Why are people cutting so much cardboard?

Ilikesharpstuff said:
If I'm going to spend my time sharpening something I'd rather it be a knife I love and appreciate than something that is made to be disposable. I value my time and sharpening a 14 cent razor blade doesn't make sense.
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I use utility razors for a wide variety of tasks, including boxes, and I re-sharpen the blades. Doing it freehand it takes me two or three passes each side on a hone, and about as many seconds.

If it takes a person more than a few seconds to sharpen a razor blade, then I'd say their sharpening skills need some work.

Fortunately for me, I can spare a few seconds out of my day, and I'm a cheap bastard, I don't like the idea of throwing away a blade that I can easily re-sharpen. To each their own. :)
 
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daveyc said:
I have noticed that cardboard cutting/box breakdown is a big part of what people seem to use their knives on in an edc capacity.

I see it on Youtube, read about it on forums and social media. I am wondering why so much cardboard needs to be cut? I get packages. My work gets shipments etc. I have to say that I have never needed to actually cut cardboard up in order to either throw it away or recycle it. The most I have ever done with cardboard is to cut the tape on either side, collapse it on its natural creases so that it lays flat and stack it for recycle.

Honest question: is it necessary in any capacity to have to physically cut the cardboard itself? Is this really an exercise in trying to "find" a reason to cut something with ones knife? Am I missing something here?
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I used to do it at work a lot. We would open boxes then shape the box in to this presentation thing.

Otherwise at home I would do it to make a big box fit in a bin.
 
killgar said:
I use utility razors for a wide variety of tasks, including boxes, and I re-sharpen the blades. Doing it freehand it takes me two or three passes each side on a hone, and about as many seconds.

If it takes a person more than a few seconds to sharpen a razor blade, then I'd say their sharpening skills need some work.

Fortunately for me, I can spare a few seconds out of my day, and I'm a cheap bastard, I don't like the idea of throwing away a blade that I can easily re-sharpen. To each their own. :)
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If a person has adequate sharpening skills using a disposable blade at all seems wasteful to me. But as you said, to each their own.
 
My job requires me to cut cardboard almost every day. My job also got rid of our old box cutters a while back and the new ones are nearly unusable. Since then ive carried a sharp knife in my pocket for every shift.
 
jacrispy223 jacrispy223 is the new work provided knife anything like this?

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This is what we were provided at my last "regular" job, and required to use for any box or strap cutting. That round pointed little replaceable blade sticking out is ceramic. And it got all chipped up pretty quick, but if you went to get replacement blades too soon, the overlords were not pleased. Thankfully I never had call to cut much in my role. But due to a strange oversight in the rules, there was nothing about carrying a knife. So of course I had seventeen proper knives on me. Just couldn't use them in the building. 🤣
 
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