How to Cut Using a Swivel Exacto Blade Knife

Exacto knives are used to make precise cuts in artistic designs. Exactos can be used to cut out paper as well as thin wood, such as balsa. The swivel Exacto knives feature a pivoting blade that can be used to cut out curved shapes with ease, resulting in smoother, more accurate cuts than regular crafting blades.

Things You'll Need

• Swivel Exacto knife

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Instructions

• 1

  Use a regular Exacto blade for any fine detail in your design. The swivel blade can be inaccurate in tight designs and you will likely find a standard Exacto blade to be easier to handle in these areas.

• 2

  Use the swivel Exacto blade on rounded shapes, as it is designed to smoothly follow your path around contours.

• 3

  Hold the knife with an upright grip. The more vertical the blade is held, the more freely the swivel head will be able to pivot.

• 4

  Apply just enough downward pressure to the blade to cut through the material. The lighter the pressure, the more freely the blade can move. The stiffer the blade, the less effectively it will function.

• 5

  Keep your grip relaxed. Being too tight with your wrist or fingers will negatively impact the blade's ability to follow your path. Hold the blade just tight enough that it is not sliding out of position.