WA Portman Hobby Knife Set, 12pc Precision Craft Knife Set with 100 Blades | Bulk Exacto Knife 100pc SK5 #11 Steel Xacto Knife Blades Review (2026)

Who gets the most from a bulk blade set

This set is aimed at anyone doing regular cutting work on a hobby bench, whether that is trimming plastic sprues, cleaning mold lines on miniatures, cutting stencils or slicing paper and card for scenery and terrain projects. Because 100 blades are included, it suits someone who cuts often enough that a dull blade becomes a real problem, since a fresh #11 blade gives cleaner, safer cuts on hard styrene plastic than a worn one that requires extra pressure and can slip. A hobbyist who only picks up a knife occasionally for light touch ups will not use anywhere near 100 blades, and a smaller set with fewer spares would be more proportionate to that lighter use.

What the 12 piece set actually includes

The kit centers on SK5 carbon steel blades in the standard #11 point shape, a sharp angled tip well suited to precise straight and curved cuts through plastic, paper, fabric and thin wood. Alongside the bulk blade count, the 12 piece set includes handles and related accessories rather than just loose blades, giving a complete starting toolkit instead of requiring a separate knife purchase. SK5 steel is a carbon steel commonly used in hobby and craft blades for its balance of sharpness and edge retention, though like most craft blades it is not stainless and can develop light surface rust if left damp after use.

Using the knives safely and keeping blades fresh

The core habit that makes a blade set like this worthwhile is swapping to a new blade as soon as a cut starts requiring extra pressure or drags rather than slices, since a dull blade is more likely to slip and cause an injury than a sharp one. Blades should be stored in their original packaging or a dedicated case rather than loose in a drawer, both to protect fingers reaching in and to keep the edges from dulling against other tools. Following the manufacturer's instructions for blade changes and always cutting on a self healing mat or scrap surface, away from fingers and with the blade angled away from the body, reduces the most common risks with any hobby knife.

How it stacks up against other hobby knife sets

Against sets like the EGYPAMID 55 piece or DIYSELF kits that mix multiple blade shapes such as #16 and #17 alongside #11, this WA Portman set leans almost entirely on the standard #11 point, so it covers general purpose cutting very well but offers less out of the box for specialty work like gouging or scraping. Compared with smaller kits like the 16 piece MulWark set, the sheer 100 blade count here means far less frequent restocking, which suits a long term hobby table better than a short term project. The main limitation is shape variety rather than blade quality, so a painter who also needs chisel or curved blades will want to add those separately.

Verdict and who should look at a different set

For a hobbyist who wants years of fresh, sharp #11 blades without repeat purchases, this set is a practical, well priced option that lines up with our score of 8.6 out of 10, driven mainly by its value and fit for general modeling and craft work. The bundled handles mean it works as a complete starting kit rather than just a blade refill pack. A modeler who frequently needs specialty blade shapes for detailed carving, scoring or scraping would be better served by a mixed shape set that includes chisel and curved blades alongside the standard point, since this set is built around one blade profile used in bulk.

Frequently asked questions