Your Best Cardboard Cutting Knife

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Bladenoobie1

Bladenoobie1

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Jul 20, 2012
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Hi,

As of now, my collection only sits at 4 knifes. My folders, a starbenza and a benchmade MPR, aren't necessarily that great when it comes to cutting cardboard. So what I would like to know is which knife in your collection cuts cardboard the best and why-- i.e bladesteel, edge geometry, grind, etc.

I want to find myself a relatively affordable beater that can take a toothy edge, and keep it.

Thanks,
BN

EDIT:

I know the thin profile of a utility knife makes it great at cutting cardboard, but for the sake of this thread lets exclude utility knives as a response.
 
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My ZDP-189 dragonfly2 is my favorite cardboard slicer. It's thin, the leaf shape blade is wide so it's easy to keep a straight cut. And ZDP-189 holds and edge very good considering you're cutting cardboard.

Next I think would be my BM-581. Again, It's thin, pretty wide for a spear point, And M390 holds it's edge.

CPM-M4 also does very well. As a slicer I like the Gayle bradley over my Contego.
 
Stanley tools makes a great one that is designed for just what you want. When the blade gets dull, slide in another one. No need to take it home to sharpen it and forget to bring it back. Cheaper than an old beater too.

Blessings,

Omar
 
I'm personally rather fond of my Spyderco Stretch for cutting cardboard. A Delica (which I don't have) would likely be perfect- the blade is slim and VG-10 sharpens easily and to a great edge.
 
To answer your question, the knife that I have that does the best job of slicing cardboard is absolutely my Kershaw Tilt.

I believe the reason is the very thin blade and cutting edge, and the sharp semi-wharncliffe blade shape and wonderful distal taper.

I have found that other knives I have tend to bunch up thick corrugated cardboard when I am trying to hold the board with one hand and slice with the other.

Thicker is not better for this task, at least in my experience.

All that said, Omar is right to suggest that a utility knife is a good choice for the task, note please that the razor blades are very thin all the way to the cutting edge.

But then again, where is the fun for a knife fan in using a utility knife? I don't know too many folks that collect those. I suppose now we will find a few friends here that do collect old utility knives.

best

mqqn
 
Do you guys prefer a serrated edge or toothy plain edge?

I've been wanting to get a knife from the spyderco salt line. H-1 steel is attractive given its properties and that the fact that the cutting edge on the SE knives are "work-hardened" to the mid upper 60s makes me more inclined to buy one.

My only question is how does a spyder-edge cut on cardboard?
 
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I'd vote for a basic utility knife with replaceable blades. I like the Olfas. If I'm going to cut cardboard, I think it's the best tool for the job.
 
OHALLUM said:
Stanley tools makes a great one that is designed for just what you want. When the blade gets dull, slide in another one. No need to take it home to sharpen it and forget to bring it back. Cheaper than an old beater too.

Blessings,

Omar
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What kind of answer is that? You're on bladeforums for heaven's sake. Try again, with some feeling.

Hands down, my old Schrade Peanut with about a 10 degree per side (dps) edge. Since it's gone now, my Parker Trapper clip blade, rebeveled to 7 dps, finished on a 220 grit water stone.
 
No question about this one for me; a 'Ginsu' knife with a 6" blade. It the ONLY knife I like with a serrated edge (other than bread knives,) has never needed sharpening in all the years I've used it, and use it ONLY for cutting up cardboard boxes.


Stitchawl
 
me2 said:
What kind of answer is that? You're on bladeforums for heaven's sake. Try again, with some feeling.

Hands down, my old Schrade Peanut with about a 10 degree per side (dps) edge. Since it's gone now, my Parker Trapper clip blade, rebeveled to 7 dps, finished on a 220 grit water stone.
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Ok, ok, forgive me for I have sinned! Get a Cold Steel Tuff Lite for about $30 or less with its thin blade shape and its aus8a blade. Easy to sharpen and re sharpen, and re sharpen when cutting cardboard. Which by the way is really hard on any knife blade. You can fold it up and put it in your pocket and call it a "pocket knife." Seriously though it will be a good choice for your intended purpose.

Blessings,

Omar
 
ZDP-189 spyderco Endura 4. For ripping through huge sheets of double thick cardboard nothing I own beats it. FFG blade and a hard as hell steel.
 
Spyderco knives with FFG blades excel at cardboard, I like my mule team in CPM-M4 the best because its very thin and very sharp. Never found a toothy edge to do very well on cardboard unless the properties of the steel called for it.
 
Spyderco Endura and Delica are fantastic, as is the Skyline. The SOG Flash 1 is good for small lengths of cardboard on the seams. I definitely prefer the straight edge. With serrations you have to saw through. Plain edge can just push or slice-cut. Also I'll suggest against ZDP-189. It's a hard steel that is tough to sharpen. My VG-10 and 14C28N gets me through a couple days of work before I need to sharpen it
 
I can't believe nobody has suggested an Opinel yet!!! Mine slices through cardboard like a hot knife through butter, even when dull. Plus, they are cheap as heck and cool to boot!
 
All of my knives cut through cardboard like butter.

but id say my misono carbon sujihiki goes through super quick and almost silent.

sharp knife cuts cardboard, super sharp cuts it silent.

8000 grit kitayama as a polisher and gesshin 400 and 4000 grits for sharpen.
 
I find the Kershaaw Needs Work to be very well designed for cutting up lots of cardboard, as long as it is properly sharpened first. The blade-to-handle angle and fat handle make it easy and comfortable to use on big jobs.
 
Shotgunjimmy309 said:
I can't believe nobody has suggested an Opinel yet!!! Mine slices through cardboard like a hot knife through butter, even when dull. Plus, they are cheap as heck and cool to boot!
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what he said, the thicker the cardboard the thinner the blade must be. opinels are king, thin kitchen parers work well too.
 
My mantra for the 'best cardboard cutter' is defined in two words: polished convex. :D

Even works with thicker blades, which is why I like it so much (and how I arrived at this epiphany in the first place).


David
 
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