Swann Morton chisel blades.

[harlequin]

Just discovered Swann Morton produce chisel blades in their range....SM61, SM62, SM61SB, SM62SB.  The SB is a single bevel. approx. 3mm and 5mm respectively....tried these and they are superb for intricate work. You will need a few as with every scalpel blade but they are well worth it. 

Edited April 20, 2018 by harlequin
include image.

[noel_colledge]

They also do a round handle SF1 to SF4  depending on the length you want, which makes them a little easier to use than the standard handle if it helps.

Edited April 20, 2018 by noel_colledge

[Blue Ensign]

Thanks for the heads up on this harlequin, I am very familiar with Swan Morton scalpel blades, order them in boxes of 100, but these little beauties escaped my attention. Ordered  SM61 and 62 SB  blades yesterday together with the SF2 handle, they arrived today. 

In use already, they are fine narrow chisels perfect for those awkward places. 

 

B.E.

[harlequin]

excellent Blue Ensign.....they don't stay sharp long but extremely useful.....not yet tried to restore the cutting edge on one yet but will try.

 

[Colin 't Hart]

Anyone here managed to order these from the continent? From where?

[Bob Fraser]

Available in the UK from here. scalpelsandblades.co.uk

 

Bob

[wefalck]

Would be interested in a reasonably priced source in the Euro-Zone too. Looked at the single-bevel ones a while ago, but they seem to be rather expensive over here.

[Ryland Craze]

Is there a good source of these blades and handles in the United States?

[allanyed]

Ryland,  You only need non-sterile blades unless you are planning on a little home surgery.   Amazon has a number of different SM blades with free shipping if you are a Prime customer.  You can find them on Ebay as well.   I get them in boxes of 100 for about $25 .  I have two handles and load each with a different blade but mostly use 10A and 11, but occasionally #10 blades come in handy.   

 

[wefalck]

I got a life-time supply via ebay - sometimes suppliers/hospitals etc. sell off blades cheaply in their original packages of 100, when the best before date for the sterilisation has expired and they cannot be used any more in a medical context.

[tlevine]

There is nothing magic about  SM.  My blades are brand X.  More important is the handle.   The cheap ones do not hold the blade as well. 

[bruce d]

I see the blades have their own fittings that don't fit standard #3 or #4 handles.

Do they fit anything else? The fitting looks quite bit like the one used on their orange plastic 'hobby utility knife' which, IIRC, is interchangeable with Xacto blades/handles.

 

It would be handy if they fit something already in my toolbox!

[Tim Murphy]

The worst blades are E-xato blades. Your lucky if they hold a edge for two cuts. Excel blades are better. I will look and try SM. Thanks for the info!

Tim

[bruce d]

9 minutes ago, Tim Murphy said:

The worst blades are E-xato blades. Your lucky if they hold a edge for two cuts.

Tim, I know what you mean. But, since I have a couple of Xacto handles, I was wondering if the SM chisel blades would fit them.

[Bob Cleek]

11 hours ago, Tim Murphy said:

The worst blades are E-xato blades. Your lucky if they hold a edge for two cuts. Excel blades are better. I will look and try SM. Thanks for the info!

Tim

True, but I've never had one break on me like surgical scalpel blades are won't to do. There is an advantage to the heavier gauge metal of hobby knife blades. By the way, surgeons will generally only make a couple of cuts with a scalpel before exchanging it for a new sharp one. Scalpels aren't designed to hold their really sharp edges for any more than about that.

 

It's odd, but nobody's mentioned sharpening hobby knife blades. A fine sharpening stone, or a leather or MDF stropping wheel charged with green polishing abrasive, or even some fine sandpaper, will put a new razor-sharp edge on a hobby knife blade in seconds. I have a very old Arkansas sharpening stone which was designed for sharpening old fashioned straight razors. I use it to keep a sharp edge on my hobby knives. It works fine.

[shipman]

Swann-Morton 'SUPATOOL' and a wide range of suitable blades. I've recommended these on the forum before. A proper handle and a stronger more stable scalpel style blade. Look them up!

[Rik Thistle]

Shipman,

 

Thanks for the heads-up.

 

...from .... https://www.scalpelsandblades.co.uk/range_23_swann-morton-supatool-blades-and-handles.php

 

You and Bob are right that the standard SM blades can be a bit fragile.

 

They also can be a bit dangerous if left lying around, when fitting a blade (I use pliers) , and removing the old blade (I use the SM 'box').

 

Richard

 

Edit: the Supatool may also be called the 'industrial handle' in the UK? ... https://www.amazon.co.uk/Swann-Morton-Retractable-Industrial-Handle-Fitting/dp/B007Q3ZT6E/ref=pd_sbs_6?pd_rd_w=mtyOc&pf_rd_p=fbd048ad-ab90-4647-94dd-974b91bedef1&pf_rd_r=C6WXGKWB9JXCEHNCDXWG&pd_rd_r=1ada9340-d2e7-4901-a964-a6440851b422&pd_rd_wg=XPoxO&pd_rd_i=B007Q3ZT6E&psc=1

Edited May 11, 2021 by Rik Thistle

[Clark]

3 hours ago, Bob Cleek said:

True, but I've never had one break on me like surgical scalpel blades are won't to do. There is an advantage to the heavier gauge metal of hobby knife blades. By the way, surgeons will generally only make a couple of cuts with a scalpel before exchanging it for a new sharp one. Scalpels aren't designed to hold their really sharp edges for any more than about that.

 

It's odd, but nobody's mentioned sharpening hobby knife blades. A fine sharpening stone, or a leather or MDF stropping wheel charged with green polishing abrasive, or even some fine sandpaper, will put a new razor-sharp edge on a hobby knife blade in seconds. I have a very old Arkansas sharpening stone which was designed for sharpening old fashioned straight razors. I use it to keep a sharp edge on my hobby knives. It works fine.

Sharpening works quite well when using the sandpaper tools delivered by proxxon.  I got both needles and blades  sharp enough .  There is also a rotating sharpening stone available by proxxon I usually start with the blades.

Clark