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How To Snap-off Utility Cutter Blades

Olfa Utility knives are used commonly for cutting a range of materials like paper, card, fabrics, textiles, foam, carpet, underlay, plasterboard, thin plastics, balsa wood, tape, wallpaper, shrink wrap, PVC, vinyl, leatherette, vinyl flooring, window tint, car wrap etc..

When the quality of the cut is not smooth and the utility knife feels like it is dragging through the material been cut instead of cutting through, it is time to snap-off the blade to expose a new sharper edge.

Olfa blades are pre-scored at 1cm segments; when the blade or tip becomes blunt simply snap the blade at the next segment to expose a new sharp tip and edge.

Caution: The blades on Olfa cutters and knives are extremely sharp and will cut through your fingers like a hot knife through butter so take extra care when handling the blades. always use safety glasses when snapping a blade segment. A blunt blade or broken segment may not look sharp but is still very sharp to cut your skin.

You must never at any point try to snap-off a blade segment using your fingers even if you are wearing gloves, always use a pair of pliers to hold the part of the blade you want to snap-off.

If you are in doubt and not sure on anything or simply just need advice please contact us, we are more than happy to help and answer any question you have.

Here is a guide on how to snap-off a segment from an Olfa utility cutter blade


Check if the Olfa cutter you are using comes with its own built in tool to snap-off the blade segments; otherwise you will need a pair of plies to carry out this task safely. Watch a video




Look closely if the blade in your Olfa utility knife has diagonal score markings running every 1cm along the blade, these are the score marks that allow the blade to be snapped for a new sharper tip.

Snap The Blade

Step by step

Extend out the blade to the next score mark


Face the knife away from you

Hold the exposed end of the blade with a pair of pliers next to the score mark, make sure the pliers are parallel to the score line.


Holding the utility knife tightly Snap the blade in a downwards action away from you, blade will snap at the score line close to the pliers.


New Sharp Tip is exposed


Compare the old tip and the new tip


Nice new sharp tip ready to use.


Dispose the used snapped off segment of the blade safely in a sharps container.

Olfa DC-5 Pro Blade Disposal Holster



If your utility knife runs out of score lines to snap off, the blade has come to the end of its life and needs changing, order new replacement blades for your Olfa tool

How to change the blade of a Olfa snap-off utility cutter


Customer Reviews

Brian Reynolds

I have been wanting to buy a new snap-off 18mm utility knife for a number of years. I have two old ones where the blade had started to slip. I purchased a cheap version on Amazon, and returned it as it was even worse. I then came across the name of "Olfa", and the fact that they actually invented the idea of the snap-off blade. I purchased my first Olfa knife and I am delighted with it. I wish I had discovered them years ago. I am only a little older that the first Olfa snap-off knife. If I ever have to buy another snap-off knife in the future (maybe a 9mm version) it will certainly be from Olfa. I wish I found you earlier!

Deborah

Great products, well packed and super speedy delivery

Charle

Just what i need, Spare Blades for my Olfa tool

Herman
James S

Excellent tool

Julian Gant

Excellent tool, used for cutting out our lengths of wallpaper before installing

Sheila Devaney

This was my first purchase from Olfa and it lived up to my expectations, excellent quality at a reasonable price and extremely quick delivery. I will definitely recommend Olfa products.

Sheila Devaney

I have used Olfa products before and this mat lived up to expectations. Speedy delivery is appreciated and the packaging was so easy to get into. I'm very happy with my purchases.

Kenneth Barry

I have had the OlfaL-1 Heavy duty Craft cutter for many years and required another two as they are the best and the blades are very sharp.

Mario Gatt

very sharp and last long time

Mike
Mario Gatt

Best knifes ever purchased. very sharp and last long time

J Kemp

Excellent service from this company

Linda Ford

As a hobby crafter I do not use the quantity of items required by commercial business, but nevertheless receive excellent service from this company. The precision cutting and handling makes this the best knife I have ever used for my crafting and I expect the replacement blades to be of the same standard.

Walter Herman

Repeat order, came very quickly

CH Pearson

Olfa Tools- Best option

Charles Botham

Good site, excellent delivery

James Brindley

Fast Delivery very good products.

David Mitcham

Good web-site and very good products.

Crestabear

These black blades are probably the sharpest on the market. Only problem is that used in the Olfa cutter handle they do not protrude far enough, so that you only get 10 snap-offs rather than the stated 13.