I use both. I won’t call the scalpels “flexible” but the blade is about .015” thick compared to the Xacto which is about .020” thick. But the scalpel does have a tendency to wander a little when used with a straightedge. On the other hand, the very tip of the blade doesn’t break off like the Xacto knife. But, I also don’t use it to score .040” styrene since it tends to wander…



Bottom line…I have yet to figure out a reason to recommend modelers purchase a scalpel…



Jack Burgess



From: STMFC@... [mailto:STMFC@...]
Sent: Monday, April 20, 2015 12:59 PM
To: STMFC@...
Subject: [STMFC] Scalpels or scalpel blades








Some of you have or do use scalpels instead of, or in addition to, hobby knives such as X-acto. Are
scalpel blades stiff or flexible?

Gene Green

Over the last couple of mornings I have been using my favorite cutting tool, the Single Edge Razor Blade, to make some very small styrene nuts for an unusual fitting on a Tenn. Central RS-3. As I was doing this I realized that I need to compensate for the angle of the blade when I made the cut or my nuts would not be square when looked at on the side. (Can one really tell from three feet away, LOL?).

There is no doubt that the scalpel holder I have is a hobby one (although better than the first one I bought which was made in Pakistan…probably around a campfire). My current one was also made in Pakistan but was at least machine made. The blades are individually wrapped but aren’t sterile which suggests that they aren’t sold to hospitals…



Jack Burgess



From: STMFC@... [mailto:STMFC@...]
Sent: Monday, April 20, 2015 3:15 PM
To: STMFC@...
Subject: Re: [STMFC] Scalpels or scalpel blades








I bought a scalpel years ago on the recommendation of this list. It was the second worst tool I have ever purchased. I retired it and went back to a variety of xacto blades. Maybe I got a poorer quality hobby one?



If you're wondering the worst tool I ever bought was that Micro-Mark blunt detail removing tool.

Brian J. Carlson
On Apr 20, 2015, at 4:28 PM, 'Jack Burgess' jack@... [STMFC] <STMFC@...> wrote:





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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

The problem with scalpels is the blades are too flexible for the force the mounting allows. I have seen a scalpel buried to the hilt in vulcanized rubber, and cut perfect freehand V grooves for white metal runners. But try to pull them along a straight edge, and you can't feel the resistance of the edge, so the top wanders around, which causes the tip of the blade to wander around. The only thing they are really good for is freehand trimming of molding flash and the like. And decals... really good for fine trimming of decals.

Picture yourself reduced to HO scale, and the size blade needed to dice off 2" dimensional lumber... that's the single edge razor blade. The scalpel is a pocket knife by comparison.

Dennis Storzek

Here is an interesting page on tools by well known modeler Paul Budzik. Scroll down and you will see his favorite scalpel. I would swear I have seen a video where he talks about his preferred scalpel handle but cannot find it. There is a lot of very good info here for any type of modeler. His discussion of paint is the first time I have actually grasp the behavior of paint, especially my preferred Acrylics.

Thanks Scott!

Jack, You may be correct about not having a reason to recommend a scalpel HANDLE, but I respectfully disagree about the blades. I have a box of 100 sterile #11 blades purchased from a veterinary supply house about 20 years ago. They do fit in the X-Acto #2 handle and that is all I used for scribing, scoring, and cutting for many years unroll they were stuck in storage and I had to revert to a newly purchased X-Acto. They hold their edge, the point doesn't break off, and they are a high quality precision cutting instrument. They do not work well to "chisel", use a new X-Acto. They do well to score around a part you want to chisel though. Purchased in bulk, they are very economical and outlast the hobby knife blades by a factor of five to ten. I invite our medical and veterinary practitioners to weigh in with their experiences. John Barry

I spoke too soon. Here is a Bard Parker for under $25.

Although long having free access to all sorts of medical instruments, including Bard-Parker scalpel handles and various blades, I have never felt that they offered any advantage to me in my hobby beyond what was commonly available from XActo. 

One cutting tool that has not been mentioned is the double edged razor
blade. These blades are extremely sharp and thinner than alternatives,
including scalpel blades. I started using them to prevent balsa wood from
splitting (particularly built up wing ribs) when cutting out stick and paper
airplane parts in 1953. I hold the blade in the middle or slightly toward
the forward cutting edge with my thumb and forefinger. I've never used any
hand protection, but if you're squeamish about that, fold a piece of old
fashioned cloth adhesive tape across one edge of the blade as a precaution.
Do not place downward pressure on the top of the blade even when taped!
Lately, I use these blades when I need a precise cut in fine material, e.g.
removing piping or ladders from sprues, shaving off flash from small parts,
and cutting anything where blade pressure is likely to break the part. I use
a slicing motion with minimal pressure to do the job. Bill Welch mentioned
the problem of blade angle when cutting hex nut faces, and the low cutting
angle of a single edged razor blade makes it easier to make a square cut.



As an aside, Jack mentioned that his non-sterile scalpel blades were
probably hobby grade. Maybe, but medical supply companies market both
sterile and non-sterile scalpel blades of equal quality. Non-sterile blades
cost less, and they are used any time sterility isn't required, e.g.
removing animal brains for rabies examination. OK, that may be a little too
graphic an example ; )



Nelson Moyer



From: STMFC@... [mailto:STMFC@...]
Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 2015 12:42 AM
To: Era Freight Car List Steam
Subject: [STMFC] Re: Scalpels or scalpel blades





Although long having free access to all sorts of medical instruments,
including Bard-Parker scalpel handles and various blades, I have never felt
that they offered any advantage to me in my hobby beyond what was commonly
available from XActo.



I do use my Xacto blades somewhat differently than most inasmuch as I
routinely keep them sharp on a very fine white Arkansas stone (ditto with my
ubiquitous single edge razor blades). Such sharpening can carry the machined
edges of these blades to an entirely new level, and extend their working
life to a year or more (3 years for a chisel blade).



Denny



Denny S. Anspach MD

Sacramento

Denny,

Nelson wrote:

As an aside, Jack mentioned that his non-sterile scalpel blades were
probably hobby grade. Maybe, but medical supply companies market both
sterile and non-sterile scalpel blades of equal quality.

Good point Nelson. It won't make sense to produce high-end and low-end
quality blades but skipping the sterilization process would those less
expensive...

Jack Burgess