A kid at the hardware store asked me what a linoleum knife was for

I was grabbing some adhesive in Tacoma last week, and this young guy was looking at tools. He picked up a linoleum knife and asked the clerk what it did. The clerk just shrugged. I stepped in and explained how we used to cut sheet goods with them before click-lock floors took over. It hit me that a basic tool from twenty years ago is now a mystery to some. Do you still keep one in your kit, or is it all utility blades now?

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3 Comments

cameronb526mo ago

It's wild that a hardware store clerk didn't know. Doesn't that mean they've never even had to patch a sheet floor? I keep mine because the hook blade is perfect for cutting carpet backing. But you have to wonder, are we holding onto tools just because they're familiar, or do they still do a job nothing else can?

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wade_perez6mo ago

So what's the last job you actually used that hook blade for?

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verafoster6mo ago

Guess we're all just one generation away from being museum pieces, huh? Still have mine, but it mostly opens boxes now.

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