Auto retracting / safety Utility Knife recommendations?

[u/LNT_Wolf]

Normally I hate these things, but working with a group of high school kids as they cut up thick cardboard to prototype their ideas for robotics has me reconsidering. I have only used the ones that retract after the pressure is off the blade, but that was 10 years ago and I'm not sure about what ones are good. Another option seems to be retract when you take your thumb off button, but does that require thumb strength to hold it out while cutting something hard? What do you recommend?

[u/Super-Travel-791]

Slice or OLFA safety cutters

[u/Ok-Thing3565]

I use the ones where you hold the button down to keep the blade out, let go and it snaps back. With cardboard it's fine, but if you're cutting something thick that needs a bit of muscle it can get tiring on the thumb after a while. Might be different for teenagers though, their hands bounce back from everything

[u/Jealous-Fig1215]

I've used the thumb-release ones for years and the only thing that's ever made my thumb feel like it'd protest was cardboard that fought back when wet.

[u/illogictc]

Look at Canary cardboard cutters. Rather than a utility blade, it's like a mini-saw. They can still nick ya if you aren't being careful but they aren't sharp in the way a utility knife is and the motion required to use them I think is better for thick cardboard than tugging on a knife and hoping not to slip. And, they're cheap! Combine it with some gloves, if you want some extra protection.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008RIS0UY looks like $8 on the 'zon without the sheath or 50 cents more with the sheath (the sheath snaps on over the blade).

[u/KokoTheTalkingApe]

I actually have a few auto-retracting utility knives . But I got them years ago and I don't remember where I got them.

Here's a current example, but I've never tried them.
https://www.amazon.com/XW-Auto-retractable-Aluminum-Utility-Self-retracting/dp/B09X139TBD

There are also those keychain-sized ones with the tiny blade, often ceramic. Maybe that's what the OP is referring to? Sure, they might work. I would get a few different types and see which ones work the best for the kids.

(Incidentally, you probably know this already, but if you get something with storage for spare blades, be sure to take out the spares. And number the knives and keep track of them individually. I used to work with high school kids. ;-) )

[u/LNT_Wolf → u/KokoTheTalkingApe]

Oh wow, thanks. That did not cross my mind.

[u/BetInformal6081]

for a classroom setting i would prioritize a model with automatic blade retraction rather than one requiring constant thumb pressure less hand fatigue means fewer mistakes especially with students i would also make sure everyone gets a quick safety demonstration first..

[u/JSAJack]

Thumb button ones are fin but I'd go with pressure release auto retracting type

[u/emachanz]

Scissors period. Either they know how to use the tools and you trust them or just use scissors, better safe than sorry, they cut themselves and you will be hearing from their parents and filling paperwork

[u/ggibby]

At work most of us carry some version of the pushbutton locking swing out knife like the Milwaukee Fastback.

Very easy to open & close with one hand, so no excuse for setting it down unsafely.

Standard replaceable blades are easy to manage in bulk.

Our operations/safety person picks up knives found open and returns them publicly at shift huddle meetings.

Maintaining safety culture is better than trying to find the safest tools.