20 Best Tools For Cutting Plastic (2023 Updated)

Bought this tool based on good reviews. As a person who’s always used a box cutter for Plexiglass, this tool is so much easier. Do yourself a favor and buy one of these. Easy straight lines. Strike the line 7-8 times holding the tool angled where your cutting with the bottom part of the blade.

Then simply snap it in two. I’m glad I found this tool. I give it 5.

After trying various other methods (jigsaw, router, hacksaw and craft knife) to accurately cut acrylic-without success, I tracked down this tool after seeing it being used as part of a youtube video.

After using it for a couple of weeks now I can report that it has been the most effective way to cut acrylics and perspex cleanly and accurately. It easily handles straight and curved cuts. It is essential to use a rigid guide for creating the score and to remember to create several light scores (rather than a single heavy handed score) before snapping the material along the cut line.

Curves can be snapped by using a nibbling action as for cutting curves in ceramic tiles.

Perfect thing to cut laminate. Use a good flat straight edge. Score then snap.

i work as an electrician and use these to cut off exxcess plastic tails. it leaves a flush non sharp finish and hence no cut arms from these. most electricians will know what i mean from cut arms from tyraps.

i love these snips and a few of my colleagues have bought these from seeing and using mine.

These are pretty good. They aren’t meant for cutting heavy plastic and anything hard and they won’t really cut it unless you really push on them. They leave a flawless finish on zip ties and other soft plastic pieces and I’m glad I got them.

Knipex makes great tools and these are a good addition to the tool bag.

Tool works great on day one but quickly goes downhill, I’ve owned for 6 months and have done less than a hundred cuts with this thing, trigger assembly loose from day one and fell off after a couple months, blade is well taken care of with no knocks but is way more dull after first 30 or so cuts.

It works but it’s not the quality I have come to expect from Milwaukee. Also tried to replace the trigger button and can not get it fixed so at this point I’ve gone back to use it my manual pair. Fairly dissappointed.

This can get into some reasonable tight spaces or angles where it’s easier to pull the trigger with no room for a saw to move. If I was doing straight demo work then I’d probably use a multitool as that would have an easier time getting into tight spots.

Since I was fixing some plumbing, it was nice to use this tool as it was fast and left clean edges. Wasn’t necessary to sand or use a blade to clean the inside and outside edges.

Worked well until we needed a new blade. No one has the blade in stock. Everyone you order them from charges shipping if they can get them. Other issues include the fast return to open the blade lasted about a week.

I don’t know if the person who designed this was double jointed but the ergonomics are odd. You will get used to it but the first few times you use it, you will have a wtf moment. Everyone I know who has used the tool has been annoyed by the placement of the safety button that you have to hold down to make the tool work.

Idk why “professional tools” need a nanny state safety switch but this tool has one. If new blades where available at the same places the tool was sold I would be fine with the issues. The battery life is truly amazing.

If you plan on using it outside, keep it clean or be prepared to field strip it and clean it. Because of the lack of accessible blades from retailers I went back to using manual shears and my sawzall to cut pipe.

I bought this saw a couple years ago, and have thanked myself ever since. When I grab it and install the correct blade, it has cut everything I’ve tasked it with: pruning unwanted growth in my yard, trees; sawing dimensional lumber; sawing metal pipe, and rip and tear remodeling.

I am sold on brushless tools now and won’t buy brush type ever again. This saw has been a worth addition to all my other brushless Dewalt tools. Not a complaint from any of them.

I bought this saw to cut rebar from a pool I was demolishing. I used it probably 2-3 hours at the most. Then used it again just 3 months out of warranty. It ran for about 5 minutes making 2 cuts in black iron pipe and quit.

You could tell it looked brand new with only a couple of scratches on it. I took it to dewalt factory repair nearby and wound up paying 95. 00 for repair and they gave me a new one. I have been a dewalt loyalist only because that was the first cordless brand I bought and stayed with them in order not to buy other brand batteries and chargers.

So now I bought one for 172. 00 and now for 95. 00 = 267. 00. Guess I have to dream up something to use it on for 3 hours before the warranty goes out in 1 year. Built in America should be THE BEST !.

