When they first came into the market, they were used for spreading putty hence the name putty knives. Their use, however, evolved making it a plethora in construction and any restoration work.
Whether you’re a painter, do-it-yourself enthusiast, or another professional in the construction industry, a putty knife is always in your toolbox, and it’s definitely one of the tools that you pull out of your toolbox frequently.
Putty knives come in variations of blade width and blade flexibility and depending on your profession, there is one that best fits your construction requirements.
Other features such as material and durability also come into consideration when choosing a putty knife.
For these and more reasons that we’re going to explore in this article, we decided to dig deep and came up with a list of high quality and versatile putty knives for you to choose from.
Go through all the featured items, and it’s our best hope that you’ll come across your next toolbox addition in this review.
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11 Putty knife Reviews
#1.Red Devil 4718 3-Piece Putty knife
No products found.The RED Devil company came up with a set of three plastic knives which fulfill different duties to make sure that you have all you need during your project. They are all made of light, flexible, and disposable plastic material. Although they are plastic, they are durable and offer you versatility as a professional.
The first in the set is a 1-1/2″ putty knife. This is used explicitly for puttying small areas. It also accesses small areas such as corners due to its small width. This knife is also perfect for filling small holes with ease and precision which comes in handy when filling up nail holes and small cracks.
The second knife in the set is a 3” spreader which can be used for spackling walls. It can also be used to fill up large cracks with putty. This comes in handy when covering large surfaces as it saves you a lot of time.
A 6” taping knife is the last one in this set. Tapping knives are used specifically for applying wide bands of drywall taping compound otherwise known as “mud” when feathering a drywall joint. The advantage of having this tapping knife is that you get to spread a lot of compound on large surfaces over a short period.
Pros
- Versatile set
- Good quality
- Flexible material
Cons
- Not suitable for scraping as they can warp
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#2.Habco Tools Putty knife
No products found.This comes as a three putty knives and one painter’s tool set. The blades are made of high-quality stainless steel which assures their durability and their ability to withstand harsh construction sites. For your comfort when working, they have PVC handle grips which also minimize slippage.
Each of them has a metal cap at the end of the handle which lets you tap it using a hammer for heavy duty scraping jobs. This comes in handy as it makes it easier to get rid of debris when working.
The three putty knives blades are 2”, 3-1/16″, and 4″ in width which makes a great set of putty knives for different job requirements. Each knife can be used according to the size of the work and the precision required. The 2″ is excellent for precision and filling up small spots while the other two are great for more extensive surfaces. This makes it all easy for you as you will have all the tools you require in one place.
The painter’s tool has a 3″ blade, and on its own, it’s versatile. It can be used as a scrapper, a paint can opener, and a grout edger among other uses making it a valuable addition to your tool arsenal.
Pros
- Versatile set
- High-quality stainless steel blades
- Anti-slip PVC handles
Cons
- Blades get blunt quickly
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#3.Stanley 28-140 Putty knife
No products found.The Stanley 28-140 is a 1-1/4″ wide putty knife which is permanently fastened onto a shatterproof nylon handle. The blade is made of hardened, tempered and polished steel which makes it durable and suitable for a wide range of demanding jobs such as window glazing. The handle is comfortable to hold, and because it’s shutter resistant, you can use a hammer to tap the back when scraping to make your work easier.
The small size of the blade makes it perfect for filling small nail holes and cracks with utmost precision and also makes it easy for you to reach those hard to reach places.
It’s also good to note that the blade is stiff and thick which makes it advantageous for you to coax debris of your wall or any other material being cleaned.
Pros
- Stiff blade makes it versatile
- High-quality steel blade for increased durability
- Full tang blade
- Shatter-resistant handle
Cons
- May rust if not properly maintained
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#4.Titan Tools 1700 Putty knife
No products found.The Titan 1700 toolset is a combination of two putty knives and one scraper knife which gives you a versatile set of knives as a professional or a DIY fan. The blades are made of stainless steel which is resistant to harsh construction conditions hence increasing its durability.
The blades are full tang which increases the strength of the knives giving you a more extensive user application in demanding projects. The knives’ handles are made of TPR grips which make them comfortable to handle when working. At the end of the handle is a metal cap which allows you to hammer it at required force to get tenacious debris off your surface.
The scraper knife features a 1-1/4” wide blade. The edge is angled to get under debris easily which concurrently makes your work easier.
The putty knives are 1-1/4” and 3” wide. The stainless steel blades are flexible which makes it easier to apply putty and other filler materials. The two different sizes create versatility and allow you to choose the best putty knife to use for a particular project. In general, the small width of the blades allows easy access to hard to reach places and makes your work more precise.
Pros
- Versatile set of tools
- Durable
- A flexible putty knife blade
- Full tang blades
Cons
- Expensive
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#5.Warner 90108 ProGrip Putty knife
No products found.The Warner 90108 putty knife is composed of a high-quality carbon steel blade. Carbon steel blades are more durable but require more maintenance since the material is susceptible to rust. The knife’s blade is hollow ground. This means that the blades leading edge and the back are thicker and the center is narrow giving the blade more flexibility and the ability to modulate pressure applied when spreading putty and other materials.
The blade’s width is small which gives the knife the ability to reach those awkward small spaces and allow for precise filling when working with small cracks and nail holes. The blade is also full tang which increases strength and prevents breakage of the blade making it more durable and able to withstand heavier spreading materials.
The handle of this knife is made of soft and ergonomic grip which makes it easy to grip when working. The handle also features a large hole for easier storage.
Pros
- Hollow ground blade
- Durable carbon steel material
- Pro-grip handle
- Versatile application
Cons
- Susceptible to rust
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#6.Red Devil 6090 4 Piece Putty knife
No products found.The Red Devil 6090 four putty knife set is made of high-quality carbon steel blades which make them durable for use by both professionals and DIY lovers. The blades are stiff and runs through the handle which gives these Red Devil knives incredible strength. This means that they are equipped to withstand heavy-duty/regular projects.
They have soft grip handles which hold the blades perfectly in place and are comfortable to work with. The handles have a big hole for easier storage. The end of the handle is a cap which allows tapping using a hammer to enhance removal of debris.
The set contains three putty knives which are 2”, 3”, and 4” in width. The versatility they provide makes it easier to access a range of putty knives for different applications when necessary. For example, the 2” putty knife can access tight spaces and provide more precision when applying wood putty in small cracks/ holes while the 4″ covers more area when working on large surfaces.
It also contains one painter’s tool which is literally a combination of six tools in one. It can be used as a bail puller, a scrapper, a paint can opener, a paint roller cleaner, a grout edger and the end of the handle has a cap to tamp down flaws.
Pros
- Versatility in one set
- Durable material
- Has a metal cap
Cons
- Carbon steel is prone to rust
- Does not flex
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#7.Goldblatt G24308 Putty knife
No products found.When working on large areas, a wider putty knife is preferred considering that we all like covering a lot of work in the lowest time possible. The Goldblatt G24308 is perfect when applying wood putty, spackle or other materials over a large surface. It also covers a larger area when scraping. This wide blade saves you a lot of time.
The G24308 putty knife is composed of a flexible, high-quality carbon steel blade and an ergonomic plastic handle. Carbon steel is durable, but care should be taken because it tends to erode when exposed to moisture. The flexibility of this blade increases its precision and the ease of applying materials.
Having an ergonomic handle makes it fit well in your hands when using it and prevents slippage.
Pros
- Saves time
- Versatile
- Durable and sturdy material
Cons
- Prone to corrosion
- Hard to remove the label on the blade (can compromise wood putty/ spackle if not removed)
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#8.Warner 183 DIY Series Putty knife
No products found.For do-it-yourself fans who are looking for a thin, flexible, durable, and a versatile blade, this is for you. The Warner 183 DIY series blade is constructed from rust-resistant carbon steel which makes it long-lasting and sturdy. The blade is resistant to chemical solvents making it adaptable to different environments.
It’s 3″ wide and slightly flexible. Because of its width and qualities, the blade is multipurpose in that it can be used in spreading wood putty and “mud”/ joint compound and can also be used for scraping and to glaze windows.
