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Every now and then, the walls and ceilings in your home reveal some noticeable damage. Cracks. Craters. Dents. This damage is unsightly at best, and needs to be fixed to maintain the aesthetic value of your home. But how do you fix these small, damaged spots. With putty, of course. And how do you spread that putty? With a putty knife.
Putty knives serve many purposes, but their main purpose is to spread elastic putty so that it can fill cracks and craters contained in walls. There are tons of superb putty knives on the market today, but which one is the best? This guide will tell you that, and much, much more.
Compare the Top Ten Best Putty Knives of 2018
| Picture | Name | Brand | Grip Material | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Wedo Tools Knife | Wedo | Plastic | $$$$ |
 | Tarechan Extra Heavy Polishing Steel Forged Putty Knife | Tarechan | Rubber | $$$ |
 | Durston Putty Knife Set | Durston | Rubber | $$$ |
 | Dynamic FA005006 Professional Rubber Grip Putty Knife | Dynamic | Rubber | $$ |
 | Kraft Tool Flexible Putty Knife | Kraft Tool | Wood | $$ |
 | Performance Tool W3013 Putty Knife | Performance Tool | Wood | $$ |
 | Wilmar 1108 Putty Knife | Wilmar | Plastic | $ |
 | Dynamic FA005003 Professional Rubber Grip Putty Knife | Dynamic | Rubber | $ |
 | Pit Bull Plastic Putty Knife | Pit Bull | Plastic | $ |
 | Silverline - Skew Putty Knife | Silverline | Rubber | $ |
| Picture | Name | Brand | Grip Material | Price |
Things to Consider When Choosing a Putty Knife
Contents
While putty knives may seem like simple objects on the surface, there are a actually a number of different things you must consider about them before making a final purchase. A knife’s functionality and usefulness can be easily affected by just one small aspect. When trying to choose putty knives, consider their construction, grip, durability, and width.
Construction
Some putty knives possess clearly poor construction quality while others are obviously built with more care. Something to look for when considering a knife’s construction is that it possesses a stainless steel blade with a rather thin measurement. To scrape under necessary debris, you’re typically going to want the front of your knife to have a slight curve up, almost like a ramp.
Grip
Putty knives come equipped with grips of all different kinds. The most common types of grips include plastic, wood, and rubber. In the vast majority of cases, rubber grips are the most comfortable and easy to handle. However, this doesn’t mean that a plastic or wood grip won’t be suitable for you. In the end, it comes down to your personal preference.
Durability
As with any product you buy, you need to consider the overall durability of your desired putty knife. Most stainless steel putty knives are designed to withstand years and years of use. They are typically rust-resistant and tough enough to handle hard falls to the ground. It’s also important to make sure that the handle is snugly attached.
Width
While it’s ideal to have an arsenal of putty knives, you might be in a position where you only need a single putty knife. If this is the case for you, you would be best suited be a thin putty knife. Thin putty knives are useful because they can work their way into craters and crevices of all sizes. Anything below 1 ¼ inches wide should get the job done.
Winners: See The Top 10 Best Putty Knives
1. Wedo Tools Knife
The first putty knife we’ll review is the Wedo Tools Knife. To put it simply, this is our winner for best putty knife on the market today. Though it’s on the expensive side, it possesses the construction quality and durability to make it worth its cost.
It’s equipped with a tough plastic handle that is secured snugly to the body of the knife. This ensures use over a long period of time. The knife section itself is made out of a beryllium copper alloy. This alloy is corrosion-resistant, making it entirely suitable for moist conditions.
It should also be noted that this knife is non-magnetic. This allows it to be used on equipment with delicate magnetic components. All in all, it’s one of the best putty knives around. If you’re looking for something uber reliable, this is it. It measures in at around 1.96 inches wide.
