A scalpel is a thin, small, very sharp
knife. Scalpels are famously used in surgery, but there are also versions for
crafts. Medical supply companies sell surgical scalpels, although some restrict their
sale to physicians only, while craft scalpels can be obtained in any good craft
store. This icon of the surgical trade is a tremendously useful tool inside and
outside the operating room, and a basic craft scalpel can be a very handy thing to
keep around the house for various projects.
There
are two parts to the scalpel: a handle and a blade. The handle is reusable, and in the
case of a surgical scalpel, designed to undergo sterilization. The blade, which can be
removed, is disposable. With a surgical scalpel, the blade is changed between patients, both to
reduce the risk of transmitting disease, and to ensure that the blade is as sharp
as possible for each new patient. With craft scalpels, the blade is replaced
when it starts to dull and become less effective.
