Choose the Right Snap-off Knife [Guide]
The right snap-off knife can save you a lot of money...
Welcome to the Swedish knife and blade specialist Sollex! We are experts in knife blades and have cutting tools for professionals that suit many applications. Our range is a mix of the highest quality safety knives available and knives for digital cutting systems, machines and industry.
Content:
- What is a utility snap-off knife
- Applications
- Difference between snap-off knives: 9, 18, 22, 25mm
- Safety snap-off knives
- Tips on how to choose the right snap-off knife
- Customer case
About Utility Snap-off Knife
One kind of utility knife that is frequently used in many different industries, particularly those related to construction, logistics, crafts, and hobbies, is the snap-off knife.
Snap-on blade knives are available in a number of sizes and designs, with some versions including built-in blade storage compartments or a container for disposing of snap-off blades.
A utility knife's handle is often constructed of sturdy plastic or metal and is meant to provide a comfortable grip.
Some models include a screw or similar mechanism on the knife handle that may be used to more clearly secure the blade so it does not wobble when pressure is applied during cutting.
There are two conventional knife blade widths: 9mm and 18mm, and 22mm and 25mm, which are less commonly used.
A snap-off knife's blade has small fragments that may be snapped off to reveal a fresh, sharp cutting edge. The blade typically consists of 8–13 snap-off segments. When making accurate cuts on a daily basis, snap-off knives are an invaluable tool
Learn more about snap-off blades in our other article "8 types of utility blades".
Applications
Snap-off knives are perfect to cut through a variety of materials, such as leather, plastic, foam board, cardboard, and paper. When cutting wallpaper to fit or eliminating extra carpet, these knives come in handy for trimming materials' edges. They are also excellent in scoring materials such as wood, plastic, or drywall, which allows for simple snapping along the scored line. The snap off knife is needed for jobs requiring accuracy because of its design, which also makes it possible to cut materials like cloth, paper, and foam precisely. Snap-off knives are a common option for do-it-yourselfers because they work well for tasks like cutting foam board forms, removing wallpaper, and cutting plastic sheets for model construction.
There are also special quality blades that are designed for more demanding cutting tasks. In our assortment we have such special quality snap-off knives and blades for professional users of PRO series, which are made of special ice-hardened German steel and cut through most materials without resistance - 90P, 180P, 180S. These blades are very sharp and are used for cutting thick plastic, rubber, foil, cardboard, paper, textiles, wallpaper, flooring and are adapted for heavy duty use.
Difference Between Snap-Off Knives: 9, 18, 22, 25mm
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Snap-off knives and blades are categorized by width into 9mm, 18mm, 22mm and 25mm. A knife of a given width requires a corresponding blade width.
9mm Snap-Off Knife
Small snap-off knives with a 9 mm wide blade are optimally suited for detail work, creating various crafts, hobbies, as well as for packing and unpacking. Such knives are ideal for cutting thin materials such as paper, kraft paper, cardboard, wallpaper, leather, vinyl, film. Additionally, 9mm knives are frequently used by advertising businesses to foliate, vinyl wrap vehicles, windows, and other items, flawlessly replacing scalpels for precise cutting.
18mm Snap-Off Knife
The 18mm snap-off knives are used both in everyday life and by professionals to cut wallpaper, corrugated cardboard, flooring, drywall, and polyurethane. There is a wide range of knives available on the market from various manufacturers, with varying designs and materials. As a result, selecting the best knife for you is both simple and challenging. We'll provide you some tips on how to select the best knife below.
Sollex's best seller is called 180P and is a utility blade optimized for wallpaper and flooring materials.
22 & 25mm Snap-Off Knife
The 22mm and 25mm knife widths are two of the less common variations available. In some cases, the wider blades will be preferable because of their increased thickness and greater wear resistance. For instance, the usual thickness of the 9mm and 18mm is 0.40 and 0.50 mm, respectively, but the thickness of the 220USN 22mm and 250USN 25mm wide blades is 0.7 mm.
If you're looking for a specific knife blade, please get in touch and we can help sort out what might suit you.
Snap-off Utility Blades without Segments
Do you like the idea of using more than 10 mm at a time of your utility knife? Then use blades without segments. These cannot be broken off and are well suited to use up to 70 mm out from the knife.
You can order knife blades without segments from Sollex and these are called 180LUS.
Safety Snap-off Knives
Snap off knives are highly sought-after due to their sturdy and straightforward design. Select a proper safety knife, nevertheless, if you work in the food sector or are uncomfortable handling knives.
For cutting typical industrial materials, Sollex is able to provide safety snap off knives from Martor, such as the Secunorm 380, which is a semi-automatic retractable spring-loaded knife. When cutting a lot at work, safety snap-off blades are preferred over regular box cutters. The Martor 380001 safety knife uses segment-free blades (Martor Styropor 79, 379, 7940), guaranteeing that the blade won't chip and hurt the user.
Choose the Right Utility Knife
Choosing the right cutting tool can sometimes feel like a challenge, which is why we have chosen to explain how to think about finding the right utility knife.
As a first rule, choose a snap off knife with a metal blade rail. This will make the blade last longer and give you a better grip on the blade. This will give you better cutting quality. Avoid knives made of simple plastic since they are not sturdy and wear out soon.
Prefer snap-off knives with standard blades to avoid being confined to a single blade brand in the future. Replacing blades with various coatings or sharp grinding increases the utility of your knife, so avoid purchasing knives that require only one type of blade.
Choose knives with a comfortable grip that is either rubberized or ribbed, since operating in gloves, which is strongly advised, will keep hands from slipping and prevent inadvertent cuts.
If your aim is to select a knife with a universal size, consider an 18mm blade.
Consider the type of material you will be cutting. Often the small utility knife is very good for simple cutting. The larger 18mm utility knife works better on tougher and thicker materials such as flooring, cutting rubber or cutting PUR materials.
General tips on how to cut with a snap-off knife
The snap-off knife blade is designed to use only 10mm of the blade at a time. Therefore, use only one blade segment at a time. So leave only about 10mm of the blade in front. This is to avoid damage and to get a better cut. If you want a longer blade, use only blades without segments such as the Sollex 180LUS.
How to snap off a utility knife's blade? Always use pliers or the Sollex Safety box 988 when breaking off a blade segment.
Sollex recommends the best 9 & 18mm knife cutters
Sollex's best-selling snap off knife is the 5180, also known as the NT Cutter L-500GRP. It's a convenient snap-off knife with a functional auto-lock feature. We have clients that have been using their 5180 for over 10 years.
The 9180 NT Cutter Metal Screw Lock L-500G／L-500GP is the best 18mm snap-off knife for floor layering and construction work. 9180 is a snap-off knife with a metal blade rail, a sturdy magnesium frame, screw and an extensible blade with a auto locking mechanism. Automatic blade feed from a magazine with 6 additional blades.
The Sollex bestseller of 9mm snap off knives is the 5190 or as it is called the NT Cutter A-300GR. A stockist told us that he has had his 5190 for more than 16 years. By changing the blades, the knife stays functional for a much longer time. Olfa's nice little knife SVR-2 is in our range as some customers want as minimal a 9mm blade as possible. As a general recommendation for 9mm blades we recommend the Sollex 90P Blade PRO 9mm.
Sollex's best-selling 9mm snap off knife is the 5190 snap-off 9mm PRO NT Cutter A-300GR. A stockist informed us that he had owned his 5190 for over 16 years. By replacing the blades, the knife may last considerably longer. Olfa's beautiful tiny knife SVR-2 5090 is in our collection, as some customers prefer as small a 9mm knife as possible.
The Right Utility Knives and Blades Can Save you a Lot of Money - Customer Case
One Sollex customer employed 67 people in their warehouse. Approximately 30 Stanley snap off knives were used per week to open and cut cartons. The cost was about SEK 30 per disposable knife. The total cost over a four-year period was estimated at SEK 180 000. The Sollex 5180 utility knife was labeled with each employee's name. The cost of the knives and professional blades was SEK 3,772. The knives are still working today and have reduced the need for disposable knives and improved health and safety. The savings to the customer from using the correct blade was SEK 176,000 over four years.
High Quality is Important to Us
When you unpack the utility knives and blades you order, we want you to feel the same love for the product as we do when we make them. All of our utility blades are made to a high quality and are designed for professional users. By choosing high quality tools, you get cutting performance that won't fade over time. We also offer fast delivery because we know how important it is to have sharp blades for your pruning knife!
Contact Sollex
Utility snap off knives are used for various tasks in construction and manufacturing operations. Whether you're looking for a sturdy utility knife for demanding cutting jobs or a more nimble version, Sollex has the knife for you. If you have any questions about our snap-off knives, how to buy or anything else - get in touch with our customer service and we will be happy to help you with your questions! Buy your blades and blades online!
