5 Essential Utility Knives to Keep on Hand

The trusty knife is one of our most ancient tools, and it’s arguably even more essential today than it was thousands of years ago. The 20th century brought us the classic disposable-blade utility knife, and they’ve been indispensable in commercial, industrial and hobby settings ever since. Whether you’re running a warehouse, a construction project or even a simple home workshop, a good, sharp utility knife should never be far when you need it. Today, thanks to advances in knife design and manufacturing, knife buyers have more choice in utility knives than ever before. New designs and technologies have created many great new options in the utility knife market. Here are five knife designs–from the common to the specialized–that could be a great fit for your needs.

1. Retractable Utility Knife/Box Cutter Knife

The retractable utility knife, sometimes also called a box cutter, is an essential tool for almost every commercial or industrial setting. The classic design uses a razor that moves along a track inside the knife and can be extended or retracted with the flick of a small switch. Retractable utility knives have many advantages, including:

• Sharp blades that easily cut through tough materials like cardboard and packing tape
• Simple design that makes it easy to change blades and put your utility knife back together
• Disposable blades don’t need to be sharpened
• Durable enough to last for years

Air Sea Containers’ retractable box cutter knives are a classic example of this simple but effective design. And at only $8.99 apiece, they offer unbeatable performance at a cost-effective price point.

 2. Snap-Away Utility Knife

Snap-away utility knives perform many of the same tasks as retractable models, but their blades are even easier to change. The blade is divided into small segments, making it easy to snap off the end section using a pair of pliers whenever the blade becomes dull. A snap-away knife could be a great choice for you if you want a knife that’s extremely easy to maintain and change blades on. However, it’s important to remember to use the right procedures and be safe when snapping the blade off, including disposing of the old blade in a safe receptacle.

3. Film Cutter Knife

Most goods that come into a warehouse or receiving department are shrink- or stretch-wrapped, so employees need an efficient way to cut off plastic wrap quickly without damaging goods inside. A good film cutter knife (also called a shrink wrap knife) can save a great deal of time and effort, as well as protecting cargo from the accidental damage that box cutters can cause. Shrink wrap knives are specially designed with a blunt point and a blade edge that extends only a few millimeters out to ensure that cargo won’t be harmed. Air Sea Containers offers film cutter knives made from heavy-duty plastic with a design that’s small enough to easily sit in your pocket, plus a built-in hook behind the blade for ripping open packaging tape. For safe and efficient warehouse and receiving work, there’s no substitute.

4. Fixed-Blade Utility Knife

Sometimes you need a heavier tool to get the job done, and that’s where the fixed-blade utility knife comes in. Fixed-blade knives come in an enormous range of designs–from small pocket knives to large outdoors models–and each will have its own pros and cons. Since so many models are available, you’ll want to select a fixed-blade knife that offers the features you’re missing in your current utility knife selection. Common features that many knife buyers look for in a fixed-blade model include:

• A larger and longer blade
• Serrations on the blade
• Comfort grip handle
• Easy to sharpen and/or comes with a sharpening tool

5. Multi-Tool Knife

You’re probably familiar with the classic multi-tool or Swiss army knife, known for packing a wide variety of useful tools into the handle of a single pocket knife. Multi-tools come in a huge variety of shapes, sizes and tool configurations, and like fixed-blade knives, finding the right one for your application is a matter of determining what you need. Some of the most popular items on a multi-tool can include:

• Multiple blade sizes
• Screwdrivers (flat or Phillips head)
• Serrated blades
• Tweezers
• Miniature scissors

Retractable Box Cutter from Air Sea Containers

  Don’t let your warehouse or workshop go without essential utility knives. If you’ve got questions about Air Sea Containers’ selection of utility knives, just call us at (866) 596-9448 and we’ll be glad to assist.