Cutting up boxes?

whitty

whitty

Dealer / Materials Provider
Joined
Aug 25, 2005
Messages
6,067
Why is it when people post about the uses for their knives, some people state "I only use my knives for cutting up boxes" ?

They state this like it is a shameful thing. Cardboard is brutal on a knife, I as well mostly use my knives for cutting up boxes, so I prefer a knife that will hold an edge the longest during this task. We do a lot of shipping and receiving and I spend most of my time at the shop. I think moving forward we need to state this as a badge of honor. It should be stated as "I cut up boxes like crazy all day and such and such knife does awesome! Stay proud my cardboard cutting friends!


https://flic.kr/p/GZaLrs https://www.flickr.com/photos/57703464@N02/
 
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Cardboard is brutal on a knife edge. You're right. This is why if I am cutting up a lot of boxes, I use a utility knife.

Cutting carpet is not so great on an edge either especially when you run into staples and nails with the blade.
 
I really don't cut cardboard that often, but I spent about 3 hours today cutting cardboard and duct tape to build a cardboard boat with. By the end my zt 560 was just forcing its way through

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
 
Cutting artificial grass was the worst for me. After just 8 feet you can feel the utility blade starting to lose it.
Might be a great material to test blades on.
 
I cut down cardboard boxes at home for recycling or to fit in the trash. It's one of the few cutting tasks I have where my bigger blades come in handy. Usually use a Benchmade or ZT for it, depending on which is closer to hand. I didn't know there was anything embarrassing about it.
 
Yup! Cardboard is definitely my main foe and the big reason I lean heavily towards PM steels and good cutting geometry.
 
Cardboard is great to test out an edge.

3V master hunter, most was double walled cardboard. After the tape residue was cleaned off it would still scrape hair. It never bound up in cutting and no edge damage. Massive amount of cardboard.



 
I have to cut up a lot of cardboard at work, definitely nothing embarrassing about it. I agree that it's a good way to test out an edge. Knives are made to cut stuff, if cardboard is the enemy then it shall be conquered! Lately I've been using ZDP-189 a lot, it eats cardboard for breakfast!
 
I use my GB1 for cardboard. I'm amazed how long it keeps a working edge. I tried my 940-1 on a half dozen boxes once and it faired very well also but I prefer the larger handle of the GB for such work. Cutting up board is no longer a chore, it's actually fun.
 
I don't cut up a whole lot of cardboard, but cutting root balls on plants before planting them will dull the blades on my ZTs pretty quick.
 
It's a great thing to have found a group of people with my kind of "crazy".

To the USAMB guys...
I've been planning to take a drive up to Salisbury but I'm trying to be nice to my bank account for a bit. I hope to meet ya's soon though.

e270a2e10eb6dc373b6ecaa932d9edb7.jpg
 
I use a little $4 Italian slipjoint made from 440 (not even 440A--just straight 440) that I reground to a full height hollow. Cuts like the devil and I just keep a ceramic rod near by to give it the occasional lick.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
I use a little $4 Italian slipjoint made from 440 (not even 440A--just straight 440) that I reground to a full height hollow. Cuts like the devil and I just keep a ceramic rod near by to give it the occasional lick.
Click to expand...

It wasn't too long ago that 440 was the super steel. Well, it seems that way to an old geezer like me, anyway.
 
I love when I take my freshly sharpened knife and cut a boxtop off by giving it one quick horizontal zzzzzzzzzip through the entire length. Best feeling in the world, and lets me know my sharpening skills are on point. My S35VN Pipsqueak holds a pretty good edge, however I do need to touch it up every few days with a ceramic rod (recurve blade), and when this stops working, I give it a full-on sharpen with a fine diamond stone, ceramic rod and strop.
 
For boxes, can't beat my cold steel ready edge. I prefer serrations when cutting through boxes.
 
Ironbut said:
It wasn't too long ago that 440 was the super steel. Well, it seems that way to an old geezer like me, anyway.
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I actually was remembering incorrectly--the knife in question is a 420/420J equivalent (W. 1.4028) Regarding 440, you're most likely thinking of 440C. 440A can make nice knives (Kershaw used to do a particularly good job with it) but it's generally looked on as pretty pedestrian steel. I should note that I ground off all the serrations in addition to altering the grind to a full height hollow.
 
Cardboard is something I cut a ton of as well, and ya, it's tough on your edge...

It's also a very good way to understand some of the edge holding characteristics of different steels, as well as geometries, and a really good test of a knife's ergonomics.
 
silverds said:
It's a great thing to have found a group of people with my kind of "crazy".

To the USAMB guys...
I've been planning to take a drive up to Salisbury but I'm trying to be nice to my bank account for a bit. I hope to meet ya's soon though.

e270a2e10eb6dc373b6ecaa932d9edb7.jpg
Click to expand...

Love it!!! Come see us when your wallet is fat and deplete our inventory:D

E-Mail me before you come so I can make sure I am here to personally help you!

scott@usamadeblade.com
 
Sounds like you guys need a cardboard shredder. It sections and accordions the cardboard and turns it into packing material. That way you can save your knife edges, and ship your trash off to your customers. [emoji56]. Ok, I like to use my knives too....on just about anything I can. But with quality, sometimes there are better tools for the job.

http://www.abcoffice.com/hsm-profi425-cardboard-perforator-shredder.htm





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