With the included 5 Ah battery (and charger) this really gets after the dead trees and limbs on my land. I wear out before the battery does. However, it is loud and does vibrate. Wish Dewalt would have used the anti-vibration technology that my corded Skil recip saw has.

Really like the Dewalt blade change system. Fast & easy in addition to 4 way blade positioning. And I like the fact that Dewalt is using consistent battery specs in multiple tools. I hope all the Dewalt 20V tools work as well as this recip saw.

Robust handle allows you apply more pressure with better control. A blade cover to protect the blade and user when in a tool bag wound have been a welcomed addition. The blade came with a gritty rust preventive coating that on frost impression made it feel cheap.

But the tool works as it should so no real complaints. Score work repeatedly on both sides before attempting to snap for the best results.

Plastic acrylic cutter is a necessary tool for building acrylic display cases. Highly recommended.

Very useful piece of kit. Better than modelling knife blades for scoring perspex as it has no flex in the blade, reduces the risk of slipping etc.

I recently bought this model multitool for sanding and cutting off hard to reach places on my woodworking projects. It works great being able to sand in the small hard to reach places my orbital sander won’t reach and same for the cutting with the different size blades that it comes with I’m able to make detailed and precise cuts where an ordinary saw just doesn’t allow me to do that.

Also the multiple speeds allow me to send at different places which is great when working all the small details, whether I’m at full speed to sand a large area or at low speeds sanding smaller more delicate parts.

I recently have restored an old rocking chair that my grandfather had made more than 30 years ago and it did a phenomenal job on the entire chair. I’m still in the process of restraining and sealing it otherwise I would post before and after photos but when completed il revise this post with photos of before I sanded with this tool and after.

Overall a tough little powertools that has the power for bigger projects with the option of delicate details as well. Also it’s extremely simple to change out the tools you need with the quick change lever.

Couldn’t ask for a more universal tool. Also the motor is very strong and capable of running for hours at a time as long as you have the batteries to do so. I have used a 2 amp power stack battery and a regular 6 amp battery and I prefer the 6 amp just because it lasts so much longer but I can feel a difference when I have a fresh power stack battery in it cause the output allows the tool to run at a higher level.

This oscillating tool works great for jobs where you need one of the three speeds provided. If you pull on the trigger all the way, it’s a very controlled tool. It works great for cutting drywall for electric boxes, undercutting door casings for floor installation, and for sanding.

It’s been a go-to tool on the jobsite for those tasks. Why a three-star review? The variable speed trigger is frustrating to use. A slight increase in pressure causes a big jump in speed. For those jobs where precision matters, this has been a major disappointment (e.

g. using the tool with a diamond blade to cut out grout). The tool would jump from the grout line as the speed unexpectedly increased, damaging surrounding tile. For these jobs, I’ll stick with my corded oscillating tool that can be locked on at any speed desired.

Have used the tool more than I thought I would have. Used it to cut through metals, wood, drywall and excess spray foam. Used it for sanding and works really well for that, easy to get into corners. The versatility makes this my favourite go to tool and has helped me get more projects done around home.

Vibration is pretty noticeable on the 3rd setting full go but nothing that would harm the cutting precision and control of the tool. Otherwise vibration is pretty minimal for the type of tool it is. Noise isnt to bad but would wear hearing protection if on 3rd setting or cutting metal.

As per usual it has the dewalt quality fit and finish.

I’m a plumber and these are my preferred cutters, besides the lack of a proper locking system in happy with these. Milwaukee pex cutters are good too and have a good lock, but the head is a little bulky.

These fit better in the slot in my bag. I’ve also had Lenox ones but they’re bulky and the lock slips. It’s a pex/poly cutter. You can cut small pvc in a pinch like any other pex cutter, but a ratchet cutter is what you want for pvc.

I bought the pc1250 after a coworker recommended it. We do alot of 1/2″ and 3/4″ pex. The lock that keeps the tool closed broke off day 1. I reached out to ridgid and they gave me a link for warranty/support and I am fairly sure I can just take it back to where I bought it so it’s not the end of the world.

