1️⃣

Cardboard Cutting

Project

Date Created

Author

Untitled

Tools & Skills

Sharps

[CoF] Careers of the Future

Launch Lab Connection

Competency

Status

Complete

Overview:
You will cut the following pieces:
Safety
Materials Needed
Tutorial: Using a 18mm Olfa knife
Tutorial: Using a 45mm Olfa rotary knife

Overview:

This tutorial will go over everything needed to be confident using sharps at TPZ.

You will cut the following pieces:

A 3” square of 1/16” chip board with an 18mm Olfa knife.

A 3” square of fabric with a 45mm Olfa Rotary knife.

Safety

This documentation is not a substitute for proper training and sign-off. If you don't know how to do something, don't guess! Ask someone who is trained and cleared for use on the tool for help.

A sharp knife is safer than a dull knife.

A sharp knife needs less force cut.
Less force means more controlled cutting.
When you determine a blade needs to be replaced, use a sharps container for the dull blades.

Cut from top to bottom, NEVER from side to side.

Put more force on the straight edge than the knife.

It is important to secure the straight edge to your cutting surface.
You should NOT need lots of force on the knife. Let the knife do the work! See above.

Use the right kind of straight edge.

If cutting with a utility blade.

Use a metal straight edge, DO NOT USE A PLASTIC RULER!!! The knife will jump the edge and potentially cut your fingers.
Use a non-slip Straight edge. There should be rubber or cork on the bottom. If it doesn't, DON’T CUT WITH IT! It is unsafe and could ruin your cut.

If cutting with a rotary knife.

Use a metal straight edge with a non-slip backing like rubber or cork.
A thick plastic ruler specifically designed for fabric is fine. Flimsy plastic rulers are still unsafe.

Cutting in a single pass vs. multiple passes:

Depends on the toughness and thickness of the material.
For paper, one pass is fine.
For 1/16” chip, three to four passes. This is another reason you want to secure the straight edge down!

Cut on a sturdy work surface with a cutting mat.

18mm blade safety

When exposing the blade, only show one to two score lengths.
Do not bend the blade. You may trigger an unwanted blade snap.
When you are done cutting, retract the knife. Make it drop safe. Always store it retracted.

Wear cut resistant gloves.

TPZ stocks gloves with an ANSI cut resistance rating of A5.
WARNING: Theses will not protect against puncture hazards.

‣

Materials Needed

‣

Tutorial: Using a 18mm Olfa knife

Cutting a 3” chipboard square

This is what your final product will look like.

Use a cutting mat. Make sure your work area is clear.

Get a pair of cut-resistant gloves on.

Get a piece of 1/16” chipboard.

Take out your 18mm Olfa.

Loosen the ratchet a few turns.

The blade should now be free to slide forward. Expose 1-2 notches of the blade. If the tip of the blade looks dull see the tutorial on blade snapping.

Once the blade is exposed, tighten the ratchet so the blade no longer slides.

There are two ways to measure and cut a piece of material like this. For the first cut, you’ll use the tick method. Line up your straight edge’s “0” to the lower corner of the material.

The tick method has you create a small cut mark where you plan to cut. You do this on either side of the material you plan to cut, line up your ruler, and cut in an exact straight line.

Cut a tick mark at 3” on the chipboard.

Cut another tick mark 3” on top of the chipboard.

Insert the knife into the lower tick mark you made.

Slide the straight edge up to the side of the knife. Alight the top of the straight edge by eye.

Starting from top to bottom, carefully score the chip board. DO NOT cut through in one pass. This should take 3 or 4 passes to cut through assuming your knife is sharp.

Once you are done, place the off cut to the side.

For the second cut, you’ll use the grid method. Take your material and align it to the cutting mat. This is also a good way of checking if your material is square. The Alvin cutting mat shown shows a 1/2” grid. Use this to measure 3”.

Line up your straight edge. For extra accuracy, make sure the straight edge is aligned to the grid past your material.

⚠️

DO NOT CUT FROM SIDE TO SIDE RELATIVE TO YOUR BODY. THIS PHOTO IS SHOWN FROM THE SIDE FOR VISIBILITY. MY BODY IS TO THE RIGHT OF THIS PHOTO. CUTTING HORIZONTALLY IS DANGEROUS AND INACCURATE.

Starting from top to bottom, carefully score the chip board. DO NOT cut through in one pass. This should take 3 or 4 passes to cut through assuming your knife is sharp.

Place the off cut to the side.

You’re done! Retract the blade of the knife before storing it.

