We like order here at HomeFixated, so we’re bringing you reviews and details on not one, not two, but four sharp accessories from Milwaukee Tools. Act now and we’ll double your order! Ok, not really, but I was starting to channel Billy Mays for a second there. In our ongoing coverage of Milwaukee Tools, we’ll be sharing our thoughts about two of their utility knives, their rasping jab saw, and some scintillating breaking news on their Sawzall blades.
Fastback Flip Pocket Knife
This is our new favorite accessory. In fact, I use this thing constantly around the house and the shop. It’s utility knife meets pocket knife meets butterfly knife. The metal construction on this tool makes me so happy! It’s solid, heavy and extremely ergonomic. It’s also very quick to open. A smooth-operating pivot point lets you swing open and closed the blade with simple button push and flick of the wrist. An integrated gut hook and wire stripper are handy, although I tend to prefer stripping wire with a wire stripper. And a quick change mechanism lets you swap out blades with a simple press of a release button above the blade.
My only criticism was one I shared directly with the Milwaukee product manager recently: the pocket clip for the knife is mounted on the wrong end. If Milwaukee mounted the clip at the narrow end of the handle, you could pull the knife out of your pocket and open it without ever changing the grip on the handle. In its current config, you have to reorient the handle after you pull it from your pocket. Since I suggested it to them, I’m going to assume they immediately put the change into manufacturing and will be sending me a six figure “consulting fee” for my pocket knife expertise.
If you’re reading HomeFixated (which my psychic powers tell me you are), then you need a Fastback Flip Knife
Side Sliding Utility Knife
Although much more traditional in terms of utility knives (when compared to the Fastback), the Milwaukee Sliding Utility Knife has a few tricks up its sleeve too. A rubber overmold and a rubber depression near the tip make for a solid grip and good control. The slide mechanism has several detents enabling you to easily set blade exposure. Like the Fastback, this utility knife also has a convenient quick release for fast blade changes. Even better yet, there’s on-board blade storage. You know how most on-board blade storage gets loose as you remove blades, eventually resulting in razor sharp blades flying around when you try to access them? Milwaukee cleverly used a magnet to secure the blades. Whether you’ve got one or five, they’re held securely. The knife also has a gut hook that usable without extending the blade at all. All in all, a solid utility knife with some great innovations.
If you’re only buying one knife, my recommendation goes to the Fastback, but this is very good utility knife as well. The Milwaukee Sliding Utility Knife
Rasping Jab Saw
So lets say you don’t have a Roto-Zip tool, and you want to cut an opening in some drywall. If you’re like me (I’m sorry), then you probably love to get a perfect fit. For me, this translates to deliberately cutting the hole slightly too small and then spending the next 45 minutes enlarging the hole little by little, scraping the drywall saw until everything is just right. Apparently I’m not the only one to do this since Milwaukee engineered four rasping slots into the blade of their jab saw. Not only is their saw wickedly sharp, but the rasping slots make quicker work of getting that perfect fit for your light switch box. A knife-like sharp tip makes getting that first jab in an easy proposition.
You can pick up the Milwaukee Drywall Rasping Jab Saw
Breaking News: Milwaukee Releases New Sawzall Blade Design!
Back in July we attended the Milwaukee New Product Symposium. We were sworn to secrecy on a couple new product developments, in particular the next generation RedLithium battery technology and Milwaukee’s brand new Sawzall blade design. Why should you care about a Sawzall blade? Faster speed and more durability for starters. It became clear to me at the Symposium that Milwaukee is very serious about innovative product development, and given that the Sawzall is a signature tool, they’re not about to concede blade supremacy to a competitor. They even implemented new Nail Guard tooth design to prevent nails from decimating the blade’s teeth. I saw the slow motion product development test video, and it definitely appears to work very well. There’s also an aggressive fang at the tip to truly make plunge cutting not only doable, but doable fast.
Lastly, I have to hand it to the PR and marketing departments at Milwaukee. They sent us the “Marc Lyman” super-limited edition (1 of 1) new Sawzall blade design pictured above. I can imagine the brainstorming session in Milwaukee went something like this:
Milwaukee Marketing Person: You know those really annoying bloggers we’re forced to work with for very mediocre “press” coverage?
Milwaukee PR Person: Yeah.
Milwaukee Marketing Person: How can we get those sloth-like people to actually write about our new totally kick-ass Sawzall blade design?
Milwaukee PR Person: I know! Let’s make them a Limited Edition blade and mail it to them with a press release!
Milwaukee Marketing Person: Ooooh, genius!
Milwaukee PR Person: It will totally appeal to their delusions of grandeur, and their immense egos will be stroked seeing their name in print. They’ll probably mount the thing on their wall and then immediately write a blog post about it!
Milwaukee Marketing Person: Suckers! Let’s do it!
So there you have it, press coverage spawned by diabolical manipulation of bloggers. Luckily I don’t have any ego or delusions of grandeur issues. On a side note, I’ll be autographing my limited edition new Sawzall blade and auctioning it off to the highest bidder. Let’s start the bidding at a very reasonable $10,000 and go from there. Do I hear $15,000?
When talk turns to the ease of replacing utility knife blades my eyes glaze over. Most of the quick replacement schemes either result in loose blades or unintended release while working. More to the point – why replace the blade at all? Utility knife blades are very good carbon steel and among the easiest blades to sharpen. I use a utility knife on a constant daily basis, and I have to change blades about once a year. I keep a couple of little diamond stones taped down at strategic locations, and when it need sharpening (usually after about three minutes of work), a drop of spit and a couple of swipes makes it sharp as new. Not only is it faster and cheaper, the blade is constantly sharp as opposed to getting duller and duller until you finally change the blade.
JB