Source for Number 11 Blades

[NOBLNG]

On 11/23/2022 at 3:19 PM, StevenGuthmiller said:

Amazon still carries these "American Line" blades.

Steve

I couldn’t find them on Amazon.ca today, so I ordered some of these. The reviews were pretty good on them. The cheaper DIYSELF ones had horrible reviews.

EDIT: These ARE made in china. A fresh one cuts styrene nicely. 

 

Edited November 28, 2022 by NOBLNG

[Joe Nunes]

One thing I have found useful over the years is having a sharpening stone and a fine grain honing stone on the bench.  I use the X-acto Z blades exclusively and find that a quick swipe or two over each stone as needed will help to extend the usefulness of the #11 blade. 

Joe

[Ben Brown]

I’ve been very happy with Excel blades I got through Amazon. They stay sharp far longer than the cheap knockoffs and they don’t bend or break as easily. I also had trouble with the knockoffs not fitting in the handle; the bases of the blade were too wide.

Ben

[NYRich72]

I've bought the 100 packs of Chinese cheapo blades off Amazon and use them for general cutting. Not too bad.

However, working with BMF or any other task requiring the best sharpness, I only use new Excel #11's as there really is a big difference.

Haven't bought X-Acto brand since trying the Chinese version which are grossly overpriced. If I want cheap Chinese blades, I'll just buy cheap Chinese blades.

[Joe Nunes]

Have been giving thoughts to purchasing a surgical scalpel handle and the scalpel blades for dedicated BMF use.  

Joe

[TransAmMike]

58 minutes ago, Joe Nunes said:

Have been giving thoughts to purchasing a surgical scalpel handle and the scalpel blades for dedicated BMF use.  

Joe

The scalpel is what I use.  I buy disposable from ebay. Work just fine for me.

[LL3 Model Worx]

5 hours ago, Joe Nunes said:

Have been giving thoughts to purchasing a surgical scalpel handle and the scalpel blades for dedicated BMF use.  

Joe

Good investment... they are on a whole different level of sharpness compared to any standard #11

And you can just buy the blades... a regular handle will work fine, just snap the back of the scalpel blade off with some pliers. I've been doing it for years.

 

 

Edited November 24, 2022 by LL3 Model Worx

[Mark]

Think about getting more handles, too.  One for trimming foil, one for the next sharpest blade, another for general use, another for any other specialized use you can think of.  I've gotten extra handles in parts boxes, with partially assembled kits, and off of "anything for a dime/quarter/etc" tarps at automotive swap meets.  Often the cheap ones are oxidized or have blades bent or snapped off, but soaking the blade end in penetrating oil lets them come apart.

[Joe Nunes]

Using different handles is a good idea. I, too, have done this for years. A handle for the new blade, one for the used blade, one for the scriber blade that has lost its sharp point and one for the old blade that now gets used to apply putty and the like. I rotate the blades down the ladder of sharpness as warranted and toss the oldest blade into a round plastic pill container which has a slot, just wide enough to pass a blade through, cut into the plastic top. 

Joe

[LL3 Model Worx]

9 hours ago, Joe Nunes said:

One thing I have found useful over the years is having a sharpening stone and a fine grain honing stone on the bench.  I use the X-acto Z blades exclusively and find that a quick swipe or two over each stone as needed will help to extend the usefulness of the #11 blade. 

Joe

Do the z blades you use also have the mold line scraper on the back side?

I've got some of the old Z series from years ago that have that on them... I do really like that feature!

[Joe Nunes]

In truth I didn't know there was a mold line scraper on the X-acto #11 Z blade. I came down to the shop and checked the back of the blade. There is a slight difference on the edge if that's what you are referring to  as a mold line scraper. 

Joe

[Khils]

3 hours ago, Joe Nunes said:

toss the oldest blade into a round plastic pill container which has a slot, just wide enough to pass a blade through, cut into the plastic top. 

THAT!    Is a very good idea?!

[LL3 Model Worx]

40 minutes ago, Joe Nunes said:

In truth I didn't know there was a mold line scraper on the X-acto #11 Z blade. I came down to the shop and checked the back of the blade. There is a slight difference on the edge if that's what you are referring to  as a mold line scraper. 

Joe

Yes! That is the perfect mold line scraper tool.

I have a dedicated mold line scraper from Citadel for miniatures and its basically the same exact thing as the back side of that blade.

Works fabulous.

[Straightliner59]

10 hours ago, Joe Nunes said:

Have been giving thoughts to purchasing a surgical scalpel handle and the scalpel blades for dedicated BMF use.  

Joe

I did that, a while back. I think, for $10, I got 100 blades and a handle!

[Joe Nunes]

55 minutes ago, LL3 Model Worx said:

Yes! That is the perfect mold line scraper tool.

I have a dedicated mold line scraper from Citadel for miniatures and its basically the same exact thing as the back side of that blade.

Works fabulous.

Thank you for the blade information and now I can get a bit more use of the old blades. ?

Joe

[LL3 Model Worx]

1 minute ago, Joe Nunes said:

Thank you for the blade information and now I can get a bit more use of the old blades. ?

Joe

You are more than welcome. I remember discovering it by mistake one day. I picked up a different handle than I intended with a Z blade and realized it removed material far easier when using the back side than the other blade I had reached for.

Then I realized the difference in the shape. Then I realized that it's a intentional feature for scraping...after comparing to an actual scraper tool.

I keep one in a handle at all times now mainly for the purpose of scraping mold lines. It's crazy why the normal blades don't have this feature.

Happy coincidence.

 

[Bainford]

12 hours ago, LL3 Model Worx said:

Yes! That is the perfect mold line scraper tool.

I have a dedicated mold line scraper from Citadel for miniatures and its basically the same exact thing as the back side of that blade.

Works fabulous.

Every day is a school day. I had no idea. I always thought that was just a manufacturing artifact. Thanks for the info.

[NYRich72]

17 hours ago, Joe Nunes said:

Using different handles is a good idea. I, too, have done this for years. A handle for the new blade, one for the used blade, one for the scriber blade that has lost its sharp point and one for the old blade that now gets used to apply putty and the like. I rotate the blades down the ladder of sharpness as warranted and toss the oldest blade into a round plastic pill container which has a slot, just wide enough to pass a blade through, cut into the plastic top. 

Joe

Been doing the rotation thing for quite some time. I also use an old pill container for disposal but I like your idea of cutting a slot in the cap instead of removing it entirely.

[NOBLNG]

The ones I ordered above cut styrene nicely, but will NOT score a brass rod.

[Joe Nunes]

Wow ?, must be some soft metal in those blades. Take care using those. 

Joe