The term “installation knife” includes a set of tools designed to fulfill its main function in the technical and construction fields. Among this line there are specific designs, as well as universal tools.
Knives of a special design are designed to perform certain work and are not suitable for other purposes. An example is an electric knife with a heel. Universal types, as a rule, are used in a wide range of works and even for domestic purposes.
The main difference between an assembly knife and a household one is its technical adaptability to installation and construction tasks, convenience and speed of application in a given area.
Types of mounting knives
All industrial knives can be divided into two large categories:
- Construction and cutting tools.
- Electric knives.
Modern construction knives have a design with removable replaceable blades. The cutting part is also segmented with the ability to chip segments. This technical solution allows you not to waste time sharpening the cutting blade and perform work extremely quickly. The handle of the professional model's mounting knife has rubber pads for better fixing of the tool in the hand. During operation, the knife can be stored in the pocket of workwear, as it has the function of hiding the blade in the handle.
Wiring knives consist of a handle and an irreplaceable steel blade. They come in different forms to perform certain operations and work:
- Cable knife. It has a straight shortened blade, often covered with insulating material to the level of the cutting edge. Use this tool for stripping cable wires.
- Electric knife with a heel. The blade is curved like a beak. At the end it has a welded element in the form of an oval heel. This knife serves to remove the primary insulation from multicore cables. Its design does not allow to break the insulation of the wire in the bundle.
- Universal mounting knife. Foldable pen-type knife design. It has, in addition to different blades for stripping, also an awl and screwdriver tab. Designed to work with dead wires.
What can I do with an assembly knife?
The applicability of a construction knife is very wide. In addition to the usual operations of cutting ropes, matter, hose, wires, pencil sharpening, he can:
- Cut drywall. Thanks to the strong and sharp blade, soft gypsum and thick cardboard are easily cut and broken in the place of the cut.
- Cut linoleum and carpet. It is convenient not only to cut the floor covering into pieces, but also to make a curly cut and adjust in hard-to-reach places.
- Foam knife removes excess easily and quickly.
- Work with foam, mineral wool and other thermal insulation materials.
- Act as a knife for wallpaper.
- Cut the film, both ordinary and all types of waterproofing and vapor barrier materials.
The scope of the electric knife is limited by the field of energy and voltage tolerances. Typically, the insulation of professional cutting tools can withstand up to 380 V and up to 200 amperes.
Another type of cutting tool for technical use is a mounting knife-scalpel. This device also has a handle and a blade, but they are completely made of high grade tool steel. Scalpels of this type are designed to work with electronic circuits, or rather repair nodes and blocks. They are also used to trim current-carrying tracks on a printed circuit board.
How to choose a good mounting knife?
A quality construction tool has the following characteristics:
- The presence of a sturdy handle equipped with rubber pads or a raised surface for ease of grip.
- The presence of a mechanism for rigid fixation of the blade.
- Blade guide made of durable steel. When the blade segment breaks, the guide must not deform.
- Convenient system for changing the cutting element.
If you extend the blade of the knife by half and, pressing on the handle, make a cut, the blade should not be pulled up strongly, but should be in line with the handle.
The professional electrician mounting knife has a solid dielectric handle without any metal inserts. It may indicate a voltage limit, or this limit must be in the product specifications. The knife is sold initially sharpened, and steel markings are sometimes indicated on it. On modern good models there is a blade guard. The blade should not have a notch and burr.
Professional knife care
A construction knife does not require sharpening, but care is needed. It consists in removing particles of building materials, dust and dirt from the blade extension system. It is also advisable to change the cutting elements in time, which began to rust, in order to prevent corrosion of the guide. Otherwise, it is risky to cut expensive wallpapers with a rusty tool. It is generally undesirable to hide the wet blade of the mounting knife in the handle.
An electrical knife, on the contrary, requires periodic sharpening. It is better not to allow a serious blunting of the blade and let it down after each volumetric work. During sharpening, you cannot change the bevel angle of the blade. Only store the tool with the protective cover on. That the knife did not rust, it should always be covered with machine oil.
Conclusion
Three rules for choosing a quality tool, including a mounting knife:
- Professionalism. An expert in his field knows what tool he needs to work.
- Observation. Anyone who appreciates strength and energy will not use an uncomfortable tool.
- Generosity. A striving for the development of his business is always ahead and spares no money on the best technologies and tools.