Binned the el cheapo utility knife last w/e as it was quite flimsy (exposed blade in plastic casing version) & felt like it would fall apart when cutting up cardboard boxes and could barely handle cutting through sticky tape!
Seeking retractable utility knife that is both durable and sturdy - budget < $20. Primary use would be opening parcel boxes and as a cardboard box cutter.
Thank you! This one looks like the Arnie version of the binned knife. Looks heaps sturdy & impressed by the 1yr warranty
You can get the classic, metal, Stanley utility knife for around $10. It's not the best but it's been around forever and they last forever.
I was at Bunnings today and there was a wall of retractable utility knives - overwhelmed by choice! There were quite a few that were out of stock too which got me thinking that perhaps they were better than the ones available so decided to post here for assistance 😃
I think the advantage of the Stanley and other knives with the triangle blades is they are a lot stronger than the snap off style.
I’ve had a metal Stanley for 30 years, and it still goes ok. You can keep spare blades inside the body. Good for rough stuff like trimming carpet. I also have a little plastic snap off that is good or opening parcels and cutting paper.
Right tool for the job, I guess.
Yeah the small off ones are fine for cardboard but you'd want safety glasses trying to cut carpet or anything serious!
I use the Kinchrome folding knife. Love it, use it almost every day. $18 from Bunnings and comes with spare blades and a sheath. https://www.bunnings.com.au/kincrome-150mm-folding-lock-back…
Thanks ! Folding & retractable + lifetime warranty = impressive!
If you are going to look at that one, you would be better off looking at the Irwin folding knife.
We had these "Kinchrome" ones at work, and the mechanism that retains the blade in the holder doesn't last very long and gets loose after a while. The Irwin has a push button type mechanism (kinda like the Hart I mentioned below.) and it has a much more positive locking feel for the blades.
Thanks. My Kinchrome has been going strong for a couple of years now but I like the look of the Irwin ones as well.
Where does it say lifetime warranty?
On the packaging
I work in inbound freight at work and I open a lot of freight and boxes and I swear by my Hart Folding Utility Knife. I bought mine from Bunnings. (I just linked to it on eBay because I can’t find it on the Bunnings website. I certainly would not have paid that price for a box cutter…)
You can also couple these knives with "hook blades" just for opening boxes and parcels really quickly.
Edit: It seems this knife is a discontinued item, as it is not even listed on the Hart website anymore either…
Thank-you! Perhaps superceded by newer model?
ummm … those hook blades look Batman-esque 😉
I quite like the aesthetics of pocket knives, so will use something like this for opening boxes/parcels etc.
https://pics.knifecenter.com/knifecenter/buck/images/BU389_1…
But I have probably 6 or 7 I’ve picked up over the years in desk or kitchen draws etc.
I’ve also used a ceramic bladed cutter like this: https://www.amazon.com/Slice-00100-Clamshell-Packaging-Scrap…
Which is really good and safe for opening rigid sealed clamshell blister packages, some of which are almost impenetrable.
lol - my husband retrieved his Swiss army knife from the car glove box & left it on the kitchen bench when I complained after opening a parcel with scissors the other day! The Swiss did OK just too small and feels awkward hence this post.
Amazon link turned up Phoebe??
Hehehe… I got “Colby” (who looked dead set like a Dingo…)
And yes, I forgot about these, Slice ceramic cutters. We bought some of these as package and blister pack openers after one of the guys nearly lost a finger with his box cutter…
These are great at doing the tape on packaging and for cutting into those stupid blister packs. And the weird thing is, you can’t cut yourself with them. They have a ceramic blade in them, so they take forever to go blunt and won’t cut your skin…
Amazon doggos sure beat a 404 !
Thanks for this - TIL 🤓
Thanks !
I was watching a YouTube video about this knife the other day, it looks like a great knife!
I’ve got one of these but find mid-cut I keep pressing the button to retract the blade and it pushes back in the handle.
This post just reminded me to replace in on next Bunnings trip
Primary use would be opening parcel boxes and as a cardboard box cutter.
What kind of box are those made of? Metal? I open boxes everyday and even the cheapest $1 knife works for ages it's just the blade goes blunt quickly because cardboard are like fine sandpaper.
The best retractable snap knife I have is made by Olfa in Japan. Paired with tungsten carbide tipped blades your knife will last ages.
Olfa are great and have excellent blades.
Small ones like the 141B for smaller jobs and precise work.
Large ones like the 11B, L1, or 229B.
The black ultrasharp blades are great too.
Olfa the original inventor of the snapblades.
Go to a camping depot store
https://www.totaltools.com.au/108567-dewalt-18mm-snap-off-kn…
We use these at work and they are quite nice. $19