Knives for home repair/landscaping/a bit of everything.

el gigantor

el gigantor

Gold Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2015
Messages
1,776
A friend of mine recently bought a house that's going to require an extreme amount of overhauling. With the pandemic going on I've found myself with almost too much free time, so I thought I'd get involved. We're stripping the building to the studs, tearing out and re-landscaping the entire back yard, demolishing the shack of a garage, etc. I've had a look through my knife collection and determined the Cold Steel Recon 1 Tanto (satin blade) will be the folder in my pocket during the endeavour; a burly beater that can take loads abuse and keep on going.

I'm curious if any of you fine BF folks have been through something similar, and what blade was by your side at the time. I definitely subscribe to the "use the right tool for the job" credo, and we'll have an arsenal of construction/destruction implements at our disposal. But for the quick cuts, the impromptu package opening, the carpet end slicing, and popping of the paint can lid, I'd like to know what you would have at the ready.
 
The right tool won't be a folder for a lot of that, but if I had to choose I have a Kershaw Barge with a pry tool on the end that is my first choice for a beater folder. It's opened many a paint can and been through a bunch of misc. cutting tasks opening concrete bags and whatnot. No folder will hold up as well as a fixed blade, so for most of my landscaping stuff I hang a BK 14 off my belt--it's a lot easier to get in and out with gloves on, and there's no pivot to get filled with junk.
 
I did that years ago with a buddy of mine. We took out a wall in his house, moved a door, and built a utility shed onto the back of the house. I used an S30V Spyderco Military for the cuts, measurement markings, drywall drilling and scoring... and even pencil sharpening. Although I confess, we did open paint cans with a flat screwdriver.

BTW, no knives were harmed during the demo and reno. Some air, a Tuf-Cloth rubdown, and a visit to the Sharpmaker and it was back in shape and ready for the next assignment.
 
The CS Recon 1 is a good choice.
I ve found the CS Ultimate Hunter to be a fine knife for residential construction work, and landscaping.
For less money, the Ontario Rat 1 d2 is a good worker.
 
rustyspike said:
Right tool for the job: Hammer, Crowbar, Utility knife and a old screwdriver you do not mind roughing up. Folder in your pocket to cut lunch. :)

Rich K.
Click to expand...
Had my own post typed up, but I was gonna say pretty much the same thing. Maybe add a chisel if you need to notch some boards, knives don't work as well for this task as you would think. I like having a Spyderco Delica on back up for remodels because it's lightweight and sharp.
Large folders and fixed blades can really start to drag when you're soaked in sweat and running around trying to finish a job.
 
I bought this M2HS Ritter Grip brand new in early 2007. I've carried it as my main work folder for the last 13 years.
I've done remodel work, had a landscape company for years and lived on a small acreage where there were always a million things that needed to be done.
I beat it pretty hard not really being very careful with it. Grips are nice knives even better with upgraded scales but they're not the beefiest knife out there. I think any decent sized folder from a good company will take a lot if you don't do something really dumb with it.

2007



2009 or 10



After a few years I got tired of the jacked up coating



Today

z31VCXk.jpg
 
I'll go against common popular opinion but I'd rather have a softer easier to sharpen steel than a super steel anyday in a true work knife. They all get dull and I dont particularly want to spend an hour after getting home from working for 10 plus hours sharpening my knife.

Whatever you choose keep a Stanley 99e in your back pocket for the really nasty stuff
 
  • Like
Reactions: CWL
Get one of those Milwaukee press and flip knives, the one with the regular knife blade. You can be as rough as you want and it only costs 15 bucks. You can sharpen it on a car window edge or brick and it will work fine. I am not normally into these kinds of knives, but these suckers work!
 
I do a lot of DIY. Milwaukee Fastback folding utility knife is the knife that goes in my pocket first. If I'm working on my table saw that day, or pretending to make furniture, it's is a CRKT Razel or CRKT Compact Razel. Having a paring chisel in the pocket is mighty handy.
 
For the purposes of home renovation, I think I’d recommend either the Cold Steel SRK or Recon Tanto. Both are tough, ergonomic, user-friendly, and fairly inexpensive. As long as you don’t go nuts with prying or hammering anything, these knives will eat just about any punishment you dish out. As for sharpness, my Recon Tanto was paper slicing sharp out-of-the-box and that’s good enough for my purposes.
 
I have been working as a landscape contractor for the last two years, and it happens to me that I often have to cut something quickly with a knife. There are knives of expensive brands, but the blade becomes very blunt after a few cuts. This has made me very frustrated in several situations when I am looking to finish the job. I sought the advice and help of an expert working with paving contractors dublin because they work with landscaping too. He recommended a knife used by their workers. The knife he suggested was great. I forgot when I sharpened it the last time, and I use it all the time.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top