Knife for a chemist

FullMetalJackass

FullMetalJackass

Gold Member
Joined
Apr 10, 2016
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2,759
Howdy sharpest minds,

I'm looking for a knife that will be suitable for a (female) medical lab researcher.
She does all the funky experiments with the vials and explosions and toxic spills, in a hazmat suit.

The catch is, it's in a radioactive environment.

No, she does not need a 4 inches tactical folder (guess the radiation kill all the mutants).

I'm looking for something useful and stylish. Was considering something about the size of a Dragonfly/Ladybug.

I'm all ears for steel and model advice.

Thanks for your time!
 
Fixed blade if she needs to have access to a knife when suited up....

Or a small knife inside her suit that would allow her to cut her way out should it be necessary. Your choice is good.
 
Some questions...

1. What's the 'radioactive environment' entail?
2. Why does she need a knife in that environment? It seems like anything in that environment needing cutting would be with a disposable sharp.
3. What about her job would affect her choice of knife? I don't see anything that stands out as a unique need in her job.
 
madcap_magician said:
Some questions...

1. What's the 'radioactive environment' entail?
2. Why does she need a knife in that environment? It seems like anything in that environment needing cutting would be with a disposable sharp.
3. What about her job would affect her choice of knife? I don't see anything that stands out as a unique need in her job.
Click to expand...

1. Meaning the knife might be in contact with radioactive material, so I was thinking about a steel that with less radioactive retaining properties but I am not an expert ---> some guys here are!

2. You got that right. I got her an Avalon Piranta but it is not that easy to open.

3. Not a unique need, but she does cut stuff sometimes in the lab i.e. boxes, blisters etc. (If i got you right).
 
FullMetalJackass said:
1. Meaning the knife might be in contact with radioactive material, so I was thinking about a steel that with less radioactive retaining properties but I am not an expert ---> some guys here are!

2. You got that right. I got her an Avalon Piranta but it is not that easy to open.

3. Not a unique need, but she does cut stuff sometimes in the lab i.e. boxes, blisters etc. (If i got you right).
Click to expand...

I don't believe that any type of testing that has been done to see how radioactivity affects different grades of steel. If there are tests somewhere they are not common knowledge, or atleast not common to me.

However if the concern is that the knife will be contaminated and thus require disposal then a disposable blade is probably best.
 
22-rimfire said:
Fixed blade if she needs to have access to a knife when suited up....

Or a small knife inside her suit that would allow her to cut her way out should it be necessary. Your choice is good.
Click to expand...

I was thinking about something like a Buck Thorn, but I have to get a Kydex Sheath made I guess, as the leather one supplied is quite clumsy. Also, it's not exactly a slicer.
 
For a lab environment you're better off with a disposable blade, snap-off knife. Olfa makes some with ergonomic, chemical resistant handles that would work well. The problem with a conventional folder, you'd really need to go with a ceramic blade for acid/base resistance, and exposure to radiation would require the entire knife be disposed of.
 
Did someone say knives in a lab? :)

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Just pick a knife, any knife.

Buy knife.
Bring knife to lab.
That is the full sequence.
 
This question might get better answers from her peers than ours.

What kind of knife would be good for an astronaut? Go ask an astronaut.
 
H1 Full-Serrated Dragonfly2, lightweight, small, can handle any cutting task, non corrosive, fairly inexpensive, and the yellow handle is stylish, non threatening and non-reactive. I work in a clinical lab, and keep on clipped to my lab coat.
 
FullMetalJackass said:
And the Savior Stabman rise and shine!!

I'll go with the Yoj and the small orange one, which model it is?
Click to expand...

The small orange one is the Spyderco Urban, with orange G-10 scales.
It is sadly discontinued, but can be found with some searching.
Light, cuts stuff very well, and is definitely not threatening looking. :thumbsup:

A "Wanted to Buy" thread looking for one might not be a bad plan.
 
FullMetalJackass said:
stabman stabman

How do you justify the Matriarch/Civilian?!?
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I just say "It's a pocket knife."
Seems to be the best way to go about it. :)
It does cut things quite well, but I generally don't carry it very often. Some of my other knives do better as "all around utility" knives. It has one of the most comfortable handles of any knife out there though.

I just wondered how many knives it was possible to carry and still be somewhat comfortable for a full day of work, and the answer turned out to be seven. :D
 
Chemist here. I do research in carbohydrate chemistry at startup - when I'm in the research lab I wear normal clothes and have gloves on almost all the time but when I'm in my pilot lab that is (supposed to be) up to most food and certain pharmaceutical standards I have to gown with a lab coat, hair and beard nets, booties and gloves. None of the Walter White-style tyvek suits (yet...) but I did wear one on occasion at a previous job.

I own about a dozen folders that I actually consider bringing to work. I don't need and generally don't bring a huge blade; 50% of the time it's a small plain seb 21 and the rest of the time it's usually something of similar size (para 3, GEC 72, skyline). As long as I don't stick my knife in concentrated acid, there will be a solvent somewhere to get just about anything else off - this is why I like an all-metal folder. I find myself wary of using those knives with other handles sometimes.

Regarding your friend's attire and work-mandated usage of tools - if she's wearing a tyvek bunny suit all day, there will be no reaching into the pants pocket to get a knife. No two ways about it. By law, any work cutting tissues, other biologicals or potentially contaminated items is going to have to be done with single-use scalpels or razors.

Regarding the radioactivity, there are two situations I can think of in which radioactivity comes into play in a research lab. The less likely scenario is that the lab is using high energy radioactive decay/particles as a reagent or energy source. Don't worry about that contaminating the knife - if she's close enough for that to be an issue, a radioactive knife is the least of her problems. The astronomically more likely scenario of introducing radiation is using isotopically-labeled compounds in the lab (most likely going to be 13C, 15N or dueterium-labeled proteins, amino acids, etc). In this case, the radioactive decay isn't really harmful and the risk of contamination is the same as that of standard chemicals, and behaves as such (will be readily removable with proper solvents). In this case, I think an all-metal folder is the best option.
 
Golden Goal said:
Chemist here. I do research in carbohydrate chemistry at startup... The astronomically more likely scenario of introducing radiation is using isotopically-labeled compounds in the lab (most likely going to be 13C, 15N or dueterium-labeled proteins, amino acids, etc). In this case, the radioactive decay isn't really harmful and the risk of contamination is the same as that of standard chemicals, and behaves as such (will be readily removable with proper solvents). In this case, I think an all-metal folder is the best option.
Click to expand...

Bull's eye.

Thank you all for your advice!
 
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