Just thought I’d give others a heads up so you can either buy the better ones from ridgid, or the Milwaukee’s from the start, and not waste your time like I did.

Bought this to cut 1 1/2 diameter PVC since the packaging says it can cut from 3/4″ to 1 5/8″, with the intent that I could make quick cuts to finish a PVC construction in an afternoon. Working the same cut for 20 minutes in the parking lot and I gave up on this tool.

While the cup is indeed wide enough to hold a 1 5/8″ pipe, the problem is that the blade does not open wide enough to do so. Potentially the user could score or partially cut through the pipe to make it work, but it did not work as the tool is not stable enough to spin around the pipe and would require stronger clamps to make it happen.

Returned the tool since it did not work for the job that I had.

This cordless jigsaw uses Dewalt 20 V battery system. It is very well-made and is very ergonomic. The handle the visibility is all very good it has a dust floor which works well and a four position orbital selector that also works well.

The base angle can be changed with no tools. It has a lever that can be moved allowing the base angles to be set wherever appropriate. My only complaint is that the lever in the front of the tool is difficult to open which allows for tool-less blade change.

The LED light is very effective. If the blade change was easier I would give this tool of five it is the only slight drawback.

I’ve used many jig saws over the years, but this one is by far the best! Built like a tank, powerful, fast cutting, adjustable orbital motion and great battery life. The adjustable air flow to blow wood dust off of the cut line is a very nice feature.

Make sure to use a good quality T-shank blade. Best purchase I’ve made in a while! Buy it, you will definitely like it!.

This was suggested to me by a professional cabinet builder/ installer. Boy was he right. I own several DeWalt cordless products & this is by far the most impressive! Super nice quality. Cuts very nice, Loads of power.

Weight in hand is very nice & in the cut is perfect, keeping chatter to a minimum. Vertical guides keep blade perpendicular. Variable speed in trigger allows very slow articulate cuts. Can not tell when blower is on or off, but that is the only downside I have found.

I’ve worked in construction, handyman and DIY most of my 40+ working years and never felt the need for a jigsaw (sabersaw) and really regret not ever getting one. I’m a hardcore Dewalt and Bosch tool guy because they’ve never let me down.

Now as a disabled Veteran and retired I like to do woodwork as a hobby and needed to do some scroll work on some upcoming projects and did lots of research on jig saws. It boiled down to the Bosch JS365 for the best value and ratings.

I just happened to go into Ace and saw the Dewalt DCS334B was $30 off and decided to spend the extra since I have a bunch of batteries already. Very glad I made the choice. Brushless motor makes a big difference on battery life.

I just finished going through a stack of 2×4’s cross and rip cuts using the included blade. In orbital mode it cuts like butter. Much faster and cleaner than I expected. In regular mode it makes very clean lines even with the 10 tpi blade.

I did get some 20 tpi blades for upcoming projects but it’s nice to know even the 10 is pretty clean. Surprisingly I still had plenty of fuel in my battery after all that. I have to say this may end up being my 2nd2nd most used tool.

No regrets and I’d definitely recommend this tool.

I have been a DeWalt User for many years, Right now I have the availability to pick up new tools of the DeWalt brand. I have tools from 20 years back from DeWalt that are in operation today on the old 18 Volt Platform.

I am just a single user of the items. I think The XR Line is one of the best lines of tools from DeWalt in longevity for what use and abuse one person can through at it. Pros from my perspective: Easy Change Blades Easy Rotation of the Foot after some adjustment.

Nice and Smooth plastic footplate cover. Excellent LED Lighting “nice and bright” One Free Blade inbox. Con’s No Allen Wrench to adjust Foot Plate Screws No Edge Guide either, “Extra Purches” 🙁 Realy “Dewalt / Stanley Black & Decker” needs to include these Items even with the bare tools, like with other major brands out there Like “Big Red” Or “Teal Green”.

You can not get these items at the big box stores. Not in my area at least. 4 Stars on Rating & Value 5 Stars the rest of the way around.

I have had this jig saw for over a year now and it is a good tool. Used it a lot when framing remodels and such for custom fixes to issues. THE GOOD: Does what it needs to do. Easy to use and quality built.

Buy the extra blade kit so you have a variety of options and extras when you burn through them. THE BAD: It comes with a clear alignment piece so you can follow a line easier. Well it keeps falling out all the time.

Handle could use some redesign since the way it is designed it makes it have a higher probability of raising it so it is not flush with the substrate. All in all, Dewalt makes good, quality products and this is just that.

You will not go wrong by buying it.

The score is crisp and after running through 1/8” acrylic 2-3 times it snaps clean. Doesn’t work that well on deeply textured material. Always remember to score the smooth side kids.

The cutter worked really well to score and snap the laminate product from Home Depot which we used to surround our kitchen lights. Only when we did this, did we realise how terribly the old product had aged.

I bought this cutter for 3, 4 and 5mm thick plexiglass. It works perfect. First you cut few times and than you break it. It will give you almost prefect cut. You can use sharp blade to clean the edge.

I recommend this item.

Original Knipex. Sharp. Durable. Last for long. Magnusson and other cheap side cutters are nowhere near with the quality.

Std sidecutters. Good manufacturing precision. Even though I checked a measuring tape before ordering, 140mm size is way too small. Its like a little toy. Need 200mm or larger for any sort of serious mechanical work.

I put this up over a week ago, I wasnt expecting much for an item that uses suction to stick to a tiled wall but it hasnt moved a millimetre in this much time. This is a really good quality item that has allowed me to create a shower in my bathroom without having to use drills etc as I dont own those types of tools.

Id definitely recommend this. Very good. Im very happy with my purchase.

Picked this up to supplement my angle grinder and air cutoff tools. Could not be happier with the feel, power, and features of this tool. Honestly i just expected something similar to an air tool however was surprised by the ability to select rotation direction, speed control, work light, and depth guard.

All of these along with this tools ability to actually cut through mild steel like a beast make me really happy I picked it up. Can’t wait to see how much stuff I can get done!.

Happened with 2 tools. I’m a fan of Ryobi One and got one of these for Christmas. Used it to cut metal pipe and it would work for a few seconds and stop. Nothing. Remove and install battery and we’re up and running for another few seconds.

This went on for 20 minutes. Very frustrating. I returned the tool and got a replacement. It acts the same way. What am I missing here, or should I return it and use my 20 yr old flawless corded angle grinder.

I must say, the tool feels good and it cuts great for those 3-5seconds. I can make a video if that helps.

Amazing power and control with this mini grinder. LOVE the depth control and lights. Perfect ergonomics. Had to put it to use against an old encrusted tub faucet. Cut it in half in seconds and no damage to fitting due to depth control.

I have used this tool on DIY projects with a friend and I knew I had to purchase to add to my collection of DeWalt cordless tools. I trust the brand and a no brainer when purchasing DeWalt. I already own other DeWalt cordless power tools so I don’t to purchase another 20V batteries (I purchased tool only).

I like the size and balance with battery when operating this tool. Another feature that makes this tool easy to work with is depth adjustment ring which allows for fast and easy height adjustments as you need.

I also like the dual LED lights that help illuminate the work surface. The cordless router is equipped with variable speed control for optimal bit speed in each application – in my case I use to make grooved cross cuts and it chewed through the wood pretty easily with a clean cut.

I’ve used this tool for about 6 months now and truly impressed every time.

It barely cutes through a 2×4, but if you only do that or smaller, for about an hour at a time, it’s a good tool for the super low price. Also super lightweight. If you need to cut all day you definitely need a stronger tool.

Easy to adjust all the blade and guard settings.

Already had the battery for some garden tools, so this refurb was a nice pickup. Great for quick jobs where I don’t need to set up and plug in the track saw. Its pretty light, and not bad even with the large battery.

It was powerful enough to cut through 2×10 , and even trimmed the bottom of an old, very solid door. Feels a little strange at first, since the handle is on the opposite side. but it actually gives you a better view.

Don’t even think about not using eye protection, since you cant hide behind the motor anymore, and will get a face full! I have a couple of Ryobi tools now, and while I don’t think they compare to Dewalt and Bosch , etc, they have not let me down.

(Of course as a refurb, somebody got let down :).

After having owned a couple of the old blue 12-volt NiCad 5 1/2″ circular saws, and struggling with cutting completely through a 2 X 4 flat, in a single pass, I am finally able to accomplish that task with ease.

I’ll never understand why this wasn’t addressed when small cordless circular saws were first introduced, but it’s finally a reality now. Granted, this isn’t the lightest cordless circular saw, but it is functional, with adequate power.

And you have to love the fact that Ryobi has continued to remain true to their original promise of making sure all batteries and tools will retain backward compatibility – that feature alone has saved me hundreds of dollars, while still allowing me to keep pace with both battery and tool advancements – and for a fraction of the price of Ryobi’s competitors.

Do yourself a favor – buy a quality Ryobi product and support a great manufacturer that continues to serve their customer base – all the time!.

Sometimes the toenails are too tough for those wimpy nail cutters found at drugstores. This diagonal pliers are very comfortable to handle and easily slices through the toughest toenail. Sure you can presoak the nail with tea tree oil and re-experience that special janitor’s pail aroma first encountered when in grade school, but this tool does the job safely.

Happy clipping!.

Poor Metallurgy typical of Chinese tools. They would cut copper wire ok but when I cut three pieces of steel wire (with difficulty), it left three big notches in the cutting edges rendering the cutters useless.

I found my American Made cutters and it cut the wire very well. junk.

This tool would be a great cutter except the cutter edges only meet at the tip, if you hold it up to the light you can see light through the blade toward the back and thus cutting small wire which I do is no good unless I use only the tip of the cutters.

They are sharp and easy to handle but disappointing to me for my purpose.

First I am pleased Makita names their tools 18V and not an exaggerated number with the word MAX added to it. Im a woodworker who builds & installs cabinets, doors, book shelves, etc. Makita 18V compact brushless tools are the perfect size for me.

Theyre light, compact, and have a very long run time for the type of work I do. I started with the Drill / Impact Driver combo set. Ive driven a lot of wood screws in sheet goods, soft wood & hard wood and have installed a lot of door hardware, and am very pleased with both tools.

The soft start trigger and work light are an added bonus. I added a XCV11Z canister vacuum. Its just the right size for taking to job sites, not too bulky in my truck and big enough to meet my needs.

It consumes more battery, so I got a 5. 0Ah battery. Now for the XTR01Z router. The most frequently used router bit for me is a top bearing pattern cutting bit. I use it with shop-built templates to install door hardware, do inlay repairs and occasionally do on-site joinery.

My usual depth of cut is the thickness of a hinge leaf or strike plate done with a diameter bit. This does not require a lot of power, so a small tool will do the job plus is easier to handle and gives me better visibility to the cut area.

My first impression of the XTR01Z trim router was the fit and finish are great. There is a padded rubber grip that I like a lot especially when my hands get covered with sawdust. The router has an integral work light and electronic variable speed, both features have come in handy.

Im really pleased with the operating sound level- It surprised me. I have no way of measuring it, but its about half of what I expected and also not a high pitched whine. The battery mounts to the top, so the larger the battery the more top heavy the tool gets, fortunately for me, the 2.

0Ah battery is all I need. I plan to make a larger sub-base probably out of clear Lexan or Plexiglas. This will help a lot when installing 4-1/2 hinges. I like this tool. I like having 1 charging system, I like having interchangeable batteries with fuel level indicators.

I wish the accessory DC18SE automotive charger cost less, but sooner or later the right deal will come along. Hope you found this helpful.

I’ve used other compact routers and none even come close to this perfection! It has so much power, you can easily cut through dense hardwoods like Padauk and Zebrawood like it was a stick of warm butter! But don’t you fret, it’s lightweight design and smooth rubber grip allow you to keep your hands on it and in one piece! There are plenty of accessories available for this and its also compatible with some of the well known desktop CNC machines.

