Can I use X-acto or similar hobby blades?
Quick answer: NO. Longer answer: Hobby blades are no sharper than surgical blades (in generally they are far duller). They are wider though, with multiple microscopic serrations giving the illusion of feeling sharper, but actually causing them to slightly rip the tissue they’re cutting through rather than making a clean slice. In addition, many hobby blades contain a thin coating of oil which can irritate the wound (and not in a good way). That said, even though hobby blades are not acceptable for scarification, some artists prefer their handles to those of surgical blades. Surgical blades may be mounted in the handles of hobby blades, but this is entirely up to the personal style of the artist. How deep should the cutting be? It depends greatly on the desired effect, but, to generalise, cutting is about as deep as a tattoo (into the “permanent skin” but not through it), or about 1/16″. Cutting deeper increases the amount of scarring, but also increases the chances of serious complicat
