES IN BLACK :) .
 
I second the Böker Wharcom or the Böker Subcom in sand colour.

You could use a Mora stainless as a small fixed blade, good utility cutter and has culinary applications too.
 
The more I think about it, the more I'm inclined to agree with those who say get a seperate kitchen knife. For cheap (as in a few bucks @) but good look at Old Hickory.

Over the weekend I got one of the Craftsman folding utility knives from Sears. It used replacable blades with a good flat edge and sharp point that would be great for cutting mats, canvas, cardboard, etc. The lock seems very sturdy. Since it's Craftsman, it has a lifetime warranty that's worth something. It was on sale for $7.77.

Then get yourself a nice non-threatening knife like the Calypso for a regular EDC. If you keep a low profile, I don't think you'll be hassled for it.
 
Get a disposable razor knife or one that you can easily find replacable razors. Find a hardware store near school and see what they carry, then buy 1-2 packages of replacement blades to have on hand. Nothing like being up in the middle of the night on a roll, doing what you love, and needing a sharp thin blade yet not having one on hand.

For the Kitchen I would check out Ragweed Forge for Moras. If you needed just one I am thinking that the 6" blade would be good. I have the 4" version on my magnetic strip and use it regularly along with some other eclectic stuff.
The great thing about moras is that their sheaths keep them razor sharp in the drawer, you don't have to buy a block or magnetic strip to keep the edge.
 
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