Craft Knife

I don’t know if X-ACTO invented the craft knife, but they have been in the business so long that everyone calls them X-ACTO knives. It’s kind of like Band-aids or Kleenex. 

A craft knife is a versatile cutting tool designed for precision and control, making it essential in arts, crafts, and DIY work. It features a sharp, replaceable blade—often made from high-quality steel—and a slim, lightweight handle that allows for careful maneuvering. Because of its accuracy, it is ideal for cutting paper, cardboard, leather, foam, vinyl, thin plastics, and other lightweight materials with clean, smooth edges. Artists, designers, model builders, and cosplayers frequently rely on craft knives for detailed work such as trimming, scoring, stenciling, and shaping delicate pieces. Its combination of sharpness and control makes it a staple in both professional workshops and home craft kits.

We have the Ryobi Quick Change Hobby Knife in the workshop. In fact, most of our tools are Ryobi. The main reason for this is because we bought several cordless tools decades ago, and we are now locked into the Ryobi Battery Ecosystem(TM). But, as you probably guessed, a hobby knife isn’t locked into the battery ecosystem. 

We chose this knife for a few reasons:
1) It is triangular and bigger than most hobby knives. This means it is easier to hold for long periods of time and it won’t roll away when you set it down.
2) It is BRIGHT F*&KING GREEN so it is hard to lose when ADHD makes things fade into the matte painting.
3) The quick change mechanism is amazing. Most hobby knifes change the blade by unscrewing the screwey bit at the top. (On a side note, the studio just spent way too long discussing what that bit is called – the sleeve, the sheathe, the band???) This can be difficult for people with limited mobility in their hands. The end of the Ryobi quick change flips down and releases the blade. 

This specific knife at Home Depot *($9.97)
This specific knife at Walmart ($13.98)
A similar one (Fiskars) on Amazon ($13.99 normally, on sale for $8.49)