Plastic Razor Blades

[Cliff Wilson]

This is a "just in case you haven't heard" post. Get some Plastic Razor Blades.

The talk about sign makers (which is where I got my supply of plastic razor blades.) on the "The PERFECT Table Covering" thread coupled with a quickly overcome problem yesterday prompted me to post.

Yesterday I had a 54" by 14" panoramic WWI photo I was working with. Just as I was about to put everything together I notice a very small "shard" of glass impedded in the lite. Normal cleaning did nothing. The strongest fastest elbow in the world isn't going to remove this thing. A squirt of cleaner for lubrication and a swipe of the plastic blade ... gone. No scratches. Just clean.

I assume you all know about this and I was the only one surprised when my sign guy gave me a handful to use. But, just in case someone hasn't heard of them ... I'd recommend getting some.

Cliff

[Ron Eggers]

Cliff, let me be the first to say that I've never heard of plastic razor blades. In fact, I would suspect you were making this up, but you don't seem to be "that type."

What do they look like? How big are they? What do the sign-makers use them for? Can you actually cut something with them? We're not talking about the 3M-type squeegees, are we?

I've used regular single-edged blades for removing
little glass chips (from uncoated glass) and never had any problems with scratching.

If I go to a sign shop and ask about plastic razor blades, and they laugh at me, I'm liable to come looking for ya. :D

[Cliff Wilson]

Not making it up - honest! :D

They look like single edge razor blades, but they are entirely made of plastic. They don't cut anything as far as I can tell. The sign guy I have uses them to remove adhesive and other STUBBORN things (like paint) from glass. When he puts those vinyl signs on the windows he sometimes has adhesive residue all over and normal washing just moves it around. The blade takes it off easily. It works the same on those little bits of ATG that grow wings and fly to the other side of the workroom right on the glass. (I still haven't figured out how they do that?) I don't know where he gets them though. He buys a bag of probably 1,000 blades. He just gave me a handful. They wearout easily, but I don't use them that often. I always static brush and towel clean first. Only use the plastic blade when soemthing is a pain.

They're real ... I've got some!

I don't know what the 3M squeegees look like.

[ 02-14-2003, 10:37 AM: Message edited by: Cliff Wilson ]

[Framerguy]

Ron_,

Cliff is speaking with straight tongue.

We have used plastic razor blades in the autobody trade for many years.

Check here (http://www.autopart.com/Tools/file/part306.htm) for a bargain on plastic razor blades.

Framerguy

[BUDDY]

Cliff I'm sure I just buzzed right passed it but other then supposedly not scratching and probaly not rusting what other advatages do these blades have? Like; Hold and edge longer ,sharper,do they cost less per blade.? Does it come in a non-backed version? All I saw was the Backed ones on the screen image.
BUDDY

[Ron Eggers]

Framerguy,

It was with some trepidation that I violated my own rule and clicked on your link.

How d'ya suppose she does that without hurting herself? I'm surprized that an old timer like you would even know about such sites.

[Framerguy]

Originally posted by Ron_Eggers:
Framerguy,

It was with some trepidation that I violated my own rule and clicked on your link.

How d'ya suppose she does that without hurting herself? I'm surprized that an old timer like you would even know about such sites. I guess it's the blue lights and the pasties with the little tassels that add to the illusion.

Well, plastic razor blades aren't that sharp!

(I was amazed that she could contort her body in such a manner, though!!)

FGII

[Framerguy]

<marquee><font color=red><font size=5>DING!! ....... DING!! ........................ DING! ....... DING!</MARQUEE></font></font>


<font size=4> FRANKENTHREAD ALERT!! .............. FRANKENTHREAD ALERT!</FONT>

[Cliff Wilson]

Buddy, I get them free, so can't beat the price. From Framerguy's post I'd say they cost about twice as much as metal blades. Last about the same time. The key is the not scratching. You can bear down pretty hard and not worry. I have even used them on the coated side of True Vue glass without visible effect. (Of course, I grimace, squint, and hold my breath. This worked the first time I tried and since I can't tell what part of the ritual worked I continue all of it. :D )

Cliff

[Framerguy]

If I remember correctly, we paid less than $5.00/hundred for these blades.

No, they are not sharp, no, they don't hold an edge, and no, they won't work in a box cutter! They were a takeoff of some of the scrapers that were used to remove decals, stickers, and other adhesive-backed items from glass, chrome, and painted finishes in the autobody field. I don't know whether they were used in the sign making field before we started using them or not.

I do know that we were using air powered sanders and drills and many other air powered tools long before they became popular in the woodworking field. You can buy a truly high quality air powered DA sander from any autobody supplier for less than what you'll pay through most woodworking catalogs.

Framerguy

[Jim Miller]

You can make your own "plastic razor blades". Here's the procedure:

1. Buy a 96 oz. plastic carton of "Tropicana Pure Premium Not From Concentrate 100% Pure Florida Squeezed Orange Juice Pasteurized" ('Grovestand' works best I think).

2. Drink contents. OK to share.

3. Cut up carton into bitesize pieces and "sharpen" one edge with the beveled blade of your manual matcutter.

4. Extra-stiff blades with handy finger grips may be made by folding the plastic over itself, gluing together, and sharpening the edge opposite the fold.

[Jim Miller]

I didn't think that message was worth posting once, and I can't imagine anyone wanting to see it six times. How in the world could that have happened?

[ 02-14-2003, 05:06 PM: Message edited by: Jim Miller ]

[Framerguy]

Jim,

I have absolutely no idea how you did that but, I want to say that the Grovestand with "lots of pulp" is the best. (at least for the drinking part).

(Now, if I can get the vicious guard dog to drink about half of this jug, I can start making plastic razor blades tonight already!!)

Brrrrrrrrrp!!

Oops, 'scuse me.

Omar

[Kit]

Geez Guys! Rubbermaid has been making these things for years. They're called pot scrapers.

I think I understand why you didn't know this.

Kit

[Framerguy]

Uh, pot, ........ pot, lessee, I used to smoke .......no, that can't be it, hmmmmmm, Kit, just what IS a pot??

Omar, the potless

[Framar]

So... you could bevel the edges of all those dumb fake credit cards that come from the greedy banks all the time... and voila! Fake, er plastic razor blades!!! I use a teflon painting knife, but it has rounded edges and isn't very strong.

Great idea!!! BTW, I have never scratched a piece of noncoated glass with a metal razor blade. I even use fine steel wool to clean painted edges of "vintage" glass with no scratches that I can see.....

I think United ought to carry plastic razor blades (as well as stainless steel straight pins). I hate ordering from a lot of places, cause there are always OTHER things I find that I desperately want that I didn't know existed...

Why I have never been to ebay...