Blades for Artesania Latina Cutter

[brunnels]

This isn't going to be a review of this cutter, I'll do that in the review section.  Not sure what these blades pictured below are called, but does anyone have any recommendations on blades that don't break with light use?

 

This cutter came with about 5 extra blades and I have already gone through 2 of them and I have cut probably less than a dozen pieces using this tool.  The first blade snapped on a piece of 4x4 sapelli, so I have stuck to cutting 2x5mm strips, after a handfull of them I glances at the blade and the new one was already chipping.

 

First blade that broke after cutting a piece of 4x4mm sapelli

 

Second blade after about a dozen pieces of 2x5mm basswood

 

These are the blades the cutter uses, is there a name for this type?

[kurtvd19]

Get your money back.

[Belco]

That blade is a razor blade from a classic machine, I think it's very soft for cutting wood.

Try to replace it if possible with a carpet cutter blade or similar.

The blade in the image measures 39 x 18.4 mm. The measurements of a razor blade are 43 x 22 mm. 

Salutacions

 

Belco

[Roger Pellett]

Sorry but I disagree.  Properly heat treat steel tears.  It does not chip like these blades did.  Ordinary steel used for consumer products is relatively soft and ductile.  It cannot be hardened by heating and cooling.  To produce steel suitable for holding a sharp edge it must be alloyed with something else, the cheapest way being to increase the carbon content.  This “tool steel” is hardened by heat treatment. After heating to a high temperature, it is rapidly cooled by quenching in water or oil.  In this state it is very hard, brittle, and can shatter under impact.  To make it usable it must be tempered at a low temperature.  It would seem that in producing these blades the final step was omitted.  

 

Long story short, they’re defective.

 

Roger

[brunnels]

3 hours ago, Belco said:

That blade is a razor blade from a classic machine

It never even occurred to me it was a razor blade from a single blade shaving razor.  I'll look into the carpet blades. 

[DavidG]

Amati sells such blades like this one, but have a look around as there are different types of them.

But this plastic tool is not designed to cut such thick strip as the 4x4. For that one you will need a saw. The use of this is to make repeated cuts by the same length or same angle, like cutting deck planks from thin strip (after adding a stop to the tray). 

If you can't cut the strip by a handheld knife, neither this tool will do. 

[wefalck]

Why would one cut 4 mm x 4 mm wood with a gouillotine and not properly with a saw?

 

There are probably several factors that led to the blade failure in these application: too thin blade, blade sticking out too far, and not stiff enough tool. All these are inherent in the tool, which probably wasn't designed for such an application. If you'd use a stronger/thicker blade, something else will break or wear quickly.

[davyboy]

HI brunnels,

 

I have a pack of identical looking blades which I inherited about 20 years ago. They are called Balsa hobel klingen (plane blades) manufactured by a German firm called Martor in Solingen. I've only ever used them for scraping decks etc,they're good steel and hold an edge. I suspect your blades are likely a product of the PRC.

 

Dave   

[brunnels]

3 hours ago, wefalck said:

Why would one cut 4 mm x 4 mm wood with a gouillotine and not properly with a saw?

Because one is new to the hobby and wasn't sure what the tool would be able to cut.

Edited February 26 by brunnels

[Jaager]

Kurt is right.

If chop is the way you wish to go

Harbor Freight has a mini chop saw that will cut thru thicker stock rather than crushing the fibers

It is Harbor Freight  so it is not a Rolls.   The table wants a layer to bring it up to the level of the bottom of the "vise".

It wants to sling the off cut.  You do not want your fingers as close to the blade as it would take to hold and prevent that.

 

StewMac has a Japanese Curved-edge Mini Saw  that I like - cutting on the pull stroke- good.

 

[Roger Pellett]

If your need is to cut wood strips for planking a POB kit hull, a Model maker’s razor (Hand saw) works fine.  These often are sold in sets along with a small miter box.  Look up Zona Saw on Amazon.

 

Roger

[brunnels]

36 minutes ago, Roger Pellett said:

If your need is to cut wood strips for planking a POB kit hull, a Model maker’s razor (Hand saw) works fine.

Thanks, that is what I already have and use and it is great.  The AL Chopper was a gift, I am trying to be polite and find some use out of it with better blades. 

[Gregory]

They have these at Cornwall Model boats

 

You might be surprised how low the shipping can be. Very competitive with cost from someplace like Micromark or ModelExpo.

 

Ages of Sail has what looks like the same thing for a different tool.  You would have to check the dimensions.

 

 

Edited February 27 by Gregory
Removed store info for Arizona - Poss SCAM