Need a throw away working folder

[1911JMB]

I just got a new job removing asbestos from old industrial buildings. Before somebody says "your nuts" I should mention that with all the laws and regulations that are in place, its actually a very safe job. The air in the enclosures is filtered to the extent that its completely changed at least every 15 minutes, Hepa Respirators and protective suits are worn, and everything is hosed down with water to prevent asbestos dust clouds. What that means is that someone in NYC is exposed to more asbestos from brake pads than I will be while removing the stuff. (The dust in the air when the Trade Center's fell was absolutely full of asbestos, but thats another story.)

Anyway, I need a knife to cut away at old thick insulation. A regular utility knife will be my first choice, but often the blade will not be long enough. The knife must be a folder which has a blade of at least 3.5", it must be impervious to water (probably stainless blade and plastic handle), it must be very easy to clean, it should have a belt clip, and it should be as cheap as possible so I can throw it out after a week or two and buy another. Also, it can't be a Frost knife. I hold them responsible for putting the real Schrade out of buisness, and their cliphanger CH7 would have been perfect.

 

[modifiedbrowning]

Maybe checkout the Byrd line of knives from Spyderco, average about $20. I bought two the Raven and Cara Cara and they are nice knives for the price.

 

[lesjones]

Just for clarity - are you having to throw the knife away at the end of a project because it's considered contaminated material?

 

[1911JMB]

Tools are decontaminated during "showering out".

 

[Waywardmonk]

You can get a Spyderco Native at Wal-Mart for a good price, it's one of their low end knives but that still makes it higher end than Frost or United Cutlery and the crap they dare call knives. Also be on the lookout for Cold Steel's Voyager line of knives, decent price and good working knives.

 

[lee n. field]

Buck Juno folder, $15 or so from Wally World. Stainless blade, plastic handle, lock back, half serrated. No clip, but does have a hole you can use for a lanyard.

 

[1911JMB]

The Cara Cara seems to be the "pick of the litter" at this point. Its got a properly long blade, a pocket clip, and rusting won't be an issue. Above all else, after I destroy it using it to slash at insulation with metal underneath, I won't feel bad about throwing it away.

 

[Preacherman]

Another recommendation for Spyderco. Their value-for-money ratio is about the best I can think of.

 

[Devonai]

There are a bunch of good deals on Cheaper Than Dirt right now:

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/other_bjed.htm

 

[hso]

I've got to recommend going back to the utility knife. The abuse that a blade will take cutting asbestos insulation is phenominal and even the best blades will not endure this very long. Add to the fact that you'll be hitting metal all the time with the tip and edge and you've got quite a test for any blade material. A knife capable of withstanding this is going to pretty expensive to toss out every week. A knife that you could aford to toss out every week won't last a week. The solution, the cheap utility knife with exchangable blades. If you've got to have a folder get the Super Knife. Don't waste your money on the cheaper checkout line knock offs. Pay the pennies extra for the better product.

 

[LAK]

Dollar store; buy ten large plain edge folders. Use a very coarse stone or other medium to sharpen them - toss them as they wear out.

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http://ussliberty.org
http://ssunitedstates.org

 

[albanian]

"The abuse that a blade will take cutting asbestos insulation is phenominal and even the best blades will not endure this very long. Add to the fact that you'll be hitting metal all the time with the tip and edge and you've got quite a test for any blade material. A knife capable of withstanding this is going to pretty expensive to toss out every week. A knife that you could aford to toss out every week won't last a week."

Good points.
You are simply not going to get a good knife like you want for $10. My best advice is to go with a Opinal which is a good folder for about $8-12 depending on model but doesn't have a belt clip or get a fixed blade. Frost Mora out of Sweden makes some very decent knives for about $7-9. They come with very comfortable handles and a plastic belt sheath that can be washed.

 

[hso]

Good advice albanian on the Mora.

If there's any way to carry this small fixed blade I would select it. They're tough, can be kept sharp with just a little skill and if you select the plastic handled stainless versions will even survive the decon showers (Opinels won't be a good choice since they will swell and quit working when subjected to the wetting the decon shower will bring). Oh, and they're the best bargain in knives bar none.

 

[Sunray]

Two words. Box. Cutter. Cheap with replaceable 6"ish blades. Available in dollar stores and any hardware store.

 

[Sharpdogs]

Get a box cutter or an opinel like the one below.

https://edcdepot.com/merchantmanage...s_id=3&mmsid=34e3ed479a4f2fff8b8aa57cd2e2e6ce

If you really need the belt clip you can get one of the Kabar Dozier folders. They are relatively inexpensive but I still would hate to see someone throw one away.

https://edcdepot.com/merchantmanage...s_id=4&mmsid=34e3ed479a4f2fff8b8aa57cd2e2e6ce

I think your best choice may be the super knife. It even has the belt clip.

http://www.superknifestore.com/cgi-bin/shop.pl/page=catalog.htm

 

[1911JMB]

A lot of you guys are reccomending I use a utility knife, but as I said, I already have 6 of those. Many of the suggestions you guys have been offering up are very good, but I think the Boker catalog that came in the mail a couple days ago has the winner. There are these 20 dollar a piece Boker magnum series folders with 4.5" blades of 440 stainless. I will be ordering 3 of them tomorrow, 1 of which will be babied because they look rather nice and I would feel bad recking them all.

 

[warriorsociologist]

How about a pack of linoleum knives?

Like these ( 5 / $23-$30):
http://www.acehardware.com/sm-linoleum-knives--fi-1305218_cp-1254532.1254896.html
or:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...3051-0050218?_encoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=228013

here is one with a plastic handle ($5 a pop):
http://www.toolprice.com/product/6804A
another:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...3051-0050218?_encoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=228013

 

[Col Kurtz]

Opinel
Stainless or Carbon steel. They are one of the best work knives available for the price.

 

[kumma]

call havels 800-638-4770 they sent me a flyer for a stainless folder knife called the piranha with removable 2.75 inch stainless blades. the knife is 30 bucks and it 27 bucks for 100 blades. I have one ordered but havent received it yet, sounds like a good canidate for your job.

 

[rtl]

I bought a Byrd Cara Cara for curiosity sake due to price about a year ago. Between the balance, heft, width, durability and overall quality it's become my EDC over knives I own costing five times the price. One of the better buys out there, IMHO.

 

[albanian]

I know of a high quality all stainless knife that has proved itself to me. It is the Kershaw Vapor. They also make the Vapor II. One is larger than the other so if you need a bigger blade, you have that option. I had the smaller one and I can't tell you the abuse it took and shruged off. These are $19.95 at Walmart but don't let the low price spook you, they are really well built. They are made with a medium grade steel like 440a or similar so they are not brittle or super hard. They take an edge in no time but won't stay sharp as long as better steel. The trade off is, they are much easier to sharpen.

I had one for over a year while working contruction building elevators. I have dropped it down hoistways 3-4 stories high. The first time I did that, I thought it was a gonner. I almost didn't bother to retrieve it because I thought it had broken. When I picked it up, it had some concrete stuck to it which I was able to brush off with my glove and it was fine. A few small scratches and dents is all that it shows after a solid year of near abuse. I guess you could call dropping a knife 4 stories onto soild concrete to be true abuse. I have cut everything with it and even though it is only a $20 knife the gentle recurve of the blade make it cut like a better knife. The full flat ground edge also make it slice much better than any hollow ground knife I have owned. It is a frame lock ala CRK Senbeza and the lockup has always been solid and it never even came close to failing.

Just another idea since it is all steel so it can be power washed if need be. One tough knife!

 

[rtl]

...and that's my other carry knife, the Kershaw Vapor. Good call albanian. I paid more than $20 for mine, but have seen them at WalMart for that and have bought several for family and friends since.

 

[p35]

SMKW is selling out a bunch of the old Ireland made Schrades at ridiculously low prices. I just got a couple fixed blade hunters for about $3 apiece. Look there and stock up.

 

[Fosbery]

You can get a Spyderco Native at Wal-Mart for a good price

Dang, you can't even get a Swiss Army knife knife from supermarkets here, let alone quality stuff like Spyderco. Obviously our supermarkets don't sell rifles like yours since there'd be legal complications, having to get registered as dealers etc, but there's nothing stopping them selling knives.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Any one of several designs by Bob Dozier and manufactured by Kabar ahould fit your needs nicely for $19.95. Take a look at A.G. Russell's catalog at http://www.agrussell.com/knives/by_maker/e_through_k/kabar/kabardozier_thumb_notch_folder.html .



lpl/nc