Added new tool to my sewing/quilting box
 

Just bought some new rotary blades from HF and needed to open one pack. Finally got smart and took the smallest pair of wire cutters from my house tool box to open the plastic & cardboard. Cutters will now stay in my sewing box.

I confess to using my good scissors on more than one occasion. The wire cutters are next to prefect for cutting plastic. Granted, I get less than half an inch cut at a time---------but I only have to try once.

I buy the $1 scissors from Ikea. They have plastic handles and really thick blades. They will cut through anything and I have 5 but never have ruined one yet.

No Ikea here, but the wire cutters worked prefectly.

I bought a pair of industrial Fiskar scissors from Lowe's. They will zip though the sealed plastic and will cut anything thick. The employees use them when restocking from sealed boxes. Much safer then the box knife. DH bought several pair for his tool box after using mine.

harbor freight scissors are awesome

Buy one of these things next time you're in Harbor Freight.

http://www.coolsafetyproducts.com/si...oduct/95142-83

LOL, don't need it since I discovered the wire cutters.

Ok, heading to town tomorrow, will have to get me one of these! Love Harbor Freight!

Speaking of Harbor Freight---------------I finally bought one of the telescoping magnet pickeruppers. It's even strong enough to grab a can of food that's rolled into a inconvenient spot.

All great ideas, now which one should I go with. :-)

I use a razor blade.:D

I have got to get to HF. Told DH we need to go there and check it out...got a suspicious look :-)

Thanks for the ideas....so glad we had a HF close by.

Clipping tool for plastic wrap
 

Those are the BEST things! I usually find them at the dollar store (for $1)or sometimes at the office supply store (for less than $1). They are great for opening any of those daggone plastic cases that everything comes in these days, CD cellophane wrappers, clipping coupons (be sure to put a newspaper under what you don't want cut), opening large envelopes, etc.

I just saw a deal on the internet where you can use your kitchen can opener very easily to open those miserable packages.

I think I spend more time in HF than my husband does! It's great to check out things in there to adapt to a sewing need. I'll have to check out that opening tool next time I'm there.

It sounds good. I may have to go to HF as well. What is the packaging like? However, some of these cutters are packed in the same way as the packaging that you need one of these cutters to open. :)

I am going to move my wire cutters into my sewing room now. DH will never think to look for them there. Even though my tools are pink, he always "borrows" them.

How would that iSlice gadget be as a seam ripper?

That's about the only thing it won't do.

I've had most of my tools longer than I've had my hubby-----------now 31 years.

That's why my wire cutters are now out in plain sight in my sewing box rather than under the sink.

Love the magnetic mechanics bowls that HF has ...Bought 1 large and 3 small ones and they are the best.. Been going through items and found so many pins so needless to say they are being put to good use ! LOL

I slash plastic packaging with a razor knife that has the little break-away blades. Dollar store versions of them are good enough for this purpose and each blade lasts a long time.

The islice is soooooo much safer than a razor knife!

I've got as 4" one and a 6" magnetic bowl. I set the smaller one behind my sewing machine and slide pins toward it as I sew. It's so good that if a pin gets within 2 or 3 inches, it's caught. And those that aren't are easily sucked up by the bottom.

Thank you for the suggestions and great ideas. This board never ceases to surprise me! It truly reinforces the notion that the knowledge in a group of many is greater than a group of one!

And you never know when wire cutters will come in handy for something else, like cutting wires! I know what you mean about cutting plastic and cardboard in those difficult to open packages!!

I asked about the rotary cutter blades in HF and they didn't care them. Maybe they have another name?

I believe they are called rug cutting blades.

I have stolen oops borrowed ahlf of DH's tool box. He'll never miss them He has more gadgets than I do!

Carpet cutter blades! If you are in the store, the carpet cutter they work with is a bright yellow -----------box cutter looking tool. The blades are hanging right beside the cutters.

Doesn't the magnetic bowls keep the pins in a big wad? I like the magnetic pin holders that keep the pins in a straight line. I can dump the pins and hold the holder over them and they all attach in a perfect line, no mass ball of pins. Sure saves a lot of pricks.

If you've got a 50-60 pins in a magnetic bowl, there are plenty of heads up so it's not a problem. If I need to stir more heads up, I just take the scissors and slide it into the middle and pull up more. What I like best is that the magnet eliminated the need to "stick" the pins into a cushion.