These blades can be used for scooping, spreading, mixing, and lifting, whether you’re working with paint, printmaking ink, putty, or even ABS plastic for 3D printing. Knives come in all shapes ...

However, if you're confident in your painting skills, try breaking out your putty ... underneath the knife, or for the metal tool to drag and mark your walls. However, using a plastic instrument ...

Bending it after putty or filler has dried is often enough to crack off and remove hardened goo, prolonging the tool's use. Roy Berendsohn has worked for more than 25 years at Popular Mechanics ...