The Best Craft and Hobby Knife

The Best Craft and Hobby Knife – A Buying Guide

A precision knife excels when you need an exact cut across various cutting materials: paper, cardstock, vinyl, corrugated plastic, cardboard, kevlar, and heavy-duty materials. The suitable precision cutter yields a clean line, more so than scissors or other tools.

Plus, the right tool will reduce instances of injury by providing the essential features you need to get the job done. If you’re using utility knives already and want to know what key features you should look for when buying your first precision knife, keep reading!

What key features do the best precision cutters have?

Versatility

It’s not enough to just be used now and then. When you’re shelling out your hard-earned money, you don’t want it to go to waste. The best cutter is a multipurpose tool that can produce clean lines across various cutting surfaces.

The best cutter shouldn’t be phased by corrugated plastic or occasionally opening a box.

Ergonomic Design

Any tool you use needs to be comfortable for you. If at work for long hours, it helps to have a cutter you feel satisfied with. The knives we tested feature ambidextrous designs packed with additional safety features.

The best cutter should fit your hand well, giving you a firm grip that allows you to prevent your hands from slipping. The wrong knife size for your hand can you hand strain and fatigue.

Safety

It’s no use finding the perfect cutter if it hurts you. We recommend Slice cutters because the ceramic blade reduces laceration injuries. It’s no surprise that Slice’s finger-friendly precision cutters make up eight out of nine of the best knives on our list. 

Some cutters come in multiple varieties, allowing you to choose how you want the blade to retract. Many cutters have two options, manual or automatic retraction, allowing you to determine what style works best for you.

Weight

If you’re working on a DIY project for long hours or working overtime in the lab, the weight of your knife may become a source of frustration. On the one hand, you want a knife with a decent weight, so you are not forced to strain when cutting. However, you want a knife that is manageable and easy to maneuver. We sought cutters that struck a good balance between being overly rugged and flimsy. 

What material is best for precision knives?

We recommend ceramic blades because they blade is stronger than steel and more finger-friendly. A single laceration injury can cost upwards of $41,783 according to OSHA. By using a ceramic knife, you reduce the risk of injury, and your project benefits from having the best tool for the job.

While stainless steel blades do provide a consistent cutting-edge and reliable performance, the safety benefits of ceramic outweigh any downsides. Most of our feedback indicated that workers prefer ceramic knives because they don’t require blade changes as frequently. You can go months or years without changing the blade.

What did we look for in the best craft and hobby knife?

How does the blade retract?

Utility knives can either be auto-retractable or manually retracted, and the same goes for precision cutters. Some knives and scalpels have an exposed blade, so there is no need for a retractable mechanism. Generally, a true craft knife does not retract, whereas a more heavy-duty cutter will retract. 

Does the knife include a safety cap?

Some precision knives include a safety cap, such as the Slice 10589 Craft Knife. Safety Caps are critical because they prevent the blade from dulling and protect your fingers. 

How long will it last?

Buy it for life. We aim to find you the precision or craft and hobby knife you need. If it’s taken care of, all the knives on our list should have a long lifespan if taken care of. All the knives on our list have replaceable blades, meaning you save money from disposable alternatives. Plus, it reduces waste. 

Is it easy to replace the blade?

All the knives on our list have replaceable blades. It’s essential to get a tool that doesn’t require another tool to change the blade. All the knives we feature have no-tool blade changes.

Conclusion – The Best Precision Cutter, Craft and Hobby Knife

If you want the best of everything, we recommend a Slice 10589 Craft Knife. For basic coupon cutting and maximum convenience, try the Slice 00200 mini safety cutter. More advanced projects that require a steel blade will benefit from the Pacific Handy Cutter snap-off blade cutter.