Thread: Fixed blade X-acto knife?

OK, it isn't a razor, but let's go with it.

I'm fooling around with doing some stencil art. Typically, stencils are cut from Mylar using an X-acto knife. The problem is, the blades are not sharp. (At least, not by my standards). So I've been sharpening them on a little Arkansas stone.

Does there exist a fixed-blade knife that's about the same size & shape, that's meant to be hand-sharpened? Wood carving knives look a little too stout for fine stencil work. Of course I can simply continue to hand-sharpen the X-acto blades, but to me, disposable bladed knives have always lacked an element of class.

Originally Posted by Johnny J

OK, it isn't a razor, but let's go with it.

I'm fooling around with doing some stencil art. Typically, stencils are cut from Mylar using an X-acto knife. The problem is, the blades are not sharp. (At least, not by my standards). So I've been sharpening them on a little Arkansas stone.

Does there exist a fixed-blade knife that's about the same size & shape, that's meant to be hand-sharpened? Wood carving knives look a little too stout for fine stencil work. Of course I can simply continue to hand-sharpen the X-acto blades, but to me, disposable bladed knives have always lacked an element of class.

Maybe you can find an old school scalpel and regrind it a little.

Maybe you could try a wood marking knife. Look for images on GOOGLE there are many shapes.

Good day,

McKie

Mke yourself a rigid Xacto from a ruined razor. Insert the razor in a dowel or broomstick then grind/sharpen to specification. I first drilled a hole the diameter and length of the tang. Next back the bit out to 1/2 the depth of tang and wallow the hole making a slot the width of the tang. Plunge the bit back into the hole to widen the lower half to the same width. To finish, use the bit as a router to make the slot walls parallel. Always dump the cuttings out as you proceed. Insert the blade and gently tap into the hole until bottomed. I clamped the blade in vise jaws and tapped the dowel about a quarter of an inch at a time. Cut dowel to comfortable handle length. Give it a griind/shape and hone to satisfaction. I may just hone this blade for a Japanese-style non-folder razor. New life for mistakes!