Scalpel/surgical blade question

[johnyrotten]

Getting ready to try foiling,I've seen some members here use a scalpel. Are there any particular sizes that are most useful, do the blades fit a standard x-acto handle or is a dedicated scalpel handle best? 

[stitchdup]

for the handle you really want one you are most comfortable using, and a fresh blade. i like 10 or 11 exacto blades but really whichever you have the most comfort and control with will be best. a couple q-tips and cocktail sticks are useful too for burnishing it down and getting the foil into tighter corners

[johnyrotten]

1 hour ago, stitchdup said:

for the handle you really want one you are most comfortable using, and a fresh blade. i like 10 or 11 exacto blades but really whichever you have the most comfort and control with will be best. a couple q-tips and cocktail sticks are useful too for burnishing it down and getting the foil into tighter corners

The control thing is a good point,  I'm good with an exacto knife, a scalpel is much sharper, might be setting myself up for an issue. Or stitches. 

[1972coronet]

Did any of you ever see Doctor Tetrazzini perform? I say perform advisedly because his operations were performances. He would start by throwing a scalpel across the room into the patient and then make his entrance as a ballet dancer. His speed was incredible: "I don't give them time to die", he would say. Tumors put him in a frenzy of rage. "[ BLAH-BLAH-BLAH ] undisciplined cells!" he would snarl, advancing on the tumor like a knife-fighter.

[johnyrotten]

25 minutes ago, 1972coronet said:

Did any of you ever see Doctor Tetrazzini perform? I say perform advisedly because his operations were performances. He would start by throwing a scalpel across the room into the patient and then make his entrance as a ballet dancer. His speed was incredible: "I don't give them time to die", he would say. Tumors put him in a frenzy of rage. "[ BLAH-BLAH-BLAH ] undisciplined cells!" he would snarl, advancing on the tumor like a knife-fighter.

That's funny,  I'm trying not to be Robert liston on this model. 

[slusher]

Where could you even buy a scalpel?

[johnyrotten]

18 minutes ago, slusher said:

Where could you even buy a scalpel?

Amazon. 

[NOBLNG]

I got these on Amazon. They are #11 blades. I went with a round handle since I figure it will work better for doing sharp curves when foiling. I’ve only used it a couple of times but I like it so far and would recommend getting the round handle.

 

They will fit into a standard exacto knife handle, but don’t go in all the way.

Edited December 25, 2024 by NOBLNG

[Mothersworry]

Welcome to the wonderful world of foiling, boy are you gonna have fun. There are all kinds of tools, techniques and whatnot fer the application and use of this stuff but in my opinion, cutting/trimming it is fairly straightforward...it just takes practice...the more ya do it the better ya get at it.

I've been using Bare Metal Foil fer more than 50 years and in my experience I've found that all that's necessary for me to be consistently successful in cutting/trimming it is a brand new Xacto brand #11 blade in a #1 handle, a light touch and a steady hand.

I've used surgical blades/scalpels to trim foil and found them to be unnecessary. Foil is thin, it cuts very easily and doesn't take much pressure to cut it. A thin, very sharp blade such as a scalpel could too easily cut more deeply than necessary, into the paint and perhaps thru the paint and into the plastic below. It's even possible that if you cut to deeply trimming the foil that when removing the excess foil you could remove some paint with the foil (I've done this).

Additionally, when trimming the foil you may (and you will) from time to time go off course and cut into an area that you didn't want to. With a very sharp blade such as a scalpel the damage potential can be much greater than with an Xacto blade.  

Again, this is my personal experience fer cutting and trimming foil, my process and it works fer me. It may work fer you, it may not.

Fer what it's worth.

The foil work on this Maverick wuz done with an Xacto #11 blade. Also the tail light panel and the cowl were masked with Bare Metal Foil...but thats another topic. 

[johnyrotten]

12 minutes ago, Mothersworry said:

Welcome to the wonderful world of foiling, boy are you gonna have fun. There are all kinds of tools, techniques and whatnot fer the application and use of this stuff but in my opinion, cutting/trimming it is fairly straightforward...it just takes practice...the more ya do it the better ya get at it.

I've been using Bare Metal Foil fer more than 50 years and in my experience I've found that all that's necessary for me to be consistently successful in cutting/trimming it is a brand new Xacto brand #11 blade in a #1 handle, a light touch and a steady hand.

I've used surgical blades/scalpels to trim foil and found them to be unnecessary. Foil is thin, it cuts very easily and doesn't take much pressure to cut it. A thin, very sharp blade such as a scalpel could too easily cut more deeply than necessary, into the paint and perhaps thru the paint and into the plastic below. It's even possible that if you cut to deeply trimming the foil that when removing the excess foil you could remove some paint with the foil (I've done this).

Additionally, when trimming the foil you may (and you will) from time to time go off course and cut into an area that you didn't want to. With a very sharp blade such as a scalpel the damage potential can be much greater than with an Xacto blade.  

Again, this is my personal experience fer cutting and trimming foil, my process and it works fer me. It may work fer you, it may not.

Fer what it's worth.

The foil work on this Maverick wuz done with an Xacto #11 blade. Also the tail light panel and the cowl were masked with Bare Metal Foil...but thats another topic. 

Thanks for the reply.  I've done a ton of reading and whatnot, it seems straightforward enough. I've read almost verbatim what you've said with the scalpel, on another site. I think I'll start with the regular old (new) #11, see how it goes. Nice Maverick, and I like that cutting mat. Except 25a and 25b.

Edited December 25, 2024 by johnyrotten

[Straightliner59]

6 hours ago, slusher said:

Where could you even buy a scalpel?

I get them on Ebay. ten or eleven bucks will get a hundred blades and a handle! I've been using them, the last few years. I love them!

[NOBLNG]

The main thing is to have a new, sharp blade and use a VERY light touch. Exacto blades are fine and I particularly like their z-series blades but they are expensive compared to regular blades or scalpel blades.

Edited December 25, 2024 by NOBLNG

[Mike 1017]

Buy directly from BMF that way you can be sure that it is fresh. There is no way of telling how old it is if you buy from anywhere else. I learned the hard way. I opened it up and it was wrinkled and pulling away from the edges. 

Good Luck

Mike

[johnyrotten]

14 minutes ago, Mike 1017 said:

Buy directly from BMF that way you can be sure that it is fresh. There is no way of telling how old it is if you buy from anywhere else. I learned the hard way. I opened it up and it was wrinkled and pulling away from the edges. 

Good Luck

Mike

I've read that, and ordered directly from them. Any where locally either didn't carry it, and the one store had an ancient package, wrinkled, dust and all. I think the dust cost extra.

[johnyrotten]

1 hour ago, NOBLNG said:

The main thing is to have a new, sharp blade and use a VERY light touch. Exacto blades are fine and I particularly like their z-series blades but they are expensive compared to regular blades or scalpel blades.

I've got those, along with the regular ones. It was my though to use them for this, along with any delicate work.  I'm a bit of a tool junkie, right tool for the job, so the scalpel is another option. On another note, I've occasionally found those z series blades at hobby lobby mis-priced to that of the standard blades. Something to keep an eye out for. Thanks for your reply