Opening boxes

Joined
Sep 24, 2004
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Back when I used to open A LOT of product boxes everyday with my Buck 110, in order to keep the blade clean of sticky tape residue, I habitually turned the knife over and dragged the back of the tip along the tape. As this is a lockblade I never had a problem with it closing, nor did I need apply much pressure anyway.
Like I said, it kept most of the blade free of tape residue, prevented wear on the sharp edge from the cardboard and prevented possible damage to the box contents.
Anybody else do this?
 
Sure, but mostly to prevent slicing the contents of the box.

The tip is almost invariably sharp enough to break the surface tension of the tape.
 
i never did, but i will now if the blade-shape suits it, great idea!

if there's one thing i hate really bad, is when you got a lot of tape and other adhesives, the edge will be covered in tiny sticky pieces of tape, that won't even come off properly if you hold the blade under a hot water tap! :mad:
. and most of the times it won't even come off if you use your nails to rub it away......then you got all pissed and try it again, and...*slit* there goes the edge into your finger.....*ouch*. :grumpy:


anyone have a simple non-messy solution for that ?(tape/adhesives on the edge). love to hear some ideas!

denn
 
thanks VW, but it prefer something 'non-messy'. i read the link to the otehr thread all the way, but all methods involve messy/toxic or otherwise unwanted substances. ithink i'll stick with hot water and then make a few cuts in a cotton rag or something like that.....
 
Just spray a little bit of WD-40 on the blade and let it set for about 10 minutes and just wipe it off....the tape residue is gone. FWIW, WD-40 also takes road tar off of the side of your car.

Ron
:cool:
 
When I worked at Wally World, before I became a manager, I was the run of the mill grunt, I was in something called ICS, basically the people that cleaned everybody's mess up, not like janitors, but if one area was short on staff, or got blitzed out with whatever they were selling, we came in to save the day. Anyway, I was using a big Chinese Jaguar tanto folder which was almost a freaking foot long when opened (I realize it's a POS now), which scared the hell out of the hottie who I was trying to impress (tig ole bitties :D, later we had some fun ;) ), instead of the standard issue box cutter. Well, I mangled some product using that knife! I started being more careful, switched to my boxcutter, and voila, got my manager position. Now, I use my tiny Spyderco Ladybug for opening any boxes, not just those shipped to my house, but ANY boxes, I certainly don't wanna ruin my own stuff :D!
 
I do the same thing! I really like not having to break out the solvent everytime I cut open a box.

Another trick I use is to "pull" on the lid to put tension on the tape. Then the tape usually breaks open all at once with a "pop" when poked by the knife tip.
 
about the only things that remove that gunky packing tape glue well are lighter fluid and GooGone.
 
i sharpened the false edge on my kabars for opening boxes. and as for the sticky stuff i use what ever i can get my hands on at the time. MMO, motor oil, wd40, and braklean all work really well.

i just baught a small timberline envoy today to open smaller boxes but the kabar is still my workhorse. i used a blue point folding box cutter for a while but i was going threw to many blades.
 
G'day,
All right guys (and gals), the best solvent for all gum-type glues is eucalyptus oil. Wipe on, wipe off. And clears your sinuses at the same time.
Left alone the eucalyptus oil will evaporate completely so if you want some rust protection use your favourite on the clean blade.
Warning-may dissolve some plastics--don't use on CD covers for instance.
Greg
 
I do that all the time. I keep my knives so damn sharp, if I try to cut packaging tape, I cut through the tape, box, and sometimes the stuff inside. Using the swedge, all I cut is the tape. Works fine.
 
Yeap ! My "work knife" Gerber EZ OUT. I have done it that way as long as ive had it , not sure why , but I do :D
 
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