Box cutter blade sharpening.

[Aloha]

Back in the day, and I'm talking waaaaaaay back I used a simple box cutter when I worked in a warehouse.  I tossed the blades as needed.  Fast forward to just a few days ago, I was thinking about my Gerber EAB and why I have not used it.  I got it from the tomb but the blade was dull.  I went looking for a replacement and before I got too immersed in my search I decided to give it a sharpen. 

Am I the only one?  I get it, the blades are fairly cheap, but why toss?  Mine is screaming sharp again and I'll continue to resharpen as needed. 

[Alan K.]

I have stropped disposable blades before, but only when I didn't have replacements handy.

[Aloha]

I swear I'm not trying to be cheap  .  It was really fast on a diamond plate. 

[Poncho65]

I do sharpen them from time to time myself

Sometimes just because but other times it is because I am doing something at work and extra blades aren't close by or easily accessible  and I understand it isn't just about being cheap or not

[nate j]

Not something I’ve ever done, but I’ve also never regularly carried a knife of this type.  I can see resharpening the blade in a pinch when replacement blades aren’t handy. 

However, it seems to me that the main selling point of these box cutters/utility knives is the ability to just toss the old blade and swap in a fresh one.  But if one is going to make the commitment to sharpen the blade anyway, then are better knife options out there.

[McStitchy]

This is one of those things... you know... like I just do as I always did, and kept doing even after the basic skills of sharpening had been learned 

I'll definitely give that a try next time 

[Aloha]

I get it they are meant to use and dispose.  I can see at work or in similar situations just tossing for a fresh one.  At home I'd argue there is no better choice for box dispatching.

What got me reaching for my EAB was a chat with FarmerX.  I tend to use the knife I have with me to cut down boxes for my recycle bin.  He mentioned he uses a box cutter. 

It was really a fast process to sharpen on a diamond plate.  I'm going to use my EAB for boxes at home.  I'll have a supply of blades but for now I'll tune up as needed and toss when needed. 

I should say, I enjoy sharpening so it does make a lot of sense for me to do this.  I also tuned up my exacto knife kit blades later that day  .   

[Poncho65]

I will also note that it takes like 30 seconds or less to sharpen on a diamond sharpener and I always have a small credit card or smaller sized one with me

Also, the things I sometimes cut with a utility blade knife, I would never use a knife that didn't have an option to change the blade because I do cut things that leave tar (or similar) on it or I use one to score or cut metal flashing those tasks would destroy a regular blade but utility blade knife blades can take the punishment  in some of those cases I toss the blade I get a new one

[Aloha]

   Those utility blades are meant to be use and toss.  It just seemed unnecessary in my situation.  I had already take the blade out to toss as I was looking for my replacement when the idea to sharpen struck. 

On a side note, the EAB is a nice little box cutter.  I have others at home but none id consider carrying outside the home.   

[theonew]

I sharpen everything, especially if it is fast and easy like that

[Aloha]

 

 

[smiller43147]

I've touched up a few disposable single edge razor blades if they weren't chewed up.  When you scrape with a single edge they can get pretty beat up.

[Farmer X]

I've tried sharpening box cutter blades, with the usual bad results. They do have the benefit of being replaceable, so if I ruin one, no biggie.

[pfrsantos]

This is a good idea, with awl that recicle and save the planet's resources and whatnot. It's awlso a way of honing your sharpenning skills on a cheap blade.

 

[Aloha]

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[Aloha]

WOW this thing is sharp.  I'm a convert too.  I will not be using my pocket knives to break down boxes anymore. 

Gerber EAB it is. 

[Kev D]

I never have sharpened one, so just gave it a go on the one I was about to throw away at work. Gave it a clean to remove all the tape residue and gave it a few swipes through the ceramic on the victorinox sharpener, surprised at how sharp it got it fast.

[Aloha]

   Easy just to toss the blade but since you've got to remove to do so a quick touchup is just as easy.  Most blades like that also have to be turned around to utility the other end which is a good time to touch up. 

I will continue this with my blades till it no longer makes sense to do so.  It I worked in a fast pace environment I'd replace as needed but I'd still keep the blades. 

[pfrsantos]

I never have sharpened one, so just gave it a go on the one I was about to throw away at work. Gave it a clean to remove all the tape residue and gave it a few swipes through the ceramic on the victorinox sharpener, surprised at how sharp it got it fast.
(Image removed from quote.)

  Easy just to toss the blade but since you've got to remove to do so a quick touchup is just as easy.  Most blades like that also have to be turned around to utility the other end which is a good time to touch up. 

I will continue this with my blades till it no longer makes sense to do so.  It I worked in a fast pace environment I'd replace as needed but I'd still keep the blades. 

Well done, guys!

 

[Humayd A R Mahomedy]

Back in the day, and I'm talking waaaaaaay back I used a simple box cutter when I worked in a warehouse.  I tossed the blades as needed.  Fast forward to just a few days ago, I was thinking about my Gerber EAB and why I have not used it.  I got it from the tomb but the blade was dull.  I went looking for a replacement and before I got too immersed in my search I decided to give it a sharpen. 

Am I the only one?  I get it, the blades are fairly cheap, but why toss?  Mine is screaming sharp again and I'll continue to resharpen as needed.

i do this all the time,mostly with those snap-off blades,because why the hell not 
i first saw a well-known South African knifemaker do this [he buffed the edge,i do the same,with a felt wheel] when he wasn't very well-known.

[Aloha]

    

[Farmer X]

I took a utility knife blade to the Lansky Turnbox today. It showed improvement. The next box dispatch will be the real test.

[Aloha]

 

Great way to also practice your sharpening.  The angle is already there tho holding it is not all that easy.     

[Poncho65]

When I very first starting working and needed a knife for work in the mid 90s, I bought one of these  Not sure if it was the one with the paint worn off or one I had lost before that either way, I loved these knives and you could buy replacement blade fairly cheap back then. Sadly I believe that they were discontinued sometime while I was using them and the replacement blade became harder to find Luckily, they are pretty solid blades and instead of replacing them all the time when they became dull, I just sharpened them you can see that there were at least 2 blade shapes to choose from and both had pros and cons They also locked and you released them by pulling the tabs at the bottom down

[Farmer X]

My sharpening job wasn't as good as I'd hoped it would be. It did okay on a few boxes, but lost the edge quickly. Maybe I need to start off on a coarse stone?

As an aside, Stanley has some fixed blade utility knives. Those would probably be great for cold-weather box dispatch.

[ToolJoe]

I've used serrated blades in an EAB with good results. I use a box cutter with the smaller square blades at work and at home.

[Aloha]

Still going strong with the EAB.  I've sharpened the blade now several time as you might be able to tell.