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Serious question, has anyone else switched from a standard utility knife to a hook blade for cutting carpet?

I was on a job in Springfield last week doing a big living room with a thick berber. I was using my usual knife and it was just dragging and pulling the fibers, making a mess of the cut line. My helper had a hook blade in his bag and told me to try it. I was skeptical, but man, the difference was night and day. The hook blade slices through the backing so cleanly without catching on the pile. It felt like cutting through butter compared to the push and tear I was getting before. I finished that cut in half the time and the edge was perfect. I went out and bought a pack of five for ten bucks right after the job. For anyone working with loop pile or dense carpets, have you found the same thing? What other blades do you guys like for tricky materials?
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3 Comments
ben_rodriguez
Honestly, I've always found a sharp straight blade works better for my cuts.
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reed.blake
reed.blake21d ago
Consider how the blade feels in your hand after an hour of work. A straight blade might be sharp, but that constant wrist angle can really wear you out. A slightly curved blade lets your wrist stay in a more natural position, so you get less tired and have more control by the end of a big job. It's not just about the cut, it's about being able to make that same clean cut all day long without your hand cramping up.
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martin.tyler
Ever try a hook blade on that thick office carpet with the plastic mesh backing?
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