As discussed in our Kobalt Triple Cut review, these multi-cutters are not favored tools. They perform poorly, they’re not very comfortable to use, and pivoting the lower jaw exposes an unsafely large razor blade edge.
I find it abysmal that Kobalt provides no instructions on how to replace or swap blades on the Triple Cut cutters. There aren’t even arrows engraved on the tools that point to the screws that must be loosened.
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It’s not difficult to figure out how to change the blades, but it’s not exactly intuitive either.
Here are some basic instructions that seem to work well. Follow these instructions at your own risk. We do not encourage or recommend this procedure; we are simply providing them as an opinion on how to change the blades.
Step 1: Squeeze and then lock the handles together. This should provide a little protection from the blade should things move around unexpectedly.
Step 2: Loosen the two blade clamp screws with a Phillips screwdriver. (I used a Ph #2.)
Step 3: Very carefully unlock and spread the handles.
Caution: Try not to cut yourself.
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Step 4: Very carefully remove the blade and discard or store in a safe manner. If you loosened the two clamp screws enough, the blade should move freely.
Caution: Try not to cut yourself.
Step 5: Very, very carefully position a fresh blade into the blade clamp slot. I found this to be difficult to do, and intimidating with a 4-inch long razor blade facing my palm. Extreme caution is required here. It took me two tries to get the fresh blade properly seated.
Caution: Try not to cut yourself.
Step 6: Close the handles slowly and carefully. If the fresh blade appears to be properly positioned in the tool, lock the handles closed.
Caution: Try not to cut yourself.
Step 7: Tighten the blade clamp screws.
Step 8: Check the replacement blade compartment. If it does not swing out freely, then you might need to back out the frontmost blade clamp screw a little bit.
Step 9: Ensure that the cutter appears to operate properly.
Step 10: Count your fingers, check for blood, and wipe the sweat from your forehead. Everything about this tool makes it seem like a laceration waiting to happen. Granted that all knives and cutting tools must be used with caution, but these cutters felt inherently unsafe to me.
Step 11: Leave a comment here sharing your experience. Was the blade change easy to do? Difficult? Are there any steps you would add or change?
Yadda
Stuart,
How many cuts did you receive while documenting the procedures?? Do you regret making the bold decision to document the blade replacement for these tools?
Stuart
None.
Honestly, changing the blade is an exceptionally scary procedure. It’s not like a utility knife where you can hold the blade by the top and spine, or with hobby knives where you can point the blade away from yourself.
Here, you have to pinch the sides of the blade while the sharp edge is facing your palm and in close proximity.
If I ever use these enough where I have to change the blade – which is unlikely as there is a long list of tools I would use sooner than the Triple Cut – I will probably try to keep the handles closed as much as possible. But the handles open with a spring-action, which might cause unintentionally flinging of the blade – that’s why I opened them when retrieving the blade and not after.
Jerry
Your review makes me even more glad I spent the little bit extra for my Craftsman cutters. The handle stop that limits how ar the jaws open is really a strong detent. Open the handles all the way, then pull them apart past the detent. This takes a bit of effort, but is safe, as your fingers are nowhere near the blade. Remove the old blade, and position the new blade in its slot. Gently close the handles, and after the blade hits the anvil, keep squeezing, and the blade self aligns, and locks in place. Works slick, and the blade self aligns well enough to cut paper. While I can’t remember the last time I cut myself when using cutters, I got a finger nicked a couple times changing the blade due to a clumsy blade change mechanism, or one that requires you to handle the ‘sharp’ part of the blade. I work with my hands, so a cut slows my productivity. Because of this, I really look to find the safest blade change system for any tool with a cutting edge, power or hand. A few extra bucks for a safe mechanism (or good spindle lock on power tools) is far cheaper than a doctor bill.
Stan
I also recommend the Ridgid Cut Rite II as not only this is 100% American made, but the blade on this unit is much easier to blade and much more safer as well. I purchased mine for not that much at Harry J Epstein and have used this now 100 times. Even after all that work, the blade is still as sharp as the day I received this and hasn’t shown any signs of cracking at all.
Dave Nicholson
Received the 2 pack Kobalt triple cut set for Christmas. I have worked with tools all my life. I have also cut my hands, fingers,knuckles on many safe proven tools, over the years, using the safest techniques possible. The package didn’t come with any instructions, nor is there a reference to go online to find out more about the product. After 20 minutes, I found your instructions on changing the blades, which I enjoyed. I was showing my wife the tools and was going to give her the smaller one, but I stated “this really is a dangerous tool”. So, after that common sense little voice said: you already have at least 6 tools that will each do the same tasks, why not return this tool to the store that sells them before this little piranha cuts your finger off! It is one of the scariest tools I have used because the jaws are just engineered to get in the way when you have to monkey around to make the tool work. Thanks for your website affirming my suspicion. Keep up the good work, I have you bookmarked on my computer.
David M
thank you. I’m not the handiest person alive and this literterlly made me depressed. I couldn’t believe something as easy as a blade change was impossible for me to accomplish. Really appreciate your help. You may have saved a marriage. ha.
Lisa Barkley
Thanks guys for the reassurance I’m not crazy for finding it hard to figure out how to change the blade. I’m a DIY shlub but like the learning experience.
Brian
Just found this post while trying to change my own blade– here’s a tip – if you position the blade so that it WILL slide into place, you can just close the bottom half, and it’ll push the blade right into place, no risk!
Jan
Thanks very much — this was very helpful.
Marc
I received one as a Dirty Santa gift in the 2-pack clamshell crap with a worthless locking pliers quasi-vice grip tool that is even more difficult to figure out than the Triple Multi-Cutter. The only good thing about the “pliers” is that they are slightly less dangerous than the Cutter.
Rita
Ok, woman here trying to figure out how to open this knife safely to change blades, no man here what do I do first besides buying something more usable.