Thanks Ian . Like the idea of the curved for scraping those annoying bits left after removing from a sprue.Small straight for tight places, the bigger one for heavier work, Small and large curved for scraping and cutting PE free. P-cutter for cutting sheet.
What Andy says. Small curved 15 for almost all building tasks and a 10a for straight cuts and fiddly stuff. I buy them in boxes of 100 (non sterile) at a time and they last me years. I do have others, like some heavier straight blades and curved blades for etch and scratchbuilding, but by far my most used is the 15. I also have two retractaway handles for them, one for each. This means the blades are cased when not in use, protecting me from the blade, and the blade from damage. I also have several number three handles and a couple of number four handles I can load with other blades as needed. I got these from a safety purge at work. Scalpels were widely used for all manner of cutting tasks, mostly unsuitable, leading to lots of accidents. Safety had a purge and banned them from the workplace. I was tasked with collecting and disposing of them from my unit, so I disposed of them into my lunch boxI've never really got on with big blades like the 11 but have a few disposables for when they are needed. I have a handle with a straight 10a blade but that doesn't get used much either.
I use the small, straight 15a quite a lot for cutting straight lines in plastic, tape, etc along a straight edge but by far my favourite is the small, curved 15 which is used for cutting, scraping, chiseling and all manner of other things.
I find curved blades help for really delicate cuts too as you can put the blade in place and roll it along the curve, rather than swiping and risking a slip.
I'm just off to have an enjoyable visit to Aldi, I'll keep my peepers open!!!!View attachment 502188
Workzone brand, made by https://www.walteronline.com/en, think they were either a Lidl or Aldi purchase.
Also use a set of handles and blades bought from ebay , Chinese origin, which are very good , but not strong enough to cut thru sprue, use my cheap blue handle cutters for thayt.
I have a sharps container for the medicine I take from an autoinjector, single use, then chuck in container.Of course, with scalpels you really need one of these….
View attachment 502194
It’s the safest way to dispose of them, and makes blade removal very easy as well. By no means expensive either. If you want to terrify yourself. Have a good browse through the Swann Morton web site…..there are a bewildering range of very sharp tools on there Which could do serious damage if used badly.
I too have a sharps container for auto injections, but I find the little box better to keep on the bench. I just drop it in the 4 L sharps tub for disposal when it gets full ( about every two years)…..that PM 40 is a bit terrifying when you think what it was initially designed forI have a sharps container for the medicine I take from an autoinjector, single use, then chuck in container.
I have a swan morton blade from a heavy duty lab knife.
Post Mortem PM40 Blade. Swann-Morton Ltd
This heavy duty blade for use during Post Mortem procedures fits the PM40 Stainless, PM40 Standard or PM40 Plated Handles.www.swann-morton.com
‘Parsing error’. Try reducing the image size to below 1 MegNormally Swann-Morton 10 & 11 on a number 3 handle.
The No.10 for PE removal and removing the bulk of ejector pin marks (especially on internal curves).
The No.11 for everything else. I have found one particular edge of it...
(tried to attach pic but kept getting "Parsing Error Failed")
...to be particularly useful for scraping fine or recessed areas.
In absence of a picture, it it the small flat edge on the back of the tip.
For FULL Forum access you can upgrade your account here UPGRADE