It has a high quality plastic handle which is sturdy and has a hole to enable easier storage. The handle is sturdy to give you control when applying putty.
Pros
- Sturdy blade
- Versatile knife
- Durable
- Rust-resistant carbon steel blade
Cons
- Requires more force when spreading putty
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#9.Hyde Tools FBA 06108 Pro Putty knife
No products found.The Hyde Tools FBA 06108 is made for comfort and durability. It features a 1-1/2” wide stainless steel blade. The blade is hollow ground which provides a good deal of flexibility and regulates the pressure applied when spreading wood materials.
The stainless steel blade assures its durability by being rust-resistant and sturdy. Adding to that, the small width makes it able to reach tight spots and transcendent for applying putty to small cracks and nail holes.
Its grip is soft and has extra cushioning to provide comfort even when using it for long periods. At the end of the handle is an alloy based hammerhead which can be used to set nails straight or can be tap during scraping to make the process easier.
Pros
- Hollow ground blade for better flex
- High-quality material
- Ergonomic handle
- Small blade for more precision
Cons
- Flimsy blade
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#10.Red Devil 4105 Putty knife
No products found.The Red Devil 4105 features a polished wood handle and a full tang blade. Full tang blades are always better as they increase the strength and durability of putty knives. The blade is composed of rust-resistant steel which makes it durable and usable in harsh construction sites.
The blade is stiff making it more fit for window glazing and scraping off debris such as paint. It has an angled blade to ensure that it gets under the debris easily to get them off your surface easily.
The beautifully polished handle has a brass-plated steelhead which is used as a hammer to set nails. The head also allows for tapping when scraping, allowing removal of scraps easily.
Due to its stiff nature, the blade works best for scraping than spreading putty.
Pros
- Rust-resistant steel blade
- The small blade fits hard to reach spots
- Sturdy blade
Cons
- Not good for spreading putty
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#11.Tekton 69271 Putty knife
No products found.Tekton 69271 is a wooden handle blade made with versatility and adaptability in mind. It’s composed of a 1-1/4″tempered steel blade which is durable and able to resist corrosion. The blade is flexible to allow for easy spreading of putty/ joint compounds and filling nail holes. The small width of the blades enhance its precision and makes it easy to reach small spaces.
The blade is full tang which increases the strength of the knife, its durability, and versatility because, with a full tang blade, it can handle heavy-duty projects.
Its handle is made of hardwood and can withstand harsh conditions. The handle is double riveted to the blade to make it more sturdy and durable. It’s also ergonomic and comfortable to handle when working.
Pros
- Polished blade for smooth spreading
- High-quality blade
- Rust-resistant material
- Full tang blade for more strength
Cons
- Some have uneven handles
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FAQs
What is a hollow ground blade?
A hollow ground blade is usually made of steel. It is narrow at the center and thicker at the leading edge and the handle. This improves the flexibility of the knife and increases its ability to spread heavy materials.
What is a putty knife used for?
A putty knife was initially intended for applying putty when installing windows. After a while, its’ uses evolved into other purposes such as filling holes and cracks with filler material and scraping surfaces.
What is the difference between stiff and flexible blade?
A flexible blade flexes just as the name suggests while a stiff blade remains sturdy. Also, flexible blades are composed of thin material while stiff blades are made of thick material. Each type of blade is good for a particular purpose, i.e., the flexible blade is suited for spreading wood material while the thick blade is best suited for scraping and window glazing.
Are plastic putty knives good?
Yes, they are. Most plastic putty knives are made of sturdy plastic and are mostly meant for spreading materials unless otherwise stated by the manufacturer. If used for the right purpose, plastic putty knives are durable.
Final Verdict
Putty knives come in different designs, blade sizes, flexibility, and handle types. As seen above, each design of a putty knife is used for a different job, but some designs are quite versatile. Selecting a suitable putty knife should be done in consideration of your intended use. Always choose a versatile putty knife and something that will serve you for as long as possible.
Last update on 2023-09-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
