Plastic blades are up to .060 inches thick. Steel blades have a much longer life than plastic blades. Sharpening can be done in-house or by the blade manufacturer. Blade edges are important because the blade must have a perfectly straight and smooth edge to rest against the printing cylinder. Any blade imperfections will cause streaks and scratches on the cylinder face.
Edges can be of several types, however the most common is a pre-sharpened beveled edge.
This blade is usually supplied by the manufacturer. The beveled edge blade is the most common due to its long life and minimal cylinder wear. The doctor blade must be held in perfect contact with the cylinder to achieve a clean, even wipe. The doctor blade holder is designed for this purpose. Doