Your Guide to Hobby Knife Blade Types

Different projects call for different blades, and there are many to choose from so you can be confident you have the right hobby knife for your task.

Shop Hobby Knives

Light duty blades are usually smaller and fit into a standard handle. They’re good for small projects that require precision and targeted cutting, carving or shaping.

Medium duty blades are a bit larger and have a wider shank. This means they require a different handle meant for a larger blade. Excel Blades K2 handle is a good example. 

Be sure to note which handle is the right one for your blade as not all handles fit every blade.

Blades have industry standard numbers. These numbers are usually indicated on the packaging of the blade. We listed some of the most popular ones below. 

The most popular blade is the #11 – used by paper artists, paper illustrators, polymer clay artists, designers, cosplayers and more! You are sure to find this blade in every creative studio. 

#2 Straight Edge Blade

  • Medium Duty Blade with a fine point
  • All purpose blade used for precise and detailed cuts

#5 Angled Chisel Blade

  • Used for shaping materials, light chiseling or removing layers in precise areas where detail is key
  • Light Duty Blade with angled sharp edge

#6 Stencil Edge Blade

  • Used for cutting, trimming or scoring delicate materials
  • Best used on projects where targeted precision is needed
  • Light Duty Blade

#10 Curved Edge Blade

  • Curved edge adds maneuverability to larger-scale projects
  • Light Duty Blade

#11 Double Honed Blade

  • Most popular blade – can be found in most workshops, artist spaces and tool boxes
  • Used for paper cutting, polymer clay, clay, foam smithing and more
  • Double honed has a strong tip and flex

#12 Mini Curved Edge Blade

  • Added maneuverability of the curved edge for smaller-scale projects
  • Light Duty Blade

#13 Fine Saw Blade

  • Used for sawing through small brass tubing and other soft metals, plastic, balsa, resin and more
  • Light carving 
  • Light Duty Blade

    #15 Narrow Saw Blade

    • Precision sawing on softer materials
    • Used in model making and foam smithing

    #16 Stencil Edge Blade

    • Double honed blade with a strong tip and flex
    • Used on paper, model making, vinyl and polymer clay
    • Every artist has their favorite. This blade is also very popular among paper artists as it gives them the required control.

    #17 Small Chisel Blade

    • Used to remove layers, to shape materials and for light chiseling
    • Good for foam core, plastic, cardboard, balsa wood, rubber, wax, clay, plaster and more

    #17A Narrow Chisel Blade

    • Similar uses to the #17 Chisel Blade – narrow tip allows for more precise work

    #18 Large Chisel Blade

    • Used to remove layers, to shape materials and for light chiseling
    • Good for foam core, plastic, cardboard, balsa wood, rubber, wax, clay, plaster and more
    • Medium Duty Blade

    a person changing the blade on a hobby knife

    #19 Sharp Edge Blade

    • Good for angled chiseling, shaving, cutting and trimming
    • Use with foam core, plastic, cardboard, balsa wood, rubber, wax, clay, plaster and more

    #19B Bevel Edge Blade

    • Similar to the #19
    • Good for angled chiseling, shaving, cutting and trimming
    • Use with foam core, plastic, cardboard, balsa wood, rubber, wax, clay, plaster and more

    #21 Stainless Steel Blade

    • Similar shape to the #11 – but in stainless steel
    • Used for paper cutting, polymer clay, clay, foam smithing and more

    #22 Curved Edge Blade

    • Medium Duty version of the #10 Curved Edge Blade

    #23 Double Edge Blade

    • For hobbyists, wood carvers, metal workers, contractors and stone masons, architects, designers and crafters
    • Blade features a sharp edge on both sides

    #24 Deburring Blade

    • Used for deburring, cutting, shaping and stripping material
    • Can be used with paper, card stock, foam core, foam, linoleum, soft metals and plastics, cork, balsa wood and other soft woods, clay, polymer clay and wax
    • ¾” angled edge with a sharp tip

    #25 Contoured Blade

    • Great for heavier cutting, carving or trimming
    • Medium Duty Knife
    • Can be used with paper, card stock, foam core, foam, linoleum, soft metals and plastics, cork, balsa wood and other soft woods, clay, polymer clay and wax

    #26 Whittling Blade

    • A whittling blade, as the name suggests, is for whittling – which means cutting and shaping a piece of wood
    • 3” long
    • Heavy Duty Blade
    • Used by hobbyists, wood carvers, model makers, architects, artists and cosplayers
    a person carving a pumpkin with a saw blade on a hobby knife

    #27 Saw Blade

    • Light duty and precise sawing
    • 3” long
    • Heavy Duty Blade
    • Can be used on brass tubing and other soft metals, balsa wood and other soft woods, foam core and plastics as well as other cosplay materials

    #28 Concave Carving Blade

    • Used for shaping 
    • Good for foam core, foam as well as other cosplay materials, linoleum, soft metals and plastics, cork, balsa wood and other soft woods, clay, polymer clay and wax

    These are just a few of the blades available to you. Other blade categories include Carving Blades, Swivel Blades, Utility Blades and Rotary Blades

    Stock up on Replacement Blades

    a pile of hobby knife blades

    PEOPLE ALSO PURCHASED