A linoleum knife is as useful today as it was in the past. Back then, many homes would use linoleum as flooring. Nowadays, most homes use polyvinyl chloride (PVC) instead. Despite this, linoleum is still the most common term for such flooring.
My Top 3 Linoleum Knives
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IRWIN 1774108 Linoleum Knife |
$8.93
$5.99 | Buy Now | |
| ALLWAY LK25 Heavy-Duty Linoleum Knife with Carbon Steel Blade | $8.77 | Buy Now | |
| M-D Building Products 48092 Linoleum Knife | $10.25 | Buy Now |
It also isn’t surprising. Both linoleum and PVC share many of the same qualities. Both have similar levels of flexibility and durability. The only real difference comes in brightness and translucency. In short, the two types of flooring are more-or-less interchangeable.
More importantly, this means that whether you need to cut PVC or linoleum, it’s easy to get by with a single kind of knife – a linoleum knife.
The Best Linoleum Knives In 2024
1. Irwin Tools Knife
The Irwin Tools Knife is one of the best knives I have ever tried. Although the price may be a little higher than other linoleum knives, the quality more than makes up for it.
The Irwin comes with a curved blade that is attached to a beautiful hardwood handle. Not just pleasing on the eye, this handle also feels great to hold in your hand.
Overall, this is a comfortable knife that is great to use over long hours.
Pros:
- Durable hardwood handle
- Curved blade helps in cutting tile
- Can also be used to scrape paint under tile edges
Cons:
- Price is on the higher end
2. Allway Tools Knife
The Allway Tools Knife is comfortable to use. It comes with a strong hardwood handle that looks great. More than that, however, it comes with a powerful blade that is made with strong carbon steel.
Unlike a lot of other similar knives, Allway can also be used for cutting weeds and other outside plants. The blade was a little loose on arrival, however, and needed to be tightened up a little.
Still, this is a great knife for the price.
Pros:
- Made with carbon steel
- Strong and comfortable hardwood handle
- Also great for cutting plants
Cons:
- Becomes uncomfortable after awhile
- Can be hard to cut a straight line
3. M-D Building Products Knife
The M-D Building Products Knife has the look and feel of a high end knife. The blade is made with high carbon steel with a great finish. The handle, although rubber, is slip-resistant and strong against moisture. Specifically, the handle is perfect for long use and is still comfortable after hours of work.
Although this great knife doesn’t come with a cover, at this price point, the quality more than makes up for any cons.
Pros:
- Made with strong carbon steel
- Has a great slip-resistant grip
- Comfortable over long hours
Cons:
- Doesn’t come with a cover
- Struggles on older-style linoleum
4. Stanley 10-509 Flooring Knife
The Stanley is one of a kind. Although not the cheapest knife around, the price isn’t the highest either. More than that, however, the knife comes with a premium-level of quality that you wouldn’t expect at this price point.
The hardwood handle is comfortable with a great, durable feel to it. The blade is curved and made with strong steel. Not just that, the knife as a whole has a quality that lets you know how durable it is.
Overall, the Stanley is one of the best knives around at this price point.
Pros:
- Durable and long-lasting
- Comfortable handle with great grip
- Made with powerful steel
- Comes with a lifetime warranty
Cons:
- Needs to be sharpened before use
5. CHILI Tools Knife
The CHILI Tools Knife is both budget-friendly and a great value for the price.
The blade is made with powerful SK-5 hardened steel with a curved edge. The handle, however, is made with soft rubber without the typical smell that you would expect. The result is a powerful knife that is both comfortable to hold and durable.
This knife can easily cut through most linoleum tiles with ease.
Pros:
- Handle is strong
- Blade is made with SK-5 hardened steel
- Comfortable to use
Cons:
- Doesn’t come with a cover
- Rubber handle isn’t great for sweaty hands
Buying Right: Making The Right Choices
When it comes to buying knives – especially those designed for cutting linoleum – it’s easy to get lost in the complexity. There are many different brands of knives out there, and not all of them are equal.
The good news is that once you know what to look for, everything else comes easy. Most good knives have a few simple qualities that they all share. As long as you keep an eye out for them, you will know you have a good knife in your hand.
Material
The material a knife is made of can tell you a lot about the quality of a knife. A blade that is made with good steel is important. What isn’t as obvious is the handle. It is, however, just as important. Rubber or hardwood, a handle that is lacking in quality is one that should be avoided at all costs.
Price
The price of a knife is hard to overlook. A knife that is too cheap can easily break, while a knife that is too expensive can easily break your wallet. When you’re buying a linoleum knife, it’s important to find the right balance between the two. At the same time, however, it’s not good to ignore one or the other either. It’s possible for a cheap knife to be worth its weight in gold. Likewise, it’s possible for an expensive knife to be well worth the price too.
Utility
The quality of a knife, however, goes beyond material and price. The extra value that a specific linoleum knife can bring you is just as important. Knife covers, anti-slip grips, and other similar forms of utility can easily turn a mediocre linoleum knife into a premium-grade tool.
What is a Linoleum Knife?
There are many knives around that you can use to cut through linoleum, such as carpet knives. With that being the case, is there any real reason why you would want to use linoleum knives instead? It’s easy to think so, but that would be a mistake. Linoleum knives may appear at first glance to be no different than a standard knife. In reality, however, they offer enough utility and easy-of-use to be more that worth using over a standard knife.
The blade, for instance, is designed to allow you to easily cut through linoleum. The handle, likewise, is designed in a way to improve on this feature. In short, linoleum knives make it much easier to cut linoleum and other similar material.
How do you use a Linoleum Knife?
Linoleum knives look like regular knives. It’s easy to make the mistake of thinking you can use one like a regular knife too. Unfortunately, you’ll be in for a bad time if you try. Unlike regular knives, linoleum knives are designed around a pulling motion instead.
To cut something with such a knife, you instead focus on a far-off point and pull the knife towards you. Although it may not seem like it, the design of the knife actually makes this motion much more effective than the alternative.
How do you cut Linoleum sheets?
Like using a knife, it can be surprisingly difficult to properly cut a linoleum sheet. Just like a knife, however, it also becomes easy once you understand the best ways to cut it.
Take the position of the sheet, for example. It’s a good idea to position it in such a way to make it easier to cut. It may seem obvious, but many people get caught by the trap of positioning it to make it easier to cut with a regular knife.
As I mentioned before, linoleum knives aren’t designed like regular knives. Just like how you would handle one, this design choice also affects how you should position whatever it is you’re cutting.
How do you sharpen a Linoleum Knife?
Sharpening linoleum knives, unlike using one, is a lot easier. Most of the time, you can easily sharpen one with the exact same method you would use to sharpen any of your other knives. There is, however, a few hiccups here and there to take note of. The biggest of these is the shape.
Being curved, linoleum knives require you to sharpen the knife at a different angle than you would with a straight edge knife. Luckily, the actual sharpening process itself is unchanged.
The Beauty Of Linoleum Knives
Linoleum knives are an essential tool to have in your tool belt. With the wide variety of brands out there, there’s no excuse not to have one.
Whether you’re looking for the extreme durability of the Irwin or the comfort and power of the Stanley, there’s a linoleum knife that is perfect for you. Even the most expensive brands like the Irwin are priced low enough to be a reasonable purchase.
All-in-all, a linoleum knife is a purchase that you won’t regret.
Last update on 2024-12-06 at 01:26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
