Dummy knives: features, selection and methods of use

Model (mock) knives stand out noticeably against the background of ordinary tools and differ from them in their properties and functions. Such knives can be used both for office purposes and in construction. Most often they are used for cutting and artwork. Such tasks require a very careful and competent approach, which means that the knife must be of high quality, sharp and comfortable. In addition, you must be able to properly handle it. In this article we will pay attention to the breadboard knife, touch on other varieties, talk about their functions and features of the choice.

Many modelers, especially beginners, often resort to using ordinary stationery knives. Skillful hands can not only open an envelope with them or cut a napkin. Simple scissors can also be used. A truly talented modeller is able to create a work of art using improvised means. But model knives can greatly simplify the work, making it more convenient and faster.

The first variety is a scalpel knife. Often, modelers use surgical scalpels, which you can buy, for example, in a pharmacy. They are made of durable stainless steel and fit very comfortably in your hand. In addition, you can purchase a medical scalpel with a set of interchangeable blades, which will also find application in creativity.

Scalpel knives for carving in the shape of a pencil. They consist of a reliable metal handle and a sharp blade clamped in it. It is convenient for them to cut materials of increased hardness and perform work with jewelry precision.With the help of such a knife you can cut, for example, French lace or paper stencils. This variety is more expensive than others, however, it has a higher quality, retains strength and sharpness for longer. And sets of interchangeable blades can always be purchased separately.

The second variety is a cutting knife, also known as a disk cutter. Sometimes it is called rotary or just round. It looks like a special knife for cutting pizza and works on approximately the same principle. This variety is best suited for working with fabric. With the help of a cutting knife, it is cut precisely and easily. Also, the tool is able to evenly cut several layers of tissue or paper at once. A circular knife allows you to make round and long cuts.

Cutting knives differ from each other in their size. When choosing, it is worth considering the scale of the work. There is also a kind of round blade with teeth, with which you can cut the material in zigzags.

The third variety is breadboard knife. The most common and popular tool among modelers. However, it cannot be called universal. Such knives, like the previous version, can have different sizes, in particular, the width of the blade. Narrow ones are best suited for processing fine materials and precision work, while wide ones are best suited for something more durable, such as leather, cardboard, etc.

They can also differ in the material from which they are made. The housing may be made of plastic, wood, metal or rubber.

An important component of the tool is collet clip into which interchangeable blades are inserted. The clamp made of plastic quickly deteriorates, which is why the blade cannot hold. This, in turn, will adversely affect the results of your work.

The dummy knife is very often used for clerical purposes. But its true purpose is to work with light materials in art. These include:

• paper;
• cardboard;
• thin tree.

Also, a breadboard knife is used in construction to create a decor. In skillful hands, this tool is able to create real masterpieces. Due to its convenience, it allows you to perform accurate jewelry work, such as curly cuts. Therefore, to acquire this variety for simple cutting of materials is impractical. A simple clerical knife is also suitable for this.

The breadboard knife consists of two main elements - a blade and a handle. We already talked about the handle, mount and materials for their manufacture above. Now let's take a closer look at the features of the most important element, the blade, namely the influence of its shape and size on the work. Layout knives have several varieties depending on the shape of the cutting part:

• triangular blade;
• rounded blade;
• rectangular blade;
• pointed blade;
• serrated blade.

Each of these varieties has its own specific purpose. An experienced modeller knows in which cases which knives should be used correctly. The same goes for the size and sharpening of the blades. Here are some simple suggestions from professionals:

• for miniature work, a pointed blade is suitable, width - 4 mm, edge length - 8 mm, thickness - 0.38 mm, sharpening angle - 30 °;
• universal blade - triangular, width - 6 mm, edge length - 11 mm, thickness - 0.45 mm, sharpening angle - 32.5 °;
• the large blade has a width of 8 mm, an edge length of 20 mm, a thickness of 0.5 mm, a sharpening angle of 23 °, and it can handle wood and plastic.

Do not forget that the knives differ from each other not only in basic characteristics, but also in the quality of execution. It depends on the good faith of the seller and tool manufacturer. We have prepared some useful tips for you to follow when choosing. We already spoke about the handle above. Plastic is not the best material for her. But if the plastic is quite durable, then the knife will serve you faithfully for quite some time.

Convenience is also an important criterion. An additional advantage will be the rubber coating of the handle, which will not allow the knife to slip in the hand during operation. The mount consists of a slot in the knob that loosens like a bottle cap. The desired blade is inserted inside, and the knob is twisted back. Many cheap models of model knives have a plastic mount that breaks quickly, depriving the blade of a secure fit. Therefore note so that the knob is also metal with a rubber coating.

The knife blade must be made of stainless steel. Then, with the right sharpening, it will serve you for many years. But even if it turned out to be of poor quality, it is easy to replace it with another. As we already mentioned, blade sets can always be purchased separately. Here are a few proven manufacturing firms, which are often noted by professional modelers:

• Jas - specializes in the production of various products for modellers, including knives;
• Excel - An American company producing goods from the same category is known for a good ratio of quality and price;
• Olfa - A Japanese company that produces many different knives, including "art";
• "Bison" - a domestic manufacturer of knives, having in its assortment two models for screen cutting;
• Hobby Boss - well-known manufacturer of tools for modeling.

To begin with, it is worth mentioning a pair of auxiliary tools that will be useful to you for this work. Modellers often use safety razor blades, which very well removes unwanted shavings that appear when an unsuccessful cut. “Safe” you can process small parts without damaging them. If you plan to seriously engage in art cutting, get a mock-up rug. It will protect the surface of your table from damage. And the knife when interacting with the rug is not so dull so quickly.

And finally, we have prepared some useful tips for you from experienced modelers:

• the scheme for cutting needs to be drawn from the back of the used material;
• It is best to start cutting with small details;
• contour should be processed last;
• do not skip uncut parts and do not tear them out, otherwise you can ruin the work;
• Use a ruler to cut straight lines.

Art carving is an ancient form of creativity. It was still practiced by the Slavs, carving the Russian alphabet, folk symbols, patterns and flowers. For cutting, birch bark, wood or leather were used. This hobby remains in demand to this day. The main thing is that anyone can master it. To do this, you need only accuracy and patience.

See the next video for more useful information on breadboard knives.