Needed: Cardboard eater

[Stelth]

You need something like this:

I bought this at Sears in their bargain bin for $10.

 

[reskar]

Gerber's eab and eab light are nice little cutters that fit well in the hand but don't take up alot of space in your pocket

 

[midnightreport]

Cardboard will ruin a nice edge within 30-50 strokes, just get the folder box cutters.

Agreed, boxcutters will be the best tool for that particular aspect of the job. It has very limited application elsewhere, but for that particular task, it's probably ideal. And you won't regret it as much if you thrash it.

any spyderco with a SE?

Nevertheless, +1 on any serrated Spyderco. I'd specifically recommend a Rescue 79mm. Just over 3-inch blade length, straight (no recurve) and serrated from tip to tang, cuts like a mini-chainsaw, nice thick blade stock all the way to the tip, and the lockback is as stout as they come. A certain online Shoppe has them on clearance right now... In the minus column, the thick blade stock might "drag" while you're cutting through the cardboard. I'd also look at a fully-serrated Tenacious.

 

[Mossyhorn]

I'd go with a Spyderco Delica with a full serrated edge. It zips through tape and cardboard and is very affordable.

 

[Ankerson]

When I was working in the business (18 years) and dealt with a lot of cardboard most of the boxes could be opened and broken down faster and easier by hand than with a knife or box cutter.

I used the box cutter or knife to break the tape or cut plastic most of the time, mostly plastic because I could pop the tape most of time.

 

[Javelin]

Hey, look into getting a Peasant's knife from Svord.

The blade is L6. For Cardboard I've always thought that a TOUGH steel beat out a hard steel due to the hard particles in cardboard. No matter how hard the blade, that stuff will micro-chip the edge to oblivion. L6 is super tough and is quick to be restored, so just bring a small stone, strop, or hell even just a bit of 600 grit sandpaper to do touchups on and you're golden. The blade kinda thin but look at the tang, that's right the tang can be used to pry apart whatever you need and do it with the edge safely tucked away in the handle. This knife is very sheeple friendly and only about 15$ to boot. This is the perfect work knife in my opinion, and is a design that has been in hard working hands for centuries.

 

[Spoutz]

I agree with the guy suggesting the irwin utility knife. I suggest that one, but also offer the option of a sheffield or a craftsman utility knife. They cut cardboard like butter, and cut other ties well too. I carry my griptilian every day at the hardware store I work at for rope and other heavy materials, but this is what sees 95% of the cutting tasks.

I know its not a true folder, but it may be suited better for the task at hand.

 

[Derek the Destroyer]

I use my spyderco cricket serrated all day long at work cutting up boxes... and at the end of the day I just take it to my sharp maker and its brand new...

 

[Cyblade]

Walmart carries a small Stanley box cutter for 1.88 that is small and flat enough to not be noticed yet feels great in the hand I got a bunch of them stashed all over the place. Nutnfancy did a video review of it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMlOTiCUNpA

 

[Noctis3880]

I've used my S90V Para2 on cardboard for about 3 months before I needed to sharpen it. Won't do so great on staples or prying. Though admittedly, a simple box cutter is hard to beat. While S90V won't dull that much, the thickness of the blade means I need to muscle it through the thicker pieces of cardboard. And while the standard O1 box cutter blades will dull to hell, the thin profile of the blade lets it keep on cutting with ease.

Though if your cardboard isn't on the thick side, I suppose you could try fish for a Para2 in CTS-20CP, another 9% vanadium steel.

 

[mcsrno]

Ontario RAT-1 for $ 30.00 is hard to beat, but a good razor blade utility knife would be best, they make cool ones now that even have a lock and fold over closed.

 

[ajbuckelew]

Benchmade 581 Barrage! Haha a little out of your price range but M390 eats cardboard great and I love the design of the knife. Around $150 but totally worth it if you can afford it

 

[AntCaps]

my job while in school has me building alot of bikes aswell, i found that a simple box cutter as long as its good quality is great and as for those zip ties i bought a medium sized pair of side cutters or nippers they are way quicker and alot safer. Those zip ties get to be a real pain.

 

[insomnia]

Anyone know how well M4 will hold an edge on cardboard and zip ties? I work at a company that ships out a lot of goods, and I just recently picked up a Spyderco Gayle Bradley, used it a few times with no ill effects, but wondering how CPM-M4 does in the long run.

Most of the time I reach for a little Kershaw Chill i keep in the watch pocket on my jeans, but that thing loses an edge quite fast on such abrasive material.

 

[DoctaD]

How about a One Handed SAK Soldier/Trekker or CRKT Folding Razel or Kershaw Needs Work, or Leatherman Wave (though a bit more than ~$30 )

 

[cb4life_30]

What about something like the craftsman 3 in 1 Accu-cut. Looks like it would make short work of boxes and zip ties.

 

[rororo64]

Benchmade 710 with M390 steel. Its above your price point, but it will hold a fantastic edge, it has great ergos, will own cardboard like its no tomorrow and the price isn't too bad for what you get.

 

[jimnolimit]

So I'm starting one of my summer jobs again and it involves me opening lots and lots and lots of boxes. I work at a bike shop so whenever I need to build a bike, it involves cutting 20 or so nylon cable ties, cutting through tons of tape, and basically reducing a giant cardboard box to bits. Over the past year, I have become too attached to my knives to designate one of them to the job so I am looking for a new one (ok, fine, I just want a new knife ) I am going to beat the hell out of this knife so it will have to be a beast.

Here's the specs I'm looking for:
Blade length: around 3", could go a bit either way.
Blade thickness: Thick as can be, I'll probably tear out heavy duty staples with it.
Lock: One that won't shut on my hand even if I abuse the knife.

And of course, price, trying to keep it under $30 since I'm going to ruin the knife in less than a year.

Thanks in advance. Have at it!

your budget is $30, i recommend the buck vantage select. the deep hollow grind will help it cut cardboard for a decently long time and it's pretty easy to sharpen.

if you want a serrated knife, i would bump the budget up to about $50 and get a spyderco pacific salt

 

[jimnolimit]

Anyone know how well M4 will hold an edge on cardboard and zip ties? I work at a company that ships out a lot of goods, and I just recently picked up a Spyderco Gayle Bradley, used it a few times with no ill effects, but wondering how CPM-M4 does in the long run.

i used my M4 manix2 to cut up a fair bit of cardboard last weekend, the edge held up very well. i've never used it on zip ties, but M4 is suppose to be a pretty tough steel.

 

[crunky]

For under $30, if you want something that is not a box cutter, the only thing that I can recommend that I have personal experience with is the Byrd Crossbill. I picked up a fully serrated one in G10 last year for under $30 shipped. I bought it for a similar reason, I used to work in a parts house, and I was always cutting through cardboard, electrical wire, hoses and tubing, etc. I got it just to beat the sh!t out of it, and it had done a great job
I no longer work there, so I have started to mod it, I have waved it, and next i'm going to turn mine into a plain edge, or combo edge. Great fun little inexpensive knife.