Hi guys, I was wondering if anyone has ever tried using a surgical scalpel for mask eye cuts? I usually use cuticle scissors, but finding the right pair and keeping them sharp can be a pain. Craft blades don’t make smooth enough cuts, so I was contemplating trying a surgical scalpel, but wanted some opinions. Thank you.
I don’t see why not. Stick a piece of wood inside and have at it, just be careful not to sneeze and slash the face open 
. Actually, I think I’ll try it out the next time I do cuts. It would be nice to get them perfect without using a Dremel because the Dremeling process is the most nerve wracking aspect for me and I absolutely dread doing it.
I’ll give it a go and report back. I’ll grab a set with different types of blades, but the rounder edge seems better.
do you consider an exato blade a craft blade?..i’m thinking may they might work…anyway-report back!
i was using the curved cuticle shears for years, but switched to straight shears and find i get a smoother cut.
nick m
Exacto knife is exactly what i was thinking of with craft blades. They don’t produce smooth cuts for me, they are too similar to normal razor blades.
Have you tried the craft knife yet? I’m guessing it will drag the latex and give an uneven cut.
I already have an exacto plus a modular craft knife set where I can switch blades out, the cuts are too jagged, I want something buttery smooth, I’m looking for the right scalpel right now. I’m thinking one with a curved edge will be the best bet.
I recently got a real H2 scalpel with #12 blades and it seems like it would work well, I don’t have any blanks to test it on at the moment though.
To be honest with ya my friend, I don’t think there is any tool to make edge free cut other than a computer plotted cutter That’s what makes it so challenging 
I mean if you draw a line and start cutting, sooner or later your going to get to end of the eye. At that point you have to turn the mask while your cutting it, this usually produces a new cut or edge, that and it’s pretty difficult to make the top or bottom lid in one cut.
To me its a ever challenging process, and it takes more patience than I thought I possess I can tell you one thing tho…I’m not scared of a blank anymore 
a lot of people are under the impression if you cut the eyes too big, they cant be fixed…wrong!
you can re-build the rims with latex and dremel smooth.
nick m
That’s right Nick 
I use A & D ointment over clear packing tape from the inside of the eyes
Sure they can be fixed, but that’s just work I’d rather not do 
I’ve been doing that for a while, but with how latex dries it can be a pain sometimes, but I also bought HMK eye molds from Bryan of MCS so what I do now if there’s more than a little problem that a little re-building won’t properly fix, is sandpaper or dremel the inside of the eyecuts a little so they are more porous, put some rubber cement (there’s probably a better way) around the eyes and place the mask in the eye molds (and press down to secure them in), then pour the latex in the eye holes and viola Kirk eyes that I can re-cut (I just need to remove the excess rubber cement and paint the Kirk eyes and re-apply the final layer of paint where I removed the rubber cement).
I did order a #4 scalpel handle and four different sets of blades, so I’ll practice on some eye mold pours and post the results.
Just received my handle and first set of blades in the mail today and upon first test they cut beautifully. The cut is smooth and it cuts so easily through latex. I think this was a very good idea.
That’s good to hear! How thick was the pull you cut?
H to the E to the LL NO lol but hey never know.I toss scissors every 4-5 masks.Scalpel is a sharp sob though.
I used a test pull I made of an HMK eye mold a ways back, it was a medium pull. I had already cut out the eyes from that one so I was just tracing shapes in the latex and it was very easy. I also offered my brother free surgery, but he politely declined. I’m putting Kirk eyes via the eye molds in a couple of masks right now (original run no stamp NMM 78, Rarer, and '05 Psycho), so I’ll test it out on those. If I screw up in any way I can just re-mold the eyes onto the masks. I’ll post the results from the first cut when I get a chance. I think these blades are #22’s, I ordered four different sets of 10-15 blades (forget which). The handle is modular so I can switch blades out if they get worn down.
Free surgery?!? Sign me up!