I recommend this for beginners and professionals of all trades!.

Not sure whats up with bad reviews because my experience has been great and to the point where this tool is essential to getting my jobs done faster. I am a HVAC professional and have used this religiously for over 4 years in duct work installation and it has paid for itself many times over because I can do my work in a fraction of the time versus standard snips and no hand fatigue.

I did break the blade once but it was my fault for cutting mutlti-layered sheet metal that I shouldn’t have. I have nothing negative to say and honestly couldn’t imagine ever working without it. Also one reviewer mentioned replacement blade cost as being astronomical which also wasn’t my case.

I don’t remember exact price but as I recall was less than $100 and well worth it. If it stopped working tomorrow I would not hesitate to rush out and get a new one!.

I am owner/operator of a small Steel Erector Company, We use this Kind of tool pretty much daily. 1st off, I love the body design (& and that it’s Milwaukee. Go RED!). This last one I bought, had problems straight out the Box.

I was unable to cut anything, Even after tightening them down as much as possible. The blade was still very loose. (I was a little confused) So I took it upon myself to see what was going on, and took the head off and Disassembled it, turns out the “1n 42-40-0528 Spacer Bushing” Was too long in the middle area, which is Why I was unable to tighten them to where the blades were touching.

PRO’s: It has a great body design CON’s: • I don’t like how much movement the head unit has while cutting (its because of the rotating head on it. Just wish there wasn’t any play (movement) in the rotating head, makes it hard to cut in a long straight line.

•It really need an integrated spot to keep the hex wrench that comes with it. This hurts to say but, their yellow competitor has a better singlecut Shears, (as of now) IT too, has its flaws. But, in my line of work the Milwaukee 18v Single-cut Shears, Is not the best I can get.

This is my first experience with a router, but overall I’m very happy with its performance. It seems more compact than most other routers on the market, which helps a lot with one handed freehanding using the standard base.

No complaints about life or power at all, you’ll notice some speed fade at the end of battery life but it still cuts right up to the end. I didn’t do it any favors either, cutting MDF with some Horrible Fright router bits, but it did great through the whole project.

The vacuum port attachment works fantastically, and LEDs give great visibility when cutting. I also really like that an additional plate was included to install it on a router table, and I ended up building one right away, which leads me to my only complaints.

There is a slight gap between the fit of the body and the sleeve of the base. Not really a problem when freehanding since you’re holding it steady, but installed on a table the bit tilts slightly when the work is fed into it.

I haven’t measured how much it changes, but that could be improved with some polyester tape on the bore or housing which I’ll try soon. The vacuum port can’t be installed on a thick table base either.

I’ll end up printing my own or building it into the fence, but it’s just a minor inconvenience. And my only complaint to rate this 4 stars instead of 5, the height adjustment dial will vibrate to change the depth of cut as you’re working.

Freehand, it ends up cutting deeper, but once you ruin a cut the first time you learn to hold the dial. Installed on a table though, it will continuously cut shallower. I currently hold the dial with one hand and feed the work with the other since I haven’t come up with a complicated solution to fix this yet, but it’s probably not the safest way to work with a router table but at least I’m right next to the power switch too.

I’m not aware of a way to lock the dial, maybe I’m missing something, but that would be a huge improvement.

We were producing a large 40’x8’ exhibit for a museum out of 8/4 clear cedar. It was a complicated design that required us to mill and fabricate a variety of thicknesses and widths from the rough lumber.

As a result we had over 3000 linear feet of 1/8 round over that needed to be routered and we wanted a small cordless as a number of the pieces needed to be routered post assembly. We looked at a few reviews and the Milwaukee came highly recommended.

It did not disappoint as we found it fit the hand nicely, had good balance, smooth operation, instant off and was easy to manoeuvre. It also was very quiet for a router. We also felt the dust chute was well designed and our Festool vac hose fit the chute tightly.

So why not a 5? Two things, when turning on there is a noticeable jerk so you need to be careful when close to your work. The big one was the lever that secures the motor in the shaft and the knurled wheel that controls the small adjustments to the router bit.

