FAQ

In practically every production plant we find a cutting tool. These blades might be used in the primary production process or used for finishing, in dispatching goods or in warehousing. It is always advisable, and worthwhile, to pay attention to the choice of blade.

It must be emphasized that in every respect a blade is a tool that, with careless handling, can result in serious injuries. With few exceptions, there is almost no SAFETY blade that cannot injure you. However, there are several principles that, if followed, can prevent serious injury.

The choice of blades is often undervalued. Probably the most serious mistake is to choose a blade based only on price. This approach can pay off if the blade is used once, e.g. for home carpet laying.

What are the knock-on effects of my choice of blade?

• safety at work – elimination of work accidents
• total scrap rate
• overall productivity of workers in operation and thus the efficiency of the production process
• overall economic point of view and thus the effectiveness of the project

Work safety can be significantly increased when using cutting tools. How?

• Do not use blunt blades. Their timely replacement is very important. The blunter the tool, the more pressure the worker exerts on the blade. If a blade breaks, slips out of the holder, or is poorly controllable in the cut, this can have very unpleasant consequences.
• Improper blade selection and the above mentioned blunting of the blade can result in increased cutting resistance. In addition to the already described difficulty guiding the blade, wrist and forearm health problems can occur, especially in operations involving all-day use of cutting tools.

There is increasing emphasis on the performance of employees in their operation. Choosing a suitable blade contributes to higher performance. How?

• Frequent downtimes due to changing blades are not desirable
• An improperly selected blade in terms of shape and cutting edge reduces productivity (e.g. higher cutting resistance reduces speed)
• An improperly chosen blade is also a frequent reason for unwanted damage to the product, it increases the scrap rate

The economic point of view does not mean the lowest price. Nevertheless, it is still the most common selection factor. What else should you consider?

• More expensive blades are usually grinded at a combined angle, which extends their life. Often, the increase in overall tool life outweighs the price increase.
• Also, by coating the blade, a significant increase in service life can be achieved.
• In some cases you can use blades that are more expensive, but can be rotated multiple times – they have several cutting edges.

Demands for blade quality and service life will vary depending on use. The method of grinding the blade thus plays a very important role, especially when keeping in mind all that has been stated previously.

Below is a preview of the different types of grinding. The long-standing experience of seasoned manufacturers is reflected in their correct choices, especially in the combination of compound angles, which together with a suitably selected blade material can significantly increase service life and reduce cutting resistance compared to standard types.

It is essential to consider the appropriate choice of blade at the very beginning of designing production machines which are to be fitted with some kind of blade in the final phase.

We very often find that this consideration has been underappreciated when, at the end of the process, it is frequently impossible to change parts of a line.

Designers very often do not fully appreciate the choice of standard mass-produced blade types, and the consequences can be as follows:

• A blade is specified that is non-manufacturable, mainly due to unfamiliarity of working with materials from which the blade is made.
• Typically cutting tools with sharp radius requirements.
• The cost of manufacturing the required blade is beyond the expected economic framework. A blade is often designed whose manufacturing involves an individual production programme.
• Individually manufacturing a blade takes months, which most designers do not count on!
• Possible additional costs for redesigning a blade clamping device, especially if it is found that the required cutting tool cannot be made.
• Last but not least, perhaps the worst-case scenario, is fitting a hand-made blade to a machine which allows the device to be demonstrated, but the availability of spare blades for the customer is not ensured.

Since the beginning of our company’s existence, we have tried to ensure that our customers get as many answers to their questions as possible.

Do not hesitate to contact us at any time. You can use the contacts below for finding out the answers to your questions.

Customer service :

+420 602 550 878
service@techni-trade.cz

Production :

+420 602 540 328
+420 602 550 870
vyroba@techni-trade.cz

Using scalpels or knives in operations is now a nightmare for any company owner or safety officer in whose processes such tools are used. And no wonder. Workers are often inattentive, pressure on their performance is high, and standard knives no longer meet safety requirements.

Injuries caused by knives and blades are often very unpleasant, especially for the worker, who then is excluded from work process due to temporary indisposition. The company thus incurs incidental costs during downtime and in searching for a replacement employee. Registering accidents then brings considerable additional administrative costs.

One of the ways to prevent injuries with cutting tools is to use gloves with harder-to-cut fibres and a non-slip surface. However, these gloves tend to be thick, and the worker lacks the necessary feeling and touch at work. And what about other parts of the body? So there is little choice but to focus on a suitable knife.

