Losing yet another folding utility pocket knife / box cutter made me wonder if there are simple 3D printed models out there that'd be good enough for light work uses ?
Much cheaper to just print one for a few cents than buy another one for $10 that I'll lose in a few months...
Though buying a set of 4 on Amazon is only ~$8, apparently. But having already gone down the 3DP rabbit hole, curiosity had overcome rationality at that point...
Objectives: I need a small thin-ish pocket knife that holds a Stanley blade, with ok ergonomics and reliability, secure blade latch when in pants' pocket, that doesn't require chipping nails to operate or change the blade, and thin-gloves friendly. A simple toolless design without screws, glue or complex parts.
So here is a quick review of the STLs from a few designs out there. I printed each according to its author's recommended settings and 0.2mm layer height. Used black PLA, but will switch to ABS for my final pick.
Outcome: found a couple of great no-frills basic gems that I'll keep as backups, but none checked all the boxes. So, might have to look into improving one of these designs or creating one for scratch.
Happy printing and cutting to all !
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From Bazzlington on Maker World
Use: intuitive to operate or change the blade, just push the lever sideways, but requires 2 hands. The length makes it comfortable to hold, but the lever can move while pressing down during cutting. And I am not a fan of having to handle the bare blade to operate or change it.
Verdict: liked its simplicity, great as a backup for light duties
From k-eye on Thingiverse
Use: similar single lever as the knife above. Requires 2 hands to operate the blade (1 for the lever, 1 for the blade carriage) but the carriage makes handling smooth and safe. Changing the blade is easy. Uncomfortable to hold while cutting, too short.
Verdict: great basic design, too short for me
Talon V2 from Hall Precision on Printables
Print: 2 simple parts, sensitive to tolerances (flow ratio...), couple of small / thin features (click finger, retraction stopper)
Use: simply depress the stopper in front of the blade to extend it out. Surprising comfortable despite its short length thanks to the finger indents on top and bottom. Simply depress the back stopper to change the blade (a bit small though). The tight tolerances and the carriage's smooth surface make it difficult to move the blade out / in, my thumb slips when skin is dry.
Verdict: stiff and slippery to operate
F1 Gen.2 by Fayron on Printables
Print: sensitive to tolerances but assembly was flawless with default settings, too small / thin features (click pins & fingers)
Use: easy thumb operation with blade out / in clicks. Comfortable grip when cutting. Satisfying-to-assemble 3-part design, well made. Unclear if the blade could poke out when in a pants pocket along with other objects, while working on the floor. Unfortunately, one of the click pins broke almost immediately (red circle above), and changing the blade requires using a nail / screwdriver to pry the frame apart.
Verdict: exceptionably simple to operate but blade clicks not robust, and changing the blade is cumbersome
EDC-Friendly Lightweight Utility Knife II from Trent Studio on Printables
Print: simple 3-part design, not particularly sensitive to tolerances
Use: easy thumb operation with multiple clicks, comfortable grip. Clever design. Unclear if the blade could poke out when in a pants pocket. Changing the blade requires bumping the frame in the right spot if one can remember where, or using a nail / screwdriver to pry the frame apart and then slide it.
Verdict: exceptionably simple to operate, but changing the blade is cumbersome
Note: no idea what EDC-friendly means. I may be missing something here... ?
From LoboCNC on Maker World
Print: print-in-place single part, sensitive to tolerances (finger holding the blade)
Use: easy opening / closing. Comfortable grip. Completely safe when in a pants pocket. A bit wobbly side to side (small hinge). Had to initially pry open the small finger that holds the blade with a screwdriver, due to filament bridging the gap. Requires nail / screwdriver to change the blade.
Verdict: love the small form factor and safety when closed, but changing the blade is cumbersome
Conclusion: none is reliable AND safe AND comfortable enough for my activities. However the folding knife gets close. So maybe I'll modify it, or create a similar design, to include a sturdy no-play hinge and an easy-to-operate lever to change the blade.
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