Key Features
- 1.96-inch width is suitable for most puttying purposes
- Heavy-duty plastic handle is snugly attached to its body
- Non-magnetic alloy ensures that it can be used around sensitive magnets
- Non-corrosive body allows it to be used around moisture
2. Tarechan Extra Heavy Polishing Steel Forged Putty Knife
Next up on our list is the Tarechan Steel Forged Putty Knife. Measuring in at 3 inches in width, it’s not equipped to accommodate small purposes, but will suffice just fine for standard puttying functions. It’s available for a mid-level price.
This knife possesses a rubber grip that’s attached very securely to the rest of the knife’s body. The body itself is made out of stainless steel which is equipped to handle tons of wear and tear. It’s completely resistant to rust, making it the perfect tool for working in wet areas.
It measures in at 3 inches in length, making it very easy to store away inside of bags, or even pockets. All in all, this is a great putty knife for standard puttying purposes. There’s no legitimate reason not to give it a shot.
Key Features
- Measures in at 3 inches long, making it very easy to store
- Stainless steel body is equal parts lightweight and durable
- Rubber grip is exceedingly easy to handle
- Rust-resistant construction makes it suitable for dealing with moisture
3. Durston Putty Knife Set
New up, we have a set of putty knives. This set is available for a mid-level price, and offers quite a bit in the ways of construction and durability. The great thing is that all three knives possess a different width, allowing them to be used for all different purposes.
One knife can be used to fill small cracks. Another one can be used for medium-sized puttying projects. The large one is to be used for purposes in which a lot of area needs to be covered. All three of the knives possess a stainless steel construction which is designed to withstand tons of abuse.
The grips on these knives are made out of rubber, giving them terrific handle at all times. Because the body’s of these knives are heat treated, they’re resistant to all forms of moisture, making them rust-resistant. All in all, this is the best set of putty knives on the market today.
Key Features
- Stainless steel bodies are as durable as they come
- Rubber grips offer terrific handle
- Heat-treated construction prevents rust
- Three knives accommodate all types of puttying purposes
4. Dynamic FA005006 Professional Rubber Grip Putty Knife
The next putty knife we’ll review is the Dynamic FA005006. This knife is available for a mid-level price and measures in at about 6 inches wide. Because of this, it’s best for large putty spreading purposes.
It’s equipped with an ergonomic rubber grip, allowing you to hold and control it to the best of your abilities at all times. Made out of stainless steel, it’s exceedingly durable, and capable of lasting for years and years of use.
This knife is unique in that it possesses a hammering end which allows for the driving of nails. So, essentially, it can kill two birds with one stone. All in all, this is a very solid putty knife for large puttying projects.
Key Features
- Made out of tough and durable stainless steel
- Equipped with an ergonomic rubber grip for ultimate handle and control
- Measures in at 6 inches wide, accommodating large puttying tasks
- Sports a hammer side for the driving of nails
5. Kraft Tool Flexible Putty Knife
Another fine mid-level putty knife is the Kraft Tool Flexible Putty Knife. This knife is available for a mid-level price and offers quite a bit in the ways of size and overall construction. It measures in at 6 inches wide.
The handle on this putty knife is made out of rosewood, giving it a stylish appearance and plenty of grip. Its blade is made out of semi-flexible polished steel which can both spread and dig under putty. It works best as widescale spreader, accommodating large puttying tasks with ease.
Like the putty knife reviewed above, it’s equipped with a hammer end so that it can drive in nails. Equipped with a small hole, it can be hung on nails or by strings for easy storage. Overall, this is a very solid mid-level putty knife. It does a terrific whether in wet or dry conditions.
Key Features
- Measures in at 6 inches in width
- Semi-flexible blade is made out of durable and polished steel
- Equipped with a hammer end, allowing it to drive in nails
- Rosewood handle is both ergonomic and aesthetically pleasing
6. Performance Tool W3013 Putty Knife
A solid budget putty knife set is the Performance Tool W3013 Putty Knife set. This putty knife set is available for a general pittance, but still offers plenty in the ways of durability and overall performance.
