I use both scalpel and "X-acto™" hobby knives, the hobby knives for heavier and less precise work, the scalpels when precision is needed. A fresh scalpel blade is exceedingly sharp, you can cut yourself quite deeply in less than an eye blink, and may not even feel it right away.
I invested in medical grade scalpels because the cheap ones are often not well made, and putting a blade in one can imperil your fingers, not to mention possibly coming out during use. The problem with the medical grade ones is that they are usually highly polished—which is just fine if you are a surgeon wearing nitrile gloves. Skin is much more slippery.
For scalpel handles, I recommend getting some sort of anti-slip material and applying it to the handle. I use
this, and it works very well. It can also be used on the standard hobby blade handle, but is less effective because of the small diameter curve.
So what I use on those is a short section of rubber or soft plastic tubing that is a tight slip fit on the handle as shown in the picture.
Note the blue thing on the tail end of the hobby knife. This is a section of a triangular pencil/pen grip. This could be used on the hobby knife, but I find that makes the grip clumsy, so I just put it on the back end to keep the knife from rolling. I bought these many years ago in a stationary supply store. They are probably available on Amazonk (isn't everything?)