It is advisable:

• to choose the right tool for a specific application (e.g. knives with snap-off blades are not always suitable for everything);
• to take into account laterality, i.e. whether the worker is right-handed or left-handed;
• to test the tools in operation, ideally by several regular workers.

This aspect is often underestimated. However, the right tool will help make your work more efficient, often helping users avoid health problems caused by using an unnecessarily heavy or unsuitable tool all day long.

In our assortment, you will find countless knives, many of them given the label “safety“. Although we would like to categorize them and so speed up selection, it is not always easy to say that one specific holder or blade is always suitable for finishing glass, and another for working plastics.

Each operation, even if the two are doing the same thing, uses different tools. It is always wise to consider what are the options for each particular operation, in terms of:

• the budget for consumables;
• the possibilities of tool registration, loss prevention;
• the skills and reliability of staff (many plants use agency staff, characterized by a high degree of instability);
• and last but not least, the pressure on productivity (this affects, for example, speed when changing the blade and thus the quick-release mechanisms of knives).

We offer our potential customers maximum assistance and, of course, the opportunity to seriously choose and test tools directly in operation. If possible, we will be happy to provide multiple types of selected tools for testing, and above all time for workers to test the tools properly. Together with holders, we will also provide blades.

Gone are the days of a well-sharpened saw blade tucked into a rubber garden hose. We have already seen many such tools. But current operations have slightly different requirements. However, it must be made clear that NO KNIFE IS 100% SAFE, unless maximum attention is paid to how it is handled.

So what are the characteristics of ‘safety’ knives?

• a safety knife is often considered a knife whose blade can be manually operated and slid into the holder’s own body after an operation
• next, you get a higher level of safety by automatic control of the replacement blade using a spring, these involve knives with retractable blades, or knives with sufficiently concealed blades
• Furthermore, high-quality hardened plastics prevent unwanted breakage in the blade area
• a knife design which prevents the blade from accidentally extending and falling out is standard
• the colour of a knife or having a detectable material is another safety element.
• and finally, having a suitable choice of blade.

Automatic spring-loaded blade control is important wherever pressure is applied to the cut and longer cuts occur in applications. Installed in the holder’s body is a spring, the quality of which is a significant factor in the financial value of the knife. The spring is connected to the slider/blade control.

There are two types of knives with automatic control:

• The blade slider must be held with the thumb at all times. After making the cut, it is then necessary to release the slider so that the blade retracts automatically.
• The slider adjusts the blade to the position required for cutting. After losing contact with the material to be cut, the blade retracts itself, regardless of whether the slider is held or not.

The price difference between these variants is considerable. Therefore, it is necessary to always consult with workers what is natural for them or do how they feel when holding a particular tool. If it is convenient for the worker to work with a knife always having their thumb pressed onto the blade’s control, then the first option will not work from a ‘safety point of view’.

Knives with a concealed blade are usually used when it is not necessary to first perforate the material. These are knives especially used for cutting tape and thin carton, removing foils or separating material from coils.

It is ideal to choose a knife:

• with a replaceable blade, where blades can be disposable, or multi-edged, for repeated use;
• That is not too thick, as part of the cut involves drawing the entire knife through the material. The material then resists the thicker knife, and thus unnecessary force is exerted;
• It is also essential to consider the groove through which the material penetrates, make sure it is not too wide and prevents the blade from coming into contact with your fingers!

The vast majority of knives, in combination with a replaceable blade, are mainly made of plastic. Compared to metal ones, plastic holders have an unbeatable advantage – weight. We try to offer and always let the customer choose between higher quality and standard types of knives, and in a plastic design, if there are alternatives.

Many manufacturers whose products we supply use top-quality plastics and have tried-and-tested, stable production. They aim to continually improve and innovate their products.

These manufacturers undoubtedly include:

• MARTOR
• OLFA
• KDS Japan

Knives from these manufacturers are made of hardened, high-quality plastic castings, combined with metal guide rails for the replacement blade. In many cases, where knives are expected to cope with greater pressure, they are equipped with anti-slip rubber. A definite advantage is also the choice of ergonomic shapes.

Since the beginning of our company’s existence, we have tried to ensure that our customers get as many answers to their questions as possible.

Do not hesitate to contact us at any time. You can use the contacts below for finding out the answers to your questions.

Customer service :

+420 602 550 878
service@techni-trade.cz

Production :

+420 602 540 328
+420 602 550 870
vyroba@techni-trade.cz