The lever as delivered does not secure the motor well enough. As a result the motor will drop very imperceptibly and all of a sudden you are cutting to deep into your work. There is a tensioning screw but we found to eliminate this motor creep we had to tighten it so much the lever became a bit of a chore to release.

Not a deal breaker but could have been designed better. Also the knurled wheel has quite bit of play. You need to make sure you take up the slack before making an adjustment or you will not get an accurate change in height of the bit.

Based on our extended use we would buy this router again but just cannot give it a 5 as there is a bit of a learning curve due to the above before you can put into production.

I purchased this tool primarily for the purpose of cutting carpet and linoleum as I prepare for new flooring. My secondary purpose would be the many boxes since I purchase most things online for delivery.

I get lots of boxes every month. Lots and lots of boxes. After fully charging it, I first tried it on some representative carpet. You’ll note that the instructions suggest not trying to cut items greater than 1/4″.

While the backing for my carpet is well under that thickness, when you add in the pile it’s quite a bit thicker. If your carpet is still fully attached to the floor, the cutter will struggle to cut through.

If you’ve rolled some of the carpet back so you’re cutting from the underside of that carpet, it breezes through. I’d hoped it would cut easily from the top as it would make removing carpet far easier.

I haven’t tried it on the padding, but I expect it to work okay. Since circumstances have prevented me from attacking the flooring project, I’ve used the cutter for boxes. The first thing to note is opening boxes doesn’t work as well as using a knife, so keep one handy.

Once you’ve opened the box so it’ll fold flat, you can get to work cutting the box up. I’ve seen the question of why you might do this if said box is flattened. The answer is greater box density in my recycling cart.

When shoving conventionally flattened boxes into the cart, there’s always significant wasted space. Doesn’t matter how I stuff them into the cart, I can’t get all my boxes in there. If I break any box into at least two pieces, it stays flatter.

If the box is large, like the ones from Chewy I receive every month, cutting them down further means getting them into the cart more easily. Why not use a utility knife for cutting the box down? Blades get dull far faster than the boxes accumulate.

A dull knife is a dangerous knife. When using a knife, you need to use more force to make the cuts. Once the knife becomes dull, even more force is required. The harder you have to force the knife, the greater the risk of it slipping out of the material you’re cutting and cutting you.

Why not use a knife instead? Safety. This tool does the job and only takes minimal strength on your part to manipulate. Probably not going to accidentally cut your finger off with this thing. My conclusion: While cutting carpet doesn’t work as well as I’d like, I still consider it a worthy buy and money well spent.

I had high hopes after reading reviews, and the recharge system worked well to get it up to full charge after opening package. Like many HF products the promise is not totally delivered as after using it to try to cut rug up for a demo job, it started struggling right away and the rug fibers got wrapped past the cutter w/o being cut and you’d pull the unit back and these fibers would trail out of it, requiring clearing.

The clearance that allows for materials to be cut is also too small for intended use. Even cutting cardboard boxes that other reviewers raved about was not very good and took forward pressure. Cutting cheap like 3/8″ carpeting took a two-handed level of forward pressure to force through, and even then would fail to cut cleanly so I’d have to pull back and clear the uncut fibers from behind the blade.

Ugh. I think the metal of the bottom part the cutter uses to cut against the blade is made from poor quality metal and is insufficient to hold alignment with thick materials. The blade is also seemingly made from inferior materials and did not seem very sharp.

There is a second blade included. I found it much faster and less frustrating to use the old fashioned box cutter knife with a sharp blade. I as expecting so much more.

I bought it for opening blister packs. It happily devours most standard pack, but has trouble with heavy duty ones with heavy cardboard in them. It will jam up and overheat. If the grip starts to get warm, just stop and let it cool down.

If the packaging is too much for it, then go another route to open it. Don’t try to keep attacking it with the cutter, it’s simply beyond it’s limitations. The controls are easy to use. The grip safety is easy, but the lower part of it sticks down into the path of the cut off material.

It gets annoying, especially when it doesn’t need to do so. Other than this annoying feature, it works great when you do your part and use it within limitations.