Modlbldr Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 A buddy gave me a pack of new blades that X-Acto makes. They are just like #11's but the cutting edge has a gold tint to them. I can't remember the name (X-Acto Platinum or something). These blades stay sharper longer. I've had the same blade in now for about two weeks and it is still as sharp as day one. I think they're great, FWIW. I'm not sure if they are any more expensive than normal # 11's since they were given to my buddy and he gave me a pack. Try them out and see what you think. Later- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mannyclub Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 Cool, i will have to look into them and give them a try. There was a hobby shop near me that had 5 #11 blades in a small tube and they were selling them for around $.89 cents! They always had a huge bucket on the counter of them and now they dont do that anymore ! Manny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bandit1 Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 How come i never got my FREE SAMPLE of those blades?....i sent in the email like it said for me to do and i even asked them several times....NOTHING! dont expect me to buy any from those idiots .....they dont have really any good customer service if this happened not only to me but hundreds even thousands of other people! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 According to the manufacturer the blades are sharper than their regular blades. http://www.xacto.com/z-series Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casey Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 I noticed Michael's and Hobby Lobby stopped carrying X-acto brand 100 blade packs, and now only has the 15 blade packs. I'm not sure if X-acto stopped making them in such large packs or if it's a distribution issue on the retail end, but the 100 packs were a great bargain for $15.00 or so. FWIW, I tired the Revell packaged X-acto-like blades at Michael's and found them to be thinner and more flexible than the X-acto brand blades, so I won't buy the Revell brand again. I'll have to pick up some of these new X-acto blades, though, so thanks for the heads up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casey Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 It looks like the new blades are called "Z series" blades: http://www.xacto.com/Catalog/Knives/Blades Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbowser Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 According to the manufacturer the blades are sharper than their regular blades. http://www.xacto.com/z-series Great link Harry, thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art Anderson Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 I still swear by Squadron Shop #11 surgical scalpel blades. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperStockAndy Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 (edited) I also tried Revell's #5 blades and thought they sucked,there was a coating of oil on them and they just did'nt cut very good.You might find these new blades at Wal-mart as they sell E-xacto brand knives and blades.I think you can also get the 100 pack of E-xacto #5 blades from Micro-Mark. I think the oil is there to keep the blades together, I think. But, for a good bargain of blades I get the Xacto blade dispenser, has 15 blades and is about $4. As that is not as good of a deal as the 100 pack, you still get a dispenser But my main choice of blades is the Excel #11. Five of them for something like a dollar, I think. Edited January 26, 2012 by SuperStockAndy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modlbldr Posted January 26, 2012 Author Share Posted January 26, 2012 Yes, that's them. Z series. I think that they are sharper and, so far, they stay sharper longer. As a matter of fact, the one I have chucked up is still the first one. I also used it today to cut contact paper to put on my cupboard shelves under the sink and I am still using it tonight to cut parts from the sprue, with ease. I don't know how much more expensive they are than regular though. Later- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scalenut Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 I still swear by Squadron Shop #11 surgical scalpel blades. ditto 100 blades for $16,, they are scary sharp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RodneyBad Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 "O" Great, another way to cut your finger off quicker and cleaner. Well, at least they'll be able to reattach it better with such a clean cut I buy the blades in the 100 pack, change out a bit more them normal but at a 10cents a piece, I'll live with it. Yaaaa, I know the price went up since then but I still got more than half a pack since then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxer Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 It's said they are atomically sharpened ... does this mean they must be disposed at an approved Nuclear Disposal Factility? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 It's said they are atomically sharpened ... does this mean they must be disposed at an approved Nuclear Disposal Factility? I think someone needs to give you an atomic wedgie... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaydar Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 How come i never got my FREE SAMPLE of those blades?....i sent in the email like it said for me to do and i even asked them several times....NOTHING! dont expect me to buy any from those idiots .....they dont have really any good customer service if this happened not only to me but hundreds even thousands of other people! i never got mine either. joe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 how sharp of a blade do you really need? i ask because some use and swear by surgical scalpel blades. now i know a nice sharp blade works the best for doing foil work but is there a need for something super sharp like that in model building? anyone want to post some examples of where a scalpel blade works better than a #11? I've never had a problem with good old #11 blades, either. Plenty sharp for whatever I need to do, including foil. And easily re-sharpened with a small sharpening stone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bandit1 Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 I've never had a problem with good old #11 blades, either. Plenty sharp for whatever I need to do, including foil. And easily re-sharpened with a small sharpening stone. geez...how did i forget i need to clean and resharpen mine anyways..... even though i dont know how testors number 11s hold up to that type of work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heatride Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 ditto 100 blades for $16,, they are scary sharp Same here , learned that trick from Don Yost . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SynShadowzz Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 What's the consensus on using a regular box cutter to remove parts? Any difference? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 i also wanted to mention that a much better way of removing parts from the sprue is with a good pair of sprue cutters or nail clippers. Absolutely. Much easier and safer to use sprue cutters than an X-acto for that job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scalenut Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 (edited) how sharp of a blade do you really need? i ask because some use and swear by surgical scalpel blades. now i know a nice sharp blade works the best for doing foil work but is there a need for something super sharp like that in model building? anyone want to post some examples of where a scalpel blade works better than a #11? Dave, I use the exactos and scalpel blades equally,, the scalpel blades are fine for most things but if you are going to exert much pressure better to switch to the exacto. Edited January 28, 2012 by scalenut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deuces Posted November 26, 2019 Share Posted November 26, 2019 On 1/27/2012 at 7:18 PM, Harry P. said: Absolutely. Much easier and safer to use sprue cutters than an X-acto for that job. Ditto!.... I have 2 of those... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim H Posted November 27, 2019 Share Posted November 27, 2019 I wonder how they compare to the model master #11 blades. Way sharper than the Xactos. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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