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Author Topic: X-Acto #11 Blades  (Read 5407 times)

Offline Vincent Judd

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X-Acto #11 Blades
« on: February 10, 2018, 09:41:15 AM »
I remember reading somewhere that there were several sources (manufacturers) for these blades.  My stock is running out, time to replenish.  Who makes the best #11 blades and where can I get them?

Thanks

Vince
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Online Brett Buck

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Re: X-Acto #11 Blades
« Reply #1 on: February 10, 2018, 10:06:06 AM »
Quote from: Vincent Judd on February 10, 2018, 09:41:15 AM
I remember reading somewhere that there were several sources (manufacturers) for these blades.  My stock is running out, time to replenish.  Who makes the best #11 blades and where can I get them?

   I like the Excel blades, - just as sharp as the Testor's carbon blades and less prone to rusting, and much less expensive.

https://excelblades.com/collections/blades/products/11-double-honed-blade?variant=37308039819

    If all you have ever used are genuine Exacto, be prepared because these are *much* sharper and last much longer. After the first few cuts in balsa, you can brush the cutting edge of an Exacto up against your skin lightly and not have a problem. Do that with an Excel and you are going to be cleaning up blood. The Testor's blades are similar in terms of sharpness and durability and were the best you could get about 15 years ago, but they are much more expensive and no better than Excels. 

     Brett
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Offline Tim Wescott

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Re: X-Acto #11 Blades
« Reply #2 on: February 10, 2018, 06:14:26 PM »
I don't know how I'm going to remember Excell blades -- but, whatever you do, buy them by the 100, and when they start showing the least bit of dull, toss 'em and change 'em.
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Offline Mike Griffin

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Re: X-Acto #11 Blades
« Reply #3 on: February 11, 2018, 07:38:12 AM »
I agree with Brett.  Over the years I have tried a lot of brands of #11 type blades and the Excel seems to hold an edge longer than anything I tried.  I think you can buy a hundred count from Amazon for around $17.00 if I remember correctly.  I think every model I have built has a little bit of my blood somewhere on it.

Mike
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Offline Vincent Judd

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Re: X-Acto #11 Blades
« Reply #4 on: February 11, 2018, 03:19:26 PM »
Thanks Brett, thanks Mike.   Just ordered from Amazon.  100 blades, $18.  I have Amazon prime, so no charge for shipping.  Delivery by Tuesday the 13th.  Sweet deal.

I've always used X-acto blades and was never happy when covering a model.  Seems that after a few Monokote cuts, the blades got dull.  I went through a ton of them when covering.  Can't wait to try these guys out.  Even when dull, I usually manage to nick myself.  I try to trim in red, covers up the blood stains.  I always keep Neosporin and bandaids handy.

Vince
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Offline Will Hinton

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Re: X-Acto #11 Blades
« Reply #5 on: February 11, 2018, 07:43:07 PM »
CA works well for the cuts.
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Offline Dennis Nunes

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Re: X-Acto #11 Blades
« Reply #6 on: February 11, 2018, 09:24:33 PM »
I'm surprised that no one has mentioned surgical blades. There are all kinds of different types of blades. I've purchased a box of 100 #11 surgical (or dental) blades, similar to X-Acto #11, with a handle for $6.50 including shipping on eBay last April. They are extremely sharp and I have the scars to prove it!  ;)
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Offline Walter Hicks

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Re: X-Acto #11 Blades
« Reply #7 on: February 11, 2018, 10:05:54 PM »
Demnis I use the Surgical blades on soft thin balsa be very careful not to press very hard as they break easily.
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Offline Dennis Nunes

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Re: X-Acto #11 Blades
« Reply #8 on: February 11, 2018, 10:11:15 PM »
True and I wouldn't recommend them in place of a utility knife!   ;D
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Offline Tim Chenevert

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Re: X-Acto #11 Blades
« Reply #9 on: February 12, 2018, 03:52:25 AM »
Excel blades for me. LHS has them. Tim
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Offline Avaiojet

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Re: X-Acto #11 Blades
« Reply #10 on: February 12, 2018, 06:30:17 AM »
Quote from: Tim Chenevert on February 12, 2018, 03:52:25 AM
Excel blades for me. LHS has them. Tim

Tim,

And what do they sell for?

CB
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Offline Paul Smith

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Re: X-Acto #11 Blades
« Reply #11 on: February 12, 2018, 07:45:34 AM »
Pincover doesn't list their prices.  You need to call 'em on the phone.  So I did.

$13.50 per 100 (13.5 cents each)
$110 per 1,000 (11 cents each)
Plus shipping.  Obviously, the shipping would average down on the bigger order.

Not a deal-breaker if the quality is better.   

The price at the Toledo RC Show has gone up to $20 per 100 or 20 cents per cut for the low-quality blades.
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Paul Smith

Offline goozgog

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Re: X-Acto #11 Blades
« Reply #12 on: February 12, 2018, 10:04:10 AM »
    A hundred years ago when I worked in an art studio
I used to go through a 100 blades in a week.
Now, I've used the same two blades to build three
airplanes.
    I sharpen them on a quality stone and hone them.
It takes seconds and my blades are always sharp enough
to shave hair off the back of my hands. Very very sharp!

Just a thought. - K.

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Keith Morgan

Offline Fredvon4

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Re: X-Acto #11 Blades
« Reply #13 on: February 12, 2018, 03:02:24 PM »
I tend to use a lot of scalpels as well as the mentioned Xacto variants

I get my handles and surgical blades from

http://www.havalon.com/

I also invested in an impregnated strop....forget where I got it.... but a few swipes of the better Xacto blades easily helps get through de-spruing process or carving ribs

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Offline John Watson

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Re: X-Acto #11 Blades
« Reply #14 on: February 15, 2018, 05:09:44 PM »
Keep an Arkansas stone handy and a piece of leather and blades will last a long time. Its not that I'm cheap its just that I can make the blade sharper than original.
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Online Brett Buck

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Re: X-Acto #11 Blades
« Reply #15 on: February 15, 2018, 10:06:18 PM »
Quote from: Bob Hunt on February 12, 2018, 06:58:40 AM

They were out of stock recently when I needed blades, so I went to the local hobby shop and purchased a box of 100 Excell blades. They were just awful! Very dull. I cannot tell you that this is normal for Excell, but I won’t purchase any more of their blades. This may be an anomaly for Excell, as others who have posted here have reported that they were very satisfied with them. But for me it's "once burned, twice shy." 

   That is not at all normal. I have tried just about every variant of scalpel blade, hobby suppliers, genuine Teutonic blades, and the Excels are usually just as sharp as the scalpel blades, but much stiffer and don't wander. They tips are less likely to break off than the Testor's blades or the stock exacto.

    Brett
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