ToughBuilt Reload Utility Knife and Scraper Utility Knife review

REVIEW – If you are under the impression that all utility knives are created equal, you would be wrong and I’m going to prove it to you today when I show you the ToughBuilt Reload Utility Knife and the ToughBuilt Scraper Utility knife. DIYers take note!

The ToughBuilt Reload Utility Knife and the ToughBuilt Scraper Utility knife are utility knives with superpowers. Let's check out each of one starting with the ToughBuilt Reload Utility Knife.

Of the two ToughBuilt utility knives that I’m talking about today, the ToughBuilt Reload Utility Knife is the one that will probably make you say "wow". That's because it's the first utility knife to feature quick-load magazine cartridges that make it super easy to swap blades very quickly.

The ToughBuilt Reload Utility Knife comes with 2 magazines that are pre-loaded with blades. There's a magazine with 5 regular blades and another magazine that has 5 hook blades.

There is even extra storage inside the magazines that can hold 10 more blades.

When you look at the ToughBuilt Reload Utility Knife, it doesn't look any different than other utility knives that you’ve seen and used. The main body of the knife is constructed of metal with a rubber grip on the edges. It also has a slider on the top that extends and retracts the blade. But, when you look closely, you’ll see a mag eject lever on the side.

When that lever is pressed down, the blade magazine pops out of the back of the knife. The spring mechanism is pretty strong so you need to make sure your hand is at the back of the knife to catch the magazine when it pops out (see the video at the end of the review which demonstrates this).

There's another button on the opposite side of the ToughBuilt Reload Utility Knife that you use to release the blade when it becomes dull.

And then you can extend a brand new sharp blade from the magazine and you’re back in business without having to remove screws and fiddle with reassembling the knife. Quick, Easy, and Simple!

Next up is the ToughBuilt Scraper Utility Knife. This knife is a utility knife that can turn into a scraping tool with a flick of the blade.

Like the ToughBuilt Reload Utility Knife, the ToughBuilt Scraper Utility Knife is constructed of metal with rubber grips on the edges. This knife has a slider on the side that extends and retracts the blade.

The slider has a lock button, but note that the blade is ONLY locked while it is in the cut position. When the blade is fully retracted into the handle, it is NOT locked and it can easily extend. See my video below where I show this in more detail. It's kind of scary. This is what ToughBuilt has to say about that:

So you know, in the case of the slider on our Scraper Utility Knife the reason for not having a lockdown mechanism on the thumb rail that would isolate or prevent activation is to make engaging the blade faster and one-handed for professionals in the field who have it in hand, or draw one handed from a belt while working- like professional flooring installers or painters. As a Pro-grade brand we are often making design decisions that are meant to benefit jobsite performance and boost efficiency under rugged conditions.

To use the ToughBuilt Scraper Utility Knife as a regular utility knife, you just move the slider forward to the cut position. In this position, the slider will lock in place until you press the button to unlock it.

Switching the blade from standard use to scraping is fast and easy, making it a really cool multi-function tool. You don't have to actually flip the blade with your fingers. If you extend the blade all the way up, it will automatically flip.

But there is another issue…

… with the blades. Although the ToughBuilt Scraper Utility Knife blades are the same size as standard utility knife blades, they aren't standard. See that extra slot in the center (left)? The blades need this slot in order to fit in the holder. There's also the issue that the blades are not as easy to find as are standard utility knife blades. I do see that you can buy a pack of 30 blades on Amazon for about $12 though… This knife might be better suited for a DIYer instead of an actual contractor who might go through several blades in a day.

I was surprised and impressed with the ToughBuilt utility knives. I think they are built tough (sorry, couldn't resist), affordable, and innovative. The Reload Utility Knife avoids interruptions when you need a new blade and the Scraper Utility Knife gives you 2-in-1 convenience. If I were to choose my favorite of the two knives, it would be the ToughBuilt Reload Utility Knife since I’d rarely ever need a scraper and I like that a new blade is seconds away. The Scraper Utility Knife also feels a little unsafe without a locking slider.

Price: $17.98 (ToughBuilt Reload), $17.98 (ToughBuilt Scraper)Where to buy: Lowes and AmazonSource: The sample for this review was provided by ToughBuilt.