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Will
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Child safe cardboard cutting tools

I make a whole lot of projects with cardboard. I love it. It is brilliant and it is readily available to everybody.

I have written a book of cardboard projects and I am now working on another book.

While cardboard is amazing is also does offer some small challenges. One of which is the cutting of it.

Especially for kids.

So I ordered three different child friendly cutting tools designed specifically for cutting cardboard.

Let me show you these tools and offer my thoughts and my reviews.

One thing to note about all three of these cutters is that the end (tip) is rounded off. THere is no sharp point and that's a good safety detail.

Here are the three cutters I bought. They are from left to right:

1. The Makedo Safe saw for ages 5+ (On Amazon here)

2. The Canary Cardboard Cutter (On Amazon here)

3. The two orange handled tools: The ZLemma Kids Cardboard Construction tool kit. This includes a cardboard cutter and a cardboard scoring wheel. (On Amazon here)

 

Let's look at them individually

 

The Madedo Safe Saw - This is definitely the safest of all the tools here. While the red blade is actually made of steel it is only saw tooth in design. There is no sharpness or edges to it.

 

Note the yellow Tang on the right end of the handle. That is a hole punch. You can punch holes in cardboard to either aid in your cutting or to insert a variety of makedo accessories.

They make clever plastic screws that are used to assemble together cardboard projects.

 

 

The Canary Cardboard Cutter

This is a great cardboard cutting tool. I actually own two of them. The blade has micro serrations on it which makes it very easy to saw clean lines in cardboard. While it is way safer than a knife or some kind of a cardboard cutting knife It is probably not really for younger children. The Makedo is terrific for kids 5 and up. This knife is definitely for older kids and adults. These are made by a Japanese company and they are really excellent quality in terms of feel and performance. If you are an adult that works with cardboard projects you can substitute any knife you are using with this cutter. It is better.

 

The Zlemma Kids construction tools.

These tools are similar to the canary cutter. They have the serrated micro blade., They are a little more expensive. That is partially due to the fact that you have to buy the two tool set. You can't just buy the cutter.

They definitely are safer than the canary though because of the handle shape and the finger ring which stops the possibility of a hand slipping off the handle.

The Zlemma cutting tools:

Here are some important safety points that the company highlights about these tools:

*The finger ring design not only ensures safety but also enhances grip and comfort, allowing children to use the cardboard building tools with stability and confidence.

*Every detail is designed with children in mind, including rounded tips, safe serrated edges, and ergonomic handles sized for small hands, ensuring utmost safety during use.

Wills advice for these three cutting tools and which one to choose.

For kids ages 5-10 go with the Makedo cutter.
For kids 11-15 go with either the Canary of the Zlemma.
For kids 15 and up go with the Canary. This is because the lack of a finger ring actually gives you more dexterity and flexibility in making accurate cuts, angles, circles and curves. And the finger hole in the Zlemma is kid sized so an older child might not be able to fit a finger in it! My finger doesn't fit at all.

Here is the Zlemma in my hand showing that it definitely is kid sized. My finger doesn't fit in the hole and my hand is too big for the handle. But, some of this is attributed to the fact that I am Six foot two and have unusually large hands.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Zlemma Scoring Wheel

This is a handy tool that you use to create a line of perforation holes in cardboard. This makes it easy to create folds and bends in cardboard. I do a lot of folding and bending of cardboard so this really helps.