Willia wrote in, asking about whether there’s a good tool for opening thick cardboard boxes. We’ve talked about the best way to cut cardboard, but more in the context of using the cardboard for craft and DIY mock-up projects.
I later posted about Skil’s cordless power cutter, which apparently isn’t available anymore, and readers chimed into the original cardboard post with some great suggestions.
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But cutting cardboard for project use is different from opening up boxes.
Willia asked:
Is there an industrial quality of power tool to cut open thick corrugated cardboard boxes?
Usually the cardboard is about 1/4″ but sometimes is double thickness or about 1/2″. The ideal tool would replace the danger of box cutters, but be light enough to not cause strain while using the tool.
Updated Info:
We are trying to eliminate knives for this job as the result of a razor knife buried all the way in an employee’s arm. Ergonomically the task is a nightmare and hopefully a LIGHT weight power tool can replace the razor knife.
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The Slice ceramic box cutter, $16 via Amazon, comes to mind. I haven’t tried it yet, but it looks decent for quickly and safely opening up boxes with a minimal blade. But it also looks more for home and consumer use than industrial work settings.
Slice boasts about how many companies have adopted their cutters, and so maybe they might be up to industrial use.
The Slice box cutter is available with a manual or self-retracting blade. The green auto-retracting one is about $1 more and is the “safety” model.
Safety utility knives are another potential option.
There’s also the NT Cutter safety carton opener, $12 via Amazon and made in Japan, that I believe Fred introduced me to. It’s been on my Amazon wishlist for the longest time, but I haven’t bought one yet. I bet it’ll zip through tape seams, but it’s really designed for opening up boxes, and probably couldn’t handle cutting thick cardboard.
As for 1/2″ cardboard? I don’t think I’ve seen cardboard boxes of this thickness. Usually what I’ve seen as-thick or thicker structured boards used as inner box dividers and supports, and things like that.
I have seen double-layered outer boxes, but with thicknesses maybe in the 1/4″ to 3/8″ range. Even boxes that don’t have butted flaps taped together, and instead have overlapping flaps taped at the ends, are easy to open by cutting through the taped seam.
I like to think that I’ve opened my fair share of cardboard boxes, and have yet to come across a box I couldn’t easily open. Still, maybe there are tools that make it even easier that I’m just not familiar with.
Are there any dedicated power tools for opening up cardboard boxes in a quick and safe manner? I don’t think I know of any, aside from the aforementioned Skil cutter which I don’t think could cut through layered cardboard.
Skil replaced their standalone cutter with an iXO cordless screwdriver and cutting head attachment ($40 via Amazon), but while that might be a good tool for making clean straight cuts in cardboard, it’s going to be a slow tool for opening up packages.
I can’t imagine any power tool that would work faster than zipping through a tape seam or the edge of a cardboard box with the Slice box cutter or a safety utility knife.
Do you have any suggestions or tool recommendations?
Buy Now(Slice Ceramic Cutter)
Buy Now(NT Cutter Carton Opener)
Noah
What about running that 1/2″ cardboard thru a table saw or using a track saw?
Stuart
I think the question was more about how to cut into really thick cardboard boxes that still have stuff inside.
Hilton
Not sure why the need to cut the cardboard at all? Just slice the tape at the join like everyone else does. My keys do this job.
If employees are cutting themselves using a knife, then promote them to window washers and outsource the box cutting projects 🙂
Linda
I need to cut up cardboard so I can line a metal trash can with it, so there IS a need to cut up cardboard!
fred
The cutter is primarily designed for opening cartons that are held closed with staples and/or nylon straps. TW – a trick for dealing with many nylon straps – if a cutter/scissors is not handy is to find the spot where the strap is glued together en-to-end -then roll it over and peel the glued sections apart.
More on topic – I keep a Stanley 10-189C self-retracting utility knife hanging in the Garage for cutting open boxes. I’m not sure that it is really that much safer than a conventional utility knife – but you can’t forget to retract the blade. I also have a Tajima VR-103 – but find it a bit odd to hold.
red92s
If the Skill cutter is no longer available, doesn’t Bosch offer one on their 12V platform? Is it only available overseas?
Stuart
It’s not available in North America.
adabhael
I would really love to see the OSHA report on that accident, and/or learn more about the ergonomics of this, because I am really struggling to understand this task in order to think about the best tool.
Chris
The slice ceramic cutter is not a good tool. The blade is incredibly short, barely 1/2 of an inch, and it’s incredibly hard to keep it buried inside the material while maintaining a proper cutting angle so it glides through. It is sharp, however. The “safety”model is annoying AF, since you have to keep your thumb on the spring lever to keep the blade extended, then press down with all your might. The blade design would definitely benefit from a more hooked shape that would help keep it buried in the material. That said, I really like hooked knives and karambit shapes with thin blades for cardboard cutting. Your hand motion is just pulling at that point.
The SKIL motorized cutter is awesome. It’s like a mini circular saw. It is great for opening blister packs, I also use it for cutting fabric, canvas, large vinyl sheets. It’s sharp and cuts straight.