These knives are equipped with wooden handles which are rounded at the ends to allow for a comfortable and relaxing grip. One of these knifes measures in at 1 ½ inches wide while the other measures in at 3 inches wide. These two knives together will be able to accommodate the vast majority of jobs.
They’re made out of durable stainless steel which offers some flex and which is able to work its way under laid putty. All in all, this knife set from Performance Tool is a great little set to have on hand for whenever you may have to work with putty.
Key Features
- Comes with knives of 1 ½ inches wide and 3 inches wide
- Knives have natural wooden handles
- Sport stainless steel construction, providing superb durability
- Available for a fairly reasonable price
7. Wilmar 1108 Putty Knife
If you’re looking for a mid-size budget putty knife at a reasonable price, you might consider this one from Wilmar. This knife measures in at 3 inches wide and is available for about as low or a price as you’re going to find.
The handle on this knife is made out of a composite plastic material which is equipped with ridges for maximum grip. This handle is attached rather firmly to the body of the knife which is made out of durable stainless steel.
Because it’s a mid-sized putty knife, it can be used to do a little of everything. If you’re going to buy only one putty knife, and you’re looking to spend as little money as possible, this would be the best putty knife for you.
Key Features
- Measures in at 3 inches in width
- Equipped with an ergonomic plastic composite handle
- Possesses a stainless steel blade for max durability
- Available for a very reasonable price
8. Dynamic FA005003 Professional Rubber Grip Putty Knife
Up next on our list of putty knives is the Dynamic FA005003. This is a solid, but slightly expensive knife which will get the job done, but not much better than knives which are available for half its price.
It’s equipped with a rubber grip which is equal parts durable and ergonomic. This provides it with terrific handle and control overall. The blade on this knife is made out of semi-flexible stainless steel which is equipped to take on quite a bit of wear and tear.
Width-wise, it measures in at 3 inches. This makes it appropriate for just about any puttying task you’ll encounter. It’s also equipped with a hammer end, allowing it to drive nails. All in all, this putty knife from Dynamic is a solid product, if not a little expensive.
Key Features
- Possesses an attractive and ergonomic rubber handle
- Made out of tough and durable stainless steel
- Measures in at 3 inches in width
- A little on the expensive side
9. Pit Bull Plastic Putty Knife
Next, let’s discuss this set of putty knives; the Pit Bul Plastic Putty Knife set. These knives are made out of a durable plastic which isn’t quite as strong as metal, but is good enough to get the job done over a short period of time.
There are 4 knives included in this set, all of which are designed without dedicated handles. While they have handle areas, they don’t possess any types of grips for increased control. They measure in at 1 inch, 1 ½ inches, 3 inches, and 5 inches wide.
Each of these knives is equipped with a hole at its end. These holes allow the knives to be strung up for easy and convenient storage regardless of where you are. While these aren’t the most durable knives available, they’ll get the job done in a pinch.
Key Features
- Comes with 4 different sized knives
- Knives are a durable and flexible plastic
- Equipped with holes for easy hanging and storage
- Available for a very reasonable price
10. Silverline – Skew Putty Knife
The last putty knife we’ll review is this one from Silverline. Available for a very low price, it’s fairly narrow. It’s best for filling small cracks.
This putty knife sports a rubber grip which allows for maximum handle and control. You’ll have no trouble holding it steady while you perform delicate tasks. With a 1.5-inch wide blade, it’s small, lightweight, and easy to store away.
The blade on this knife is stainless steel, providing it with terrific durability overall. With a pointy end, it really does a great job of scraping up under applied putty. All in all, this is a solid budget putty knife for small projects.
Key Features
- Measures in at 1.5 inches in width
- Equipped with a tough and durable stainless steel blade
- Rubber grip is both aesthetically pleasing and ergonomic
- Available for a very low price