Scalpel blades

[Steve Maskery]

Reading custard's most excellent article on lining boxes, it reminded me that I need some new blades for my scalpel. I do have a couple left, but they don't last long.

This is my scalpel:

As you can see, the blades have a notch in them. All the blades I can find online have a bottle-shaped hole in them, like this:

Are blades like mine still available? If so, where? I know I could easily and cheaply buy a new handle, but this was my dad's, so I'd like to continue to use it if I can.

Many thanks
S

 

[Racers]

I had one of those handles! haven't seen it for years.

Pete

 

[ED65]

Never seen that style of blade before and I've used craft knives or scalpels since dirt was rocks!

Easy enough to modify an X-Acto blade or one of the other craft-knife blades to have a notch in the right spot if it comes to it.

But when you say the blades don't last long, do you discard when the leading corner is blunt or do you actually wear them out?

 

[Steve Maskery]

I had one of those handles! haven't seen it for years.

Pete

Gerroff, this isn't it...

 

[Steve Maskery]

But when you say the blades don't last long, do you discard when the leading corner is blunt or do you actually wear them out?

I throw them away when they no longer cut cleanly First Time Every Time

 

[memzey]

Have you tried contacting Swann Morton?
http://www.swann-morton.com/contact_form.php
They might be able to shed some light on that handle and the blades it needs?

 

[user 26031]

it's a number 15 blade (as indicated by the "15" on the blade :lol: )

Try here (for example): https://www.scalpelsandblades.co.uk...alpel-blade-swann-morton-product-no-0105-.php

 

[Harbo]

Steves not after a type 15 - reread his post

Rod

 

[monkeybiter]

Maybe there's scope for a thread on sharpening scalpel blades? Can you buy a guide, what's the best honing medium, secondary bevel?

 

[ColeyS1]

Maybe there's scope for a thread on sharpening scalpel blades? Can you buy a guide, what's the best honing medium, secondary bevel?

I saw someone i use to work with sharpen stanley knife blades, no reason it shouldn't work for scalpel blades.

Hone the back flat bit of the blade until it creates a new cutting point. Personally I could never see the point, but perhaps it might be of use if you use some hard to get hold of blades.
Coley

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

[monkeybiter]

Personally I could never see the point
Coley

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

Perhaps you need to hone a little more? :twisted:

 

[rafezetter]

Personally I could never see the point
Coley

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

Perhaps you need to hone a little more? :twisted:

"it's the bit at the front"... - but seriously, I sharpen my scalpels and utility knife blades all the time, a little tickle on wet n dry and it's ready. It could be a throwback to my scale modelling but I can't see why you wouldn't tbh...

 

[Jack (W)]

I can't answer your question Steve, but wonder if a Swann Morton No1 blade would do. If so a quick Google search has shown that they are available from a number of suppliers.

e.g. Scale Model Shop:

https://www.scalemodelshop.co.uk/catalo ... o.1+blades

Jack

 

[ED65]

But when you say the blades don't last long, do you discard when the leading corner is blunt or do you actually wear them out?

I throw them away when they no longer cut cleanly First Time Every Time

Other than sharpening the conventional way there's an old dodge for resharpening blades like this.

Coley beat me to it, you just grind down the top corner, which exposes a fresh bit of the edge. You should be able to do this 20 or 30 times to any slicing blade, extending their useful life from days to weeks, weeks to months, depending on the level of use.

The way I use my pointy blades (X-Acto #11) I don't care for the change in the tip so I sharpen the whole edge, which is why I haven't had to buy a pack of blades in, oh, a few years. The blades currently fitted in my four main handles are all approximately a decade old... now where's that Scrooge smiley when you need it? :-D

 

[Lons]

Jack beat me to it Steve, I was about to post that it's a craft knife not a scalpel. I had one as a kid to make r/c model aircraft.

That one could easily be mine - have you ever been to Northumberland?

 

[bugbear]

I can't answer your question Steve, but wonder if a Swann Morton No1 blade would do. If so a quick Google search has shown that they are available from a number of suppliers.



e.g. Scale Model Shop:

https://www.scalemodelshop.co.uk/catalo ... o.1+blades

Jack

This is a classic case of "finding what you search for" on the internet.

If your search is for scalpel blades, you're unlikely to find craft knife blades.

BugBear

 

[jnw010]

I've got a few of those brass handles as they give much better close control of the end of the blade of marquetry.
From memory I use a Swan Morton no.11 or no.10 blade in them.

 

[Steve Maskery]

Thank you all. I've learned a lot!
S

 

[Newbie_Neil]

Maybe there's scope for a thread on sharpening scalpel blades? Can you buy a guide, what's the best honing medium, secondary bevel?

](*,) ](*,) ](*,)

 

[Racers]

I had one of those handles! haven't seen it for years.

Pete

Gerroff, this isn't it...

I have found mine!

Pete