John
Is the question to open cardboard boxes of up to 1/2 inch or to cut cardboard of that thickness for other crafting etc? It sounds like the actual activity they are doing is opening packages and in that case there is a separate set of requirements for the tool like it needs to open the box without damaging contents.
That NT Cutter is a good choice for “industrial” cardboard packages because it also includes a heavy duty stapler remover and strap cutter which is what you need to get at to open the box and not necessarily touch cutting the cardboard box itself. There are also industrial staple cutters and after a few snips the top comes right off. Like:
https://www.fastenal.com/products/details/1604070
Search for “industrial staple remover/cutter”.
I’ve also found looking at hand tools for upholstery has quite an assortment of prying tools, cutters, etc you normally wouldn’t find which are gentle enough to fineness while still being “industrial” enough for long term use and hard tasks.
John
Meant to link one of the defacto stapler remover for fabric, wood, and upholstery; Berry staple removers:
http://berrysstapleremover.com/
Osborn now makes a clone rip off as well.
http://upholsteryresource.com/node/302
Jason
I think some are missing that not everything comes with nicely sealed packing tape. We get lots of packages in really heavy cardboard and things like straps or heavy staples. We’ve found a serrated blade is best for the heavy stuff. Just saw back and forth through it.
Hilton
“We’ve found a serrated blade is best for the heavy stuff”. Bingo! That’s exactly the one use I get out of my Leatherman Wave blade. The other is to cut biltong.
rick
Try a Fein or other brand oscillating tool w/fine cut blade; turn the speed control down till it’s manageable and still cuts. Works great.
glenn
Agree, I have tried it and OMT;s do the job very easily but I still just use a carton knife simply due to speed.
I open and break down 2-4 boxes a day that split aircon units come in for removal from our customers premises and still find that carton knives are my preferred method. The best one I have come across so far is the OLFA SL-1. It has a very good positive lock system and is durable. My current is is @ 12 yrs old.
But yes an OMT will do it with ease and is also safer than a knife, albeit a bit slower.
Chris
Check this out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1A65K0ATs0
kraton
I use a 4″ curved TITANIUM WIDGY BAR from CountryComm for opening my
cardboard packages with ease , The pry bar pops out those thick staples with ease .
SteveW
What this person is talking about opening is not your everyday cardboard box, so put away your thoughts of tiny Skil cordless tools and retractable knives and other such specialty tools. I know exactly the type of stuff this is, it really is 1/2 inch thick, it doesn’t matter if you have never seen it, it does exist. At our shop we receive raw materials in boxes of this same material, the cardboard is fastened to a pallet and we have to cut the top flaps off and one side. The pallets weigh about 1600 pounds and there is about a foot of space inside the box. Another pallet can be stacked on top without the bottom one collapsing. What we use is a fixed blade Stanley utility knife with a SHARP
SteveW
What we use is a fixed blade Stanley utility knife with a SHARP blade. It’s still tough to do, but it is possible with care.
Bruce
My lord, if you pocket knife can’t defeat any cardboard you run into, either replace the knife or sharpen it.
P.S. If you don’t have a knife, you shouldn’t consider yourself a tool user any more.
Fazal Majid
The Skil is ideal for cutting up cardboard boxes so they fit nicely in a recycling bin.
The Slice tool is near useless. Standard utility knives with a good handle work best. I use a X-Acto Ergo or an Olfa cutter.
john
I get plenty of very thick cardboard on deliveries to the workshop. 1/2inch thick and thicker.
Stanley knife with carbide blades does the job .
Rob
I work in a plastic thermoforming plant. We have to cut all sorts of things from plastic sheet to 1/2″ cardboard. We still have a “sharps list” that you have to be added to if you’re going to use a utility knife, but here’s what we have as our everyday cutter:
http://www.kleverinnovations.net/our-products/safety-cutters/klever-xchange/
We use the standard head most of the time, but some people have the double wall head. These things are very difficult to cut yourself with and decently user friendly. I found that the “tape splitter” can be used for more than just tape, too.
Barry
I use a wavy-serrated kitchen knife when I’m breaking boxes down for recycling. Woodcraft sells a folding saw, intended for cardboard, with a similar blade. http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/159588/Folding-Bld-Keyhole-Saw-0536.aspx?gclid=CMSkx8Ph-cgCFQccaQodj-oIfg
If you have a lot of boxes, or are needing to get through the really thick stuff, Festool makes the S 155/w Jigsaw blade. I’d like to see a small recip saw that takes jigsaw blades, but Milwaukee’s M12 jigsaw works out pretty well already.
PennGirl
Uhg! I work retail in a small store. We have to process a truck once a week that has anywhere from 1000 pieces to 1800 pieces. Thats alot of boxes folks. My fingers hurt so bad by the end of the day from breaking open box after box! I have been trying to look for a tool like, oh i dont know, maybe a box knife with like mini pry bar or something for those really tough boxes that are way over glued. Please Help! My fingers beg you. Thanks!