Ditch the pencil and grab your best utility knife. If youโre a tradesman or just particularly handy, then you naturally value resourcefulness. Sometimes we donโt have a tool at hand and need to improvise because the situation demands it. That happens when you use a square-nose shovel to remove shinglesโฆor you. Today, weโre taking a quick look at the utility knife marking tool lifehack.
Using a Utility Knife as a Marking Tool
We use a utility knife for cutting a wide range of materials. But have you ever used it for marking a cut line on wood when you donโt have a pencil? Thatโs one of the things our Pro team threw at us as a quick trick. After we started using this hack, we never really stopped. The utility knife makes for a great marking tool on wood.
Yes, a shallow score mark may be harder to see than a pencil mark, but itโs a thinner and more precise mark, too. And if youโre framing or doing other rough work, making a score mark in the wood is notย aย problem. For finer work, make the mark either shallow enough to be sanded or part of the waste cut.
Use Your Utility Knife Like a Pencil
Even if you donโt like to use your utility knife like a pencil, you still need a way to sharpen your pencil. That brings us right back to the utility knife! If you work as a carpenter or contractor, itโs a tool you (likely) always have on hand. You might as well put it to work.
Bonus Round Utility Knife Lifehacks
For extra credit, here are a few other ideas our team grabs a utility knife for. Some tasks we do more frequently than others:
- Stripping the insulation from electrical wires
- Scraping off or cleaning up extra caulk
- Removing paint from screw heads
- Whittlinโ when youโre sitting on the porch
We hope youโve enjoyed this utility knife Pro lifehack. What are some of the non-traditional ways you use a utility knife? Tell us about it in the comments below!
