The Stanley Tool company began as the Stanley Works manufacturing company in Connecticut in 1843, manufacturing bolt and door hardware. Stanley now produces a variety of tools, including a number of knife products. Stanley produces many blade styles, from retractable utility knives used to cut through boxes and tape to fixed-blade knives that can cut through heavy construction equipment. Regardless of the type of Stanley blade you use, safety is always key to ensure that the blade does not harm you or anyone else; proper precautions when using the knives can prevent injury.
Step One
Wear protective goggles whenever you cut with a Stanley knife. The sharp cutting blades can release shrapnel from the cutting surfaces, possibly harming your eyes.
Step Two
Check your knife before each cutting application to make sure that the blade is securely seated in the knife. Stanley blades are replaceable, meaning that they slide in and out of the knife as needed to ensure a sharp blade. Before you cut, make sure the blade is not loose; if the blade is retractable, make sure it is fully extended before cutting.
Step Three
Stand firmly in front of your cutting surface with both feet securely planted. If you are cutting on a surface that is below chest level, kneel or stand to one side of the cutting line so that you have the best control of the blade and your body is out of the way of the cutting edge.
Step Four
Plant your free hand in an area where it can support you if needed. Make sure your hand is at least 6 inches from the cutting line, so that if the blade slips you have time to move your hand before it is injured.
Step Five
Pull the knife toward you as you cut; do not push the blade away from you on a cutting line. A pulling motion is stronger than a pushing motion, making for a faster and more efficient cut. The blade is also less likely to slip when you pull it, as opposed to push it away from you.
Step Six
Make several passes with the blade if you are cutting through a thick surface. Several shallow cuts will penetrate deeper and faster into a thick material than trying to force the blade through in one cut; there is also less of a chance of the blade slipping or breaking in the process.
Step Seven
Replace the Stanley blade whenever it becomes dull. If the blade seems to be tearing material instead of cutting through it, you know it is time for a new blade. Dull blades can slip more easily than sharp ones, creating a safety hazard.