Carton Cutters

[sm]

Box Cutters, Economy Cutters...various names still this is the one I am referring to: http://www.uline.com/Browse_Listing_1152.asp?desc=Economy+Cutter

I grew up seeing these used by the folks in grocery stores , hardware stores, and other places. These often times were given out by vendors to stores and employees with the logo of a Coffee, Flour, Cola , Salt, Rice company in a grocery store , in a hardware store with the name of and logo of various companies that supplied all sorts of things from nails, to widow screen material to...

Takes a single edge razor blade. Easy to open , use, and close one handed.
Neat feature is the ability to insert the razor and the base and use as scraper.

I always bought the Pal [tm] or Gem [tm] brand singe edge razors as the container both dispensed a new razor and one could dispose of the used one inside the plastic container. Just like having a miniature Sharps disposal container- very portable too.

I bought a Hyde [tm] at the Mom & Pop Hardware store recently for $1.59 ( I think, it was not much).
http://www.hydetools.com/

Naturally I was given these as a kid, free. Oh I had a knife and all, still this box cutter was right handy, and pretty neat.
Times were different, everyone carried a knife, ladies and gents, - kids as well, and we carried knives to school. We used knives in school for all sorts of things.

All my life I have had one of these box cutters handy. One stays in the vehicle, great to get bugs off a windshield, has other uses, often on long road trips one is in shirt pocket. Have an accident need to cut seat belt to get loose...
Ladies keep one handy where they can reach in case of accident as well, depends on what they are wearing, and how vehicle is fixed for compartments, pockets and what not.

Now we never worried about being PC, many of us still don't. Even after 9/11 folks did not freak out seeing a box cutter being in use in a grocery store, or being in the apron pocket, or when folks like myself used one in public.

Open cardboard boxes, zip right through strapping tap, the Kevlar type mailing packages, cut a loose thread...pop that string, cut heavier cord...maybe cut someone else out of a seat belt. Some pilots keep one handy along with a knife in case they "land in a hurry".

Gets dull or chipped, remove blade and use the other corner/edge of blade - two cutting surfaces (uses ) from one blade.

No sharpening, always sharp and only takes a second to switch blades around or replace all together. Many keep an extra single edge razor blade in wallet.

Less that $2, especially if for free because you asked your Mom&Pop grocery person for one, or, you know a vendor that passes these out as advertising.
Not that big of a deal if you lose it , misplace, or just give away.

Defensive use? Think about it. It is sharp, handy , ambidextrous, slices cuts and ...
Just another tool in the toolbox.


Steve

 

[LanEvo`]

I usually keep a couple of box cutters lying around for those "quick and dirty" jobs where you don't want to mess up the blade of a nice knife. Opening boxes, slicing packing tape, cutting carpet, etc. They're certainly handy to have around.

 

[hso]

Y'know Steve, with all the knives I've got in my collection I've never given these things much thought. Yet they're an inexpensive blade that allows you to perform 99% of the day to day cutting choirs that most of us perform. Nothing to worry about using/abusing/loosing and handy.

Thanks for bringing it to the attention of blade snobs like me.

 

[sm]

Mark the THR calendar hso

hso,

Dang!
Finally after all this time of me being a practical, hard-headed, pain in the butt curmudgeon - I Finally found something old fashioned, simple you could agree with me with.

You could get a carton cutter in pink, or is it purple your wonderful daughter's rifle in in? She could open the cases of ammo you buy her with it.
(Us kids got to stick together ya know...)

Have you heard of these? http://www.pencils.com/

 

[hso]

Have you heard of these? http://www.pencils.com/:)

Good golly! Those look like they come in every color imaginable, don't leak and are water proof as well as made from natural materials!!! What will they think of next?!?!

Simple = good

 

[sm]

Thems neat idn't they?

You can even sharpen them with a carton cutter.

Seriously - These light, thin Carton Cutters can be deployed very fast, minimal movement, discreetly, ambidextrously, and used in a defensive manner.
Mentors shared things such as this starting when I was little. Using a piece of cardboard, we role played. Ladies too.

Dog on a leash in a truck bed end of leash secured to tie in hook - jumped out, and in essence hanging themselves.
Knife one person had ( and I won't be tacky except to say as it was new age design) would not cut that leash.
Zip with a carton cutter and that dog was free. Free carton cutter did what a more new age something could not do effectively.

Tool is only as good as user of said tool. I grew up poor and we did not have all this new age stuff. Just because something is new, does not mean it is the best tool for the job.

I admit having some thoughts on Marketing being about Marketing and making money for them, and whom they Market for - over the consumer getting the best product for the money they "are" to spend.

 

[Rachen]

Carton cutters are probably one of the most versatile

tools out there. They can be used for anything, emergency situations, fixing machines, or even getting that stubborn screw to turn. They are so widely used that you don't even pay attention to them sitting at a counter or a desk.

I prefer a carton cutter for any heavy job to avoid compromising the blade of lets say, an expensive knife that I ordered from China, or something similar.

Defensive use, anything can be used for self defense, but the brain is your most important tool. Think of it as this: You come home, and you have a lantern, a fireplace, and a candle. What would you light first? Me and you will probably say "candle" first. But think again. Shouldn't you light a match first?

You may carry a small folding blade, or a nice 1911 auto. But what should you always use first?Your brain.

 

[sm]

Hey Steve,
I found some old carton cutters, now I have questions...

Do I look like an expert?
That is why Joe Talmadge, Alvin, and even hso are on this board, granted hso is playing with number 2 pencils now that he discovered them...

Q. Do you lube yours and if so with what?
A. Hot soapy water to clean. Lighter fluid removes sticky goo from cutting tape and lubricates. Just like Lighter fluid is used on fine jeweled triggers
Oil attracts dust and dirt which when mixed with lubricates, forms an abrasive "compound" and accelerates wear.

Note: We are not going to use carton cutters for food preparation. Good old fashioned Mineral Oil, the one at the grocery store that the label mentions - "laxative" is food safe. Use this for knives, wooden cutting boards, knife blocks. Being food safe, and a quart is like $2 last time I checked, this is non-toxic, proven, and a quart lasts a long time.


Q. Found one Rusty, chunk it and replace or what?
A. 0000 (4 aught) steel wool works, as does the Finest grit of Scotchbrite pad.
Getting to where I recommend the Scotchbrite pad, ( call it synthetic steel wool if you will) as some folks do not remove the steel in cleaning and this steel will rust. Ever seen a SOS pad left out after use? It will rust. This is a carton cutter - no big deal, but on firearms such as cleaning shotgun chambers, get the steel wool cleaned out thoroughly.

Q. All right, I got the rust off the part that holds the razor blade, but poking and trying to use steel wool , or a Scotchbrite pad - I cannot get to work.

A. Semichrome by Happich is what I have used forever, I grew up with this and always used since I was a pup, and I was born in mid Fifties.

Tie a pc of old fashioned cotton string. That old fluffy white "Postal String" and tie to something. Slip the string through Carton Cutter "sleeve". Apply Semichrome to the string, and hold onto string to keep taut, while running the carton cutter sleeve back and forth.
Use multiple pieces of string if need, impregnated with Semichrome.

Remember this trick whenever you need to polish the inside of something. Dental floss for smaller "interiors" and even a length of old cotton T shirt works for larger "interiors".

Pipe cleaners work too.

Hot soapy water, to clean , Hot water to rinse, pat dry and apply Lighter fluid.

Another note: Ballistol is something else you can use if you just let these Cutters ( anything) soak, will break loose rust.
Warning- Ballistol is that SLICK ! So make no razor bladed around, and do not attempt to pick up a razor blade (or knife) with it on your hand, you can't, and you will slice yourself attempting to...then again being Non-Toxic and all, and was used for minor cuts...

Yes I know some collect these Old Cutters. Food Safe Mineral oil as mentioned above or Ballistol works to preserve.

Q. Where to find the GEM (tm) or PAL (tm) single edge razor blades in the plastic container that also allows you store used blades safe?
[Like a mini Sharps (tm) container]

Shaving section of grocery store, and drug store.
Look past all the "gee whiz" shaving stuff with 47 blades stuffed into the shaving head that use to only hold one, or two. (is there a race as to who can stuff too many blades to shave with that just clog up quicker - or what?)

Some hardware stores and other places such as Feed&Seed, Farm&Tractor Supply stores - that have "work stuff" like electrical supply and all have these too. You won't seen any NetNinja knives , swords and bat belts in these places.
These folks work for a living and use real tools.

Q. Folks Collect these Carton Cutters?!?
A. Yep.
What do folks not collect?

Studebaker, DeSoto for car mfgs.
Intenational Harvester for Pickup trucks, Tractors, Semi's
John Deere, Case, Ford tractors.

Weingartens, National Food, Piggly-Wiggly grocery stores.

Gerber ( baby food, when it came in jars, and folks saved these jars to put nuts, screws, little nails, and what-not in, in ...racks made to hold them and even pegboard inserts to keep a shop nice and organized)
Sanka coffee, ( before bought out) Maryland Club Coffee, Hills Bros, Cain, Folgers,

Tide, Forty Mule Team Borax, Ivory, Biz,
Royal , Olivetti, IBM,

Name a theme and folks collect.

Sorry, but some of this stuff ain't new. Carlos Santana , Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, Bob Seger, Rolling Stones, Beatles and all were kicking it up when I was in HS - of which I graduated from in 1973.

Curmudgeons should be paid attention to. See what one learns?

hso, how you doing with them pencils? Got 'em figured out yet?



Steve

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I've become partial to these Stanley Retractable Pocket Cutters with the snap-off blades. I usually get them for a buck or so at Lowe's or Home Despot. They work well and when the blade gets dull, you can just snap off the end and voila, new cutting edge.

 

[Steelcore]

I have worn the front part that keeps the blade thru when I worked for Costco as a stocker.I keep one on the refrigerator to open tamper resistant packaging.They work great for cutting open the plastic clamshell that they put stuff in.

 

[sm]

David,
I used one of those smaller versions in bright orange when working in the Main OR, along with a carton cutter.

We wore scrubs in this sterile environment of course . Drawstring scrub bottoms, and Orange "snap off" had a pocket clip.

Besides a Carton Cutter, and Disposable Scalpel ( backup / backup) , I used these small snap off cutters too.

OR's get hectic, we had MRSA patient [bad stuff] and I lost a nice knife in the OR opening some supplies for Anesthesia and Charge Nurse. It was dropped onto the floor with all the blood and sponge clothes.

Case finished, instruments counted and STs (Scrub Techs) did take my knife to have it autoclaved - seems it got lost in the instrument room. It was autoclaved, and wrapped in blue sterile paper/ wrap...just not sure where it ended up.

I went disposable for the most part while in the hospital. Disposable Scalpels, are right nice to have handy as well.
Having more than one of something is always good for backups...

Carton Cutters , and Snap offs I kept in my locker . Stanley type box cutters were around, just heavy to carry in the scrubs and more difficult to change blades.
Scalpels were plentiful, light, sharp ( naturally) and being sterile, used as food knife often in the lounge. These locked into place and could be retracted - and used over and over again - get dull - toss in the nearest Sharps container.


Disposable scalpels - Yea, they cut meat real darn well! Heck they cut any food prep - real darn well.