If you’re starting a project that requires you to cut drywall to specific dimensions, there are problems like not producing straight lines or cutting it too short that make it challenging to use joint compound to fill the gaps.
You also don’t want a time-intensive task that’s going to leave you with a finish that you might not be happy with. So you can start by getting the best utility knife for the job.
In this article, we’ll run down some of the best utility knives that can leave you with a clean, dry wall panel that you can then easily put into place. Read on to find out more to improve your drywall project with the best drywall knife.
The 6 Best Cutting Knives For Cutting Drywall
IRWIN Protouch Drywall Saw
The Irwin utility knife is a rigid jab saw that is a popular tool for cutting as the thick body of the blade allows for better control and offers a fast and smooth cut.
You also have a rubberized handle that makes for better handling and trigger grip as you’re going to be using it for a while if you’re covering a bigger area.
For a beginner to cutting drywall, you might find the punching and cutting to be a daunting task, so practicing on a small piece first might help you here.
Goldblatt Drywall Saw
This saw has a keyhole design that makes it easy to insert into the drywall and make cuts that are pretty rough, as it’s always a good idea to cut your pieces about a ¼ of the precise size of the panel you want to fit.
The 6” extra thick carbon steel blade is treated with black Teflon to make your back and forth strokes easier, so it doesn’t get stuck in the cut you make.
You can also use this knife for cutting wallboard, drywall panel, cement board, plywood, PVC, and thin paneling in case you have other jobs that require your attention.
Goldblatt Folding Drywall Saw
This is a slightly smaller saw than the other tools as it has a 5” blade that has triple ground teeth, allowing for a faster and easier cutting process.
It also has deep gullets between the saws blades to prevent material from getting caught, which can be a concern for many people.
This saw benefits from being able to produce more accurate cuts and folds like a switchblade to ensure safety and can be stored easier afterward.
Fiskars Pro Drywall Utility Knife
This knife has a few options that can resemble the snap-off function that you can find in Stanley knives, but for your convenience, you might want to stick with the drywallers utility knife.
This knife also has a standard blade if you happen to be cutting thinner material that might break with the use of the jab saw.
What we particularly like about this knife is the reinforced metal end that can knock out drywall pieces and finish sinking screws and nails, so you don’t have to swap your hand out for anything else.
Sheffield Lock Back Utility Knife
Here is a carbon steel work knife that has a lock-back release that keeps the fixed blade secure whether it’s open or closed, so you’ve also got an excellent textured grip on the handle, which can improve your grip and make those precise cuts easier.
This folding utility knife features extra blade storage and a retractable blade for added convenience.
We recommend that you use these types of knives after you’ve made a rough outline cut of the drywall, as these knives might not be able to cut through completely.
But with some pressure, you might not experience any difficulties, so we can’t completely leave it out because its versatility makes it one of the best knives out there.
DEWALT Drywall Cutting Tool
We know this power tool doesn’t fall under the scope of a cutting knife, but perhaps you want something that can give you faster cuts with a 26,000 RPM motor that can be used with different tool bits.
Not only do these change easily, but they can cut pretty much anything you throw at it.
There might be a learning curve to these spiral saw power tools, as some might find they become difficult to keep straight after prolonged use, and depending on what battery you use can affect the weight of it significantly.
Still, this oscillating multi-tool is handy for other uses aside from scoring drywall.
Drywall Cutting Tips
Consider The Drywall Type You’re Using
This one might sound simple, but we could go on about various types of drywall that aren’t limited to moisture-resistant, fire-rated, plasterboard, abuse-resistant, flexible, lightweight, foil-backed, and VOC absorbent drywall.
You’ll find that fire-rated drywall has a thickness of about ⅝ inch, which makes it great for soundproofing, but you’re going to have a hard time cutting through it with a standard Stanley knife, for example.
Types like regular and lightweight drywall can come in ½-inch thickness, so you’ll be able to use precise cutting knives.
Optimize Your Cutting To Make It More Effective
Drywall is often cut by scoring through the paper on the finish side, and if you were to use a hand or electric saw, you would find that a lot of drywall dust would be produced.
When using your razor knife, if you notice a fainter cut, this means the dull blades need to be replaced.
For an effective cut, you want to cut the brown paper on the back of the board at the break to complete the cut, and from here, a pass or two with a drywall rasp cleans it up nicely.
If you’re making more significant cuts for things like ventilation outlets or doors, you’ll want to use a drywall saw, as you’re going to need to make two vertical cuts with a saw.
With this, you can connect the ends of those cuts with a regular knife cut, which will allow you to snap out the piece.
A good way to do this is to hang the drywall before you cut out the door, as you can use the studs on the side of the opening to guide the saw cuts and the header on the bottom to guide the cut.
Conclusion
If you want to make your job easier, why not measure and purchase drywall panels that can reduce your cutting time?
We know that this isn’t possible in scenarios where you might have to put up drywall behind awkward piping, heat or gas boilers, or awkward angles made by the layout of the room.
If you are buying full sheets, you want to make sure that you use full sheets when possible to avoid any exposed gaps that you’ve had to fill, so it saves you time, and you get a clean surface that makes it easier to cover with whatever method you decide to go with.
All of the knives above are likely to give you an accurate finish and easy experience. With most of these, all you need to do is snap the back of the drywall along the line you have made with the knife, and you can get a nice and easy break. Thank you for reading.