Best Blades for getting sharp edges when cutting foam

[killerpaw]

Am a newbie here building my first ever scratch build, the Versa Wing. I have built the Storch before using the speed build kit so dont have any cutting experience. I started cutting out the wing as per the plans on DTFB but my edges dont seem to be coming out sharp at all. They all are very crooked and often have the paper or small pieces of foam dangling out. I have been using the xacto knife and also a regular box cutter . I have seen some FT videos where people use just the blades themselves . Any thoughts on what kind of blades those are and any specific ones that you can suggest ? Thanks!

 

[dayve]

I use the 9mm snap knife from Harbor Freight almost exclusively. They're cheap enough that I have one on each workbench and one in my tool bag. A 10-pack of refill blades is $0.89! I have built 4 planes now, and I'm just getting to the end of the first blade.

 

[Snarls]

I use standalone utility blades for long straight cuts, and an Xacto knife for curves and small features. Fresh blades will cut really smooth, but the foamboard dulls blades out pretty fast believe it or not. Depending on the plane you may want to change the blade out every build or multiple times a build.

 

[TexMechsRobot]

I went through 4 #11 xacto blades building the FT Spitfire. I like to use them because it's what I've always used and I have a very cheap supplier: approximately 20 cents per blade. Not as cheap as other blades but cheaper than buying #11's at a local craft store!

 

[localfiend]

These are what I prefer now for pretty much everything except bevel cuts. They're very good for curves.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006GBSXG/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

A little under 9 cents per blade. I generally use a couple of them to cut out one average FT size plane.

 

[killerpaw]

Thank You Everyone. Will check these out. Much Appreciated..

 

[Grubbah]

One little trick I use is to occasionally touch up the edge on my blades. I mainly use the generic single edge box cutter blades but it also works for xacto blades. Get a small piece of leather and apply a bit of jewelers rouge or polishing compound and strop the blade a little. Even on a brand new blade it will make a difference and it will cut a lot smoother.

 

[97tj-neil]

I use utility knife blades(in a folding utility knife) for most cuts, and keep an X-Acto with a #11 handy for smaller detailed cuts and curves. I bought 3 packs of the Milwaukee blades at a flea market for $5 ea pack of 100, which will keep me in business for a very long time. I will go through several on a typical build, and each one has 2 ends.

https://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-48...r=1-1&keywords=milwaukee+utility+knife+blades

I just got one of these from Amazon, and it does a nice job of keeping them sharp. Like stated above, hitting a new blade with the fine side makes it even sharper.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PACIV2C/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[killerpaw]

Thanks Everyone. I ended up ordering the Techni Edge #11 hobby blades. Should be receiving them today and looking forward to more sharper cutting. Thanks Everyone!

 

[Capt_Beavis]

I use utility blades and straight edge. when the edges look rough will sand them a bit to smooth them out.