‣

Tutorial: Using a 45mm Olfa rotary knife

Safety

This documentation is not a substitute for proper training and sign-off. If you don't know how to do something, don't guess! Ask someone who is trained and cleared for use on the tool for help.

A sharp knife is safer than a dull knife.

A sharp knife needs less force cut.
Less force means more controlled cutting.
When you determine a blade needs to be replaced, use a sharps container for the dull blades.

Cut from top to bottom, NEVER from side to side.

Put more force on the straight edge than the knife.

It is important to secure the straight edge to your cutting surface.
You should NOT need lots of force on the knife. Let the knife do the work! See above.

Use the right kind of straight edge.

If cutting with a utility blade.

Use a metal straight edge, DO NOT USE A PLASTIC RULER!!! The knife will jump the edge and potentially cut your fingers.
Use a non-slip Straight edge. There should be rubber or cork on the bottom. If it doesn't, DON’T CUT WITH IT! It is unsafe and could ruin your cut.

If cutting with a rotary knife.

Use a metal straight edge with a non-slip backing like rubber or cork.
A thick plastic ruler specifically designed for fabric is fine. Flimsy plastic rulers are still unsafe.

Cutting in a single pass vs. multiple passes:

Depends on the toughness and thickness of the material.
For paper, one pass is fine.
For 1/16” chip, three to four passes. This is another reason you want to secure the straight edge down!

Cut on a sturdy work surface with a cutting mat.

18mm blade safety

When exposing the blade, only show one to two score lengths.
Do not bend the blade. You may trigger an unwanted blade snap.
When you are done cutting, retract the knife. Make it drop safe. Always store it retracted.

Wear cut resistant gloves.

TPZ stocks gloves with an ANSI cut resistance rating of A5.
WARNING: Theses will not protect against puncture hazards.

‣

Materials Needed

‣

Tutorial: Using a 18mm Olfa knife

Cutting a 3” chipboard square

This is what your final product will look like.

Use a cutting mat. Make sure your work area is clear.

Get a pair of cut-resistant gloves on.

Get a piece of 1/16” chipboard.

Take out your 18mm Olfa.

Loosen the ratchet a few turns.

The blade should now be free to slide forward. Expose 1-2 notches of the blade. If the tip of the blade looks dull see the tutorial on blade snapping.

Once the blade is exposed, tighten the ratchet so the blade no longer slides.

There are two ways to measure and cut a piece of material like this. For the first cut, you’ll use the tick method. Line up your straight edge’s “0” to the lower corner of the material.

The tick method has you create a small cut mark where you plan to cut. You do this on either side of the material you plan to cut, line up your ruler, and cut in an exact straight line.

Cut a tick mark at 3” on the chipboard.

Cut another tick mark 3” on top of the chipboard.

Insert the knife into the lower tick mark you made.

Slide the straight edge up to the side of the knife. Alight the top of the straight edge by eye.

Starting from top to bottom, carefully score the chip board. DO NOT cut through in one pass. This should take 3 or 4 passes to cut through assuming your knife is sharp.

Once you are done, place the off cut to the side.

For the second cut, you’ll use the grid method. Take your material and align it to the cutting mat. This is also a good way of checking if your material is square. The Alvin cutting mat shown shows a 1/2” grid. Use this to measure 3”.

Line up your straight edge. For extra accuracy, make sure the straight edge is aligned to the grid past your material.

⚠️

DO NOT CUT FROM SIDE TO SIDE RELATIVE TO YOUR BODY. THIS PHOTO IS SHOWN FROM THE SIDE FOR VISIBILITY. MY BODY IS TO THE RIGHT OF THIS PHOTO. CUTTING HORIZONTALLY IS DANGEROUS AND INACCURATE.

Starting from top to bottom, carefully score the chip board. DO NOT cut through in one pass. This should take 3 or 4 passes to cut through assuming your knife is sharp.

Place the off cut to the side.

You’re done! Retract the blade of the knife before storing it.

‣

Tutorial: Using a 45mm Olfa rotary knife

Cardboard Cutting

Overview:

You will cut the following pieces:

Safety

Materials Needed

Tutorial: Using a 18mm Olfa knife

Cutting a 3” chipboard square

Tutorial: Using a 45mm Olfa rotary knife

Cutting a 3” fabric square:

Cardboard Cutting

Overview:

You will cut the following pieces:

Safety

Materials Needed

Tutorial: Using a 18mm Olfa knife

Cutting a 3” chipboard square

Tutorial: Using a 45mm Olfa rotary knife

Cutting a 3” fabric square: