Which hand cutting tool to choose: utility knife, shears or saw?

To choose a hand cutting tool, start from the material and its thickness, not from the tool: an 18 mm utility knife is fine for cardboard, tapes and cable sheathing, tinsnips for sheet metal, a handsaw or Japanese saw for wood, a hot knife for polystyrene. A tool used beyond its capacity cuts badly and puts your hand at risk. Here you will find the types that really exist in the collection and how to match them to the job.

The types

• Utility knives: a snap-off blade with a locking wheel, for cardboard, tapes, cable sheathing and carpet. The blade widths you will find are 9, 18, 22 and 25 mm. One example is the utility knife with locking wheel 18 mm DeWalt DWHT10332-0.
• Replacement blades: for utility knives and saws. They are also sold in multi-piece packs (the data show packs from 1 up to 60). For the Japanese saw there is the extra-fine replacement blade.
• Shears: for sheet metal and thin metals. There are the straight-cut tinsnips DeWalt and the lever shears for sheet metal Fervi, which use leverage to cut with less effort.
• Scissors: work, multi-purpose, for thin cables, fabrics and lightweight materials.
• Saws and hacksaws: handsaws for wood, small saws, hacksaw frames for metal. Cutting is by hand, so control is good but it takes time.
• Knives: pocket knives, with a trapezoid blade, and hot knives for polystyrene.
• Glaziers' tools: glaziers' rules and squares, for marking out and guiding the cut on glass.

How to choose by job

For a hot knife, adjustable temperature matters: you will find it on Fervi models, such as the hot knife for cutting polystyrene 0321. It lets you set the heat to the type of polystyrene.

The features to look at

• Material: in the collection you will find steel, carbon steel and stainless steel. Stainless steel resists damp better, while carbon steel usually keeps its edge well but rusts if you leave it wet. ABS, rubber and wood also appear, mainly for the body and handle.
• Length and size: the most common lengths range from 130 to 300 mm, with some tools up to 380 mm. The longer the tool, the more leverage you have, but the less control in precision work.
• Blade width: for utility knives, 9 mm for fine work, 18 mm for everyday use, 22 and 25 mm for heavy-duty cuts.
• Pack size: for replacement blades, look at the pieces per pack, from 1 to 60. On site it pays to keep a stock.
• Weight: from a few grams for utility knives to over a kilo for the largest tools. If you cut all day, you feel the weight.

Common mistakes

• Using the utility knife for everything: thick sheet metal or wood must be cut with the right tool, not by scoring a thousand times.
• Keeping a worn blade: a blunt blade needs more pressure and slips. Change it when you feel it struggling.
• Cutting towards your body: the blade should always be moved away from the body, with the free hand kept out of its path.
• Not clamping the workpiece: a workpiece that moves is the most common cause of crooked cuts and injuries.
• Forgetting cut-resistant gloves: you need them with blades and sheet metal, especially when handling freshly cut edges.

Frequently asked questions

How do you cut plasterboard by hand?

Score the face side with the utility knife, snap the board along the line and cut the opposite side. A sharp blade and a fixed straightedge make the difference.

What is the difference between shears and scissors?

Shears have sturdy blades and longer levers for cutting sheet metal and thin metals. Scissors cut lightweight materials such as thin cables, tapes and fabrics.

How do you cut polystyrene insulation?

With a hot knife, which melts the material along the cutting line. The edge stays clean and the job is faster than with a cold blade.

How often should the blade be changed?

When the cut needs more pressure or leaves frayed edges. With abrasive materials, such as plasterboard, this happens sooner.

You will find all the models in the hand cutting tools collection: for advice on the material you need to cut or for a quote, write to the AMES technicians.