X-Acto Blade Dispenser – A Must Have Item For X-Acto Knife Owners
Written: Aug 06 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: 15 blade refill, use blade compartment, inexpensive.
Cons: Can get misplaced easily, doesn’t prevent children from gaining access to blades.
The Bottom Line: Going through a ton of blades? Worried about disposing of used ones? Check out the X-Acto # 11 Non-Refillable 15 Blade Dispenser Pack
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| Freak369's Full Review: X-acto #11 Knife Blade Nonrefillable Dispenser 15 ... |
If you own an X-Acto knife, this is a must have item. The most common refills you’ll find at art, hobby and craft stores are the five pack that come packaged in a small plastic case. While this is a great way to store blades, fumbling with the case can be a bothersome chore when you are in a hurry or need to change blades often. More than likely, when you are going through a blade every half hour, the five pack won’t be an economical option. The real selling point to this is that there is a safe and convenient place to keep the used blades. This is not a childproof unit and shouldn’t be left within the reach of any child, regardless of how mature they seem, accidents can happen.
X-Acto # 11 Non-Refillable 15 Blade Dispenser Pack
Just as the name implies, this is a multi pack of replacement blades for X-Acto knives that use the common size 11 cutting tips. Each small container has a section for new and used blades. The new blades are held in place with tension from under the stack and stay nicely in place. This unit is not refillable and if you attempt to try it you may end up with some deep cuts on your fingers. If you try to refill this you not only have to slide the blade into the chamber but you have to press down on the stack to allow room for the new piece. Trust me, it’s just not worth it. These refill packs cost anywhere from $3.00 to $4.00 depending on where you shop. Office supply stores usually have the advantage over the smaller art and craft stores. The downside to this is that it doesn’t come in any type of carrying case so it is pretty much an office item that doesn’t travel well. I store mine in an old metal band-aid container along with other sized blades and X-Acto accessories.
How Is It Used?
There is a storage area for fresh blades, when you need to remove one, press slightly on the end and slide the blade out. You should have clean hands when doing this because excess dirt, oil or grease may make inserting the blade into the knife a dangerous situation. The replacement blade slides into the edge of the knife and should be securely screwed shut once it has been positioned and seated properly. Be sure to read the complete series of steps on the back of the package. If you are using these in an office setting and have purchased them in bulk, they may not come with instructions, in this case, consult the X-Acto site for information on how to properly use this refill container. If you don’t think the blade is seated properly or hasn’t latched on, stab the end into a piece of foam core or thick cardboard and see if it stays inside the knife or comes loose and remains stuck in the material
Spent Blade Storage
The nicest feature to this refill pack is that it has a small slot in the front for used or spent blades. When you need to swap out for a fresh one, carefully remove it from the knife and insert it into the slot, pointed side first. Once the tip has been inserted into the chamber it can’t come back out unless it is overfilled. You should only use this with the blades that come with this refill pack to avoid the chance of overfilling. To dispose of the unit, wrap it in a few layers of tape to prevent the blades from sliding out or being knocked loose from the housing. After that, toss it in the trash and crack open a new pack. I wish there was a way to recycle them or to be able to snap them into a plastic base and safely send them back to the manufacturer to be recycled. Maybe someone from The Hunt Corporation will read this and implement some type of recycling program.
Things To Know
If you are constantly searching for this on your desk, drafting table or design area, you can attach a small strip of double sided tape to the bottom. Some of the newer versions of this dispenser come with a piece of double sided tape inside the package, this gives you the option to use it to toss it away. If it were added to the bottom it would make it a little wobbly and unstable. If you want something less permanent or want the ability to move it from area to area, magnets are another great option. Strips can be purchased at craft and hobby stores for about .50 cents a piece.
Extreme care should be used with this product and all X-Acto items. The cutting blades are extremely sharp and can slice through skin with little effort. When I’ve cut myself I didn’t initially feel any pain, that is how sharp they are. Needless to say, this is something that kids should be kept away from, far away from. It would be bad enough for them to get a hold of an X-Acto knife, but for them to get their hands on a rogue blade would be a sure disaster. As I said, even when these seem dull, they can still slide through skin in the blink of an eye.
The Bottom Line
When it comes to purchasing replacement blades, this is the refill pack that I always try to hunt down. Even when I know I won’t be going through a large number of blades, I like the fact that I can have a safe place to store the used ones and keep them out of harms way. I’ll admit it, I am a klutz and if I can use this safely, anyone can. All that is required to use this is some caution, common sense and patience. If you are rushing through a job you might want to have several knives on hand so you can replace them all at once instead of having to stop every half hour or so. Aside from the small give count refill pack, this is the only multi blade refill pack that I’ve come across. For the money, it’s worth to – and that nifty storage compartment is a definite perk!
For more information about the X-Acto series of blades, knives and cutting tools, please visit their official website at www.hunt-corp.com/office/xacto/officeframe.html.
As always, thanks for the visit …
^V^ Freak ^V^
© 2003 Freak369
Other artists essentials…
PaperMate DryLine Refillable Correction Film
Bic Shake 'N Squeeze Correction Pen
Pilot Varsity Disposable Fountain Pen
Pilot P500 Gel Ink Rolling Ball Pen
Pentel Clic Eraser
Pentel EnerGel Liquid Gel Roller
Recommended:
Yes
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