Graphite marking blade for Utility knives

[LCHIEN]

Accutrax arrived Sat. Stanley classic 99E utility knife holder holder arrived today.
INstalled with no problem, marked a few lines on rough cut wood, it glided smoothly over the wood, one advantage is that the angle of the accutrax is much more acute so it goes more smoothly over the wood than my 0.5mm Pentels.
Can't tell any difference in the width or accuracy of the line. Also was able to use the Lee valley corner square to mark the sides.

One thing I realized is that a possible disadvantage will be that if I were to drop it and it hit the marking blade it would probably break off and render it useless (altho I could still iuuse the other half of the blade). That would be a $1 or $1.50 drop since three double ended blades cost $4 to 6.. OTOH if I dropped my pentel I would at most probably break off the tip, 1/16th inch of lead lost at the most.

I'll post a picture later, I will have to delay using it on a project until I have a bit more time. I also have to mark the holder so I don't confuse it with the actual cut-capable box cutters.

[capncarl]

I like the idea of using a pencil for marking. My favorite is a .9 rather than the .5 pentel, personal preferance. That way when I need to write something I have the correct tool at hand. If I was to put a graphite blade in my utility knife I would always be getting it mixed up with a utility knife with a real blade in it, and when my wife tries to cut open a cardboard box with my utility knife with the graphite blade, there goes another marking blade ruined. My note to the graphite blade mfg., why not make a marking pencil with a wide flat blade instead of using the wrong tool for the job?
capncarl

[LCHIEN]

Back on topic: Accutrax pictures

A couple of quick pictures as promised.

The Pentel pencil with 0.5mm lead made the three lines on the left,

the Accutrax marker lines made the three on the right, I also wrapped them around the side using a Lee Valley Corner square and the Accutrax.

At this point its usable and I will be trying it in the future to see if it holds up better or if its more fragile and damaged by drops and worth the extra cost and maybe its extra size and heft.

[capncarl]

LCHIEN, I like your place mats for your work bench.

[LCHIEN]

Have used it a bit more, no problems.

The instructions say its made of fiber reinforced graphite which may be how they keep it from breaking easily. It wears some as expected but the blade can be extended and also the other end brought around to the front when its worn out, so it should last quite a while - more than a few sticks of lead in the pentel.
.

[radhak]

Isn't that knife holder retractable? Looks exactly like mine, which is!
(I was assuming retractable holders would break that graphite).

[LCHIEN]

Uses a standard utility knife blade holder, or "box cutter" as we know them.
I just took the metal blade out as well as the spares in the handle and replaced them with the Accutrax marker blades (incliudING the spares to the space in the handle).
Retracts fully for protection when not in use.
"Blade" is reversible when the first end is used up or broken.