X-Acto, probably the best-known brand of hobby and precision knives, has come out with the X-Light, a new knife that features a built-in LED flashlight.
The new X-Acto hobby knife comes with a standard #11 blade, and should work with all the blades that would fit their other standard similarly-sized knives.
Light comes from behind the blade, for shadow-free illumination, and you should be able to get around 3 hours of continuous use with an AAA battery.
The X-Acto X-Light knife also has a soft-grip handle, and looks to come with a reusable plastic safety cap.
Price: ~$12
Buy Now(via Amazon)
First Thoughts
On one hand, this sounds like a great idea. I’m sure there are plenty of people who use precision hobby knives in dimly lit rooms and workspaces. On the other hand, wouldn’t a table lamp, headlamp, floodlight flashlight, or any other lighting instrument be more versatile?
The X-Light is likely a little chunkier than other general use hobby knives. Just something to keep in mind.
This is something I don’t think I would ever buy, but I’m willing to be open-minded.
What do you think – gimmick, or welcome innovation?