Utility knives can’t provide much of the utility they’re meant for if there’s something wrong. And while the DeWALT utility knife doesn’t have many issues, it’s still not completely free of them.
Some of these issues can be annoying, while some can be straight up dangerous. To deal with them, go over the troubleshooting tips for the most common DeWALT utility knife problems I’ve shared below!
3 Common DeWALT Utility Knife Problems and Their Troubleshooting
- Stuck Roll Out Mechanism
When you extend the DeWALT utility knife, you can roll your thumb on a mechanism that’ll bring the blade out. The more you roll, the further the blade will come out.
Anyone who has experience using these things knows what I’m talking about. Anyway, an issue some users might run into is that particular mechanism not moving when they roll it.
Without it, the blade won’t come out of the knife. Here’s a photo of me using the mechanism on my DeWALT utility knife below. But, it won’t have much “utility” at all when this happens.
Mechanisms like these usually get stuck because of junk inside. Dirt can block smooth operation and prevent the lever from moving up and down freely.
Try using a pin or something to pull out any debris in there. Then, move the lever and clean the other side of it too. That should free up space and let it move, meaning the blade should come out too!
- Blade Storage Latch Not Closing
These knives have built-in blade storage. There’s a rubber covering on top of the storage so that the blades aren’t exposed and dangerous.
But, the rubber can wear out and stop closing all the way. This leaves the blades open, which isn’t safe for handling. The main way to fix this is to replace the rubber I’ve highlighted down there.
Check that part of the latch, and replace it if it’s losing its shape or has damage. Don’t keep any blades inside the storage either until fixing this, since it’s not safe.
- Blade Not Cutting
When was the last time you put a new blade in there? If the current one looks like it’s having trouble cutting through, you probably just need to switch to a different one.
DeWALT utility knife blades are sharp, but small. They don’t keep their edge for long. Depending on the type of work you’re doing with them, and how long you’ve been doing it, they start going dull.
Problems with cutting usually mean it’s time to replace the blade. I put a new blade on mine recently as well, which you can see in the photo up there. Now it’s been working better than ever.
So, do that ASAP and it will start to cut better again. Always use compatible blades to get the best performance, and switch them out often.
I have made a video which shows how you can replace the blade of your DeWALT utility knife. You can watch it down below.
First, remove the old blade by pressing the button at the head and pulling out the blade. Then, get a new blade, press the button again to fully insert the new blade into the utility knife.
- Not Folding All The Way
Folding the knife to store it away is one of its main features. But, sometimes, it just doesn’t work. This is usually because the blade is getting in the way.
Most of the time, it happens because the edge of the blade is still out there. It’s making contact with the end of the DeWALT utility knife, meaning it can’t fold all the way.
It’s a mistake even I would make a few times when I first got this thing. But, it’s something you start to remember and be more careful about after experience with the knife.
Just remember to retract the blade fully, otherwise it’ll damage the surface of the blade. It’s a safety hazard sticking out like that too, so be extra careful.
