Practising knife safety with your craft knife

A craft knife is one of the most important tools in your card making workbox and should be chosen – and used  following recommended knife safety guidelines.  You will find a number of art knives and blades on the market.  Some are notoriously dangerous, others considerably safer.

Your options for cutting are:

• Craft knife with retractable blade on ratchet and a  plastic safety sleeve.
• Craft knife with snap-off blade points.
• Stanley knife.
• Scissors.

Craft knife with ratchet blade
Always remember to retract your blade and replace the safety sleeve after use.  This kind of knife, whilst cheap, does not offer you the kind of extra protection you get with a Stanley knife. As in all things, you get what you pay for.  Store safely.

Craft knife with snap-off blades
If you are not entirely sure what you are doing, this type of craft knife poses lethal dangers.  Snapping off blade ends is highly dangerous.  Avoid these cheap market stall knives and invest in a Stanley knife.

Stanley Knife
By far the best, and used by crafters everywhere.  The retractable blade is easier to use.  The blade is housed in a secure protected casing and is easily replaced. When one edge of the blade becomes blunt, turn it over, and use the other end.

Safety procedures
Whatever type of knife you use, observe four safe handling procedures:

1. Keep your craft knife in a secure place.
2. Never let anyone obtain or use a craft knife without strict observation/assistance.
3. Always use with a metal ruler that comes with an integral finger guard.
4. Ensure the blade is safely retracted after use.

It pays to be safe rather than sorry when using these potentially hazardous tools.  It may seem overkill to recommend safety but accidents do happen and being fore-warned is to be fore-armed.

Practice these safety tips and purchase advice and you can be sure that you will be practising good knife safety, for yourself – and others.

Written by Geraldine Jozefiak
Craft Expert and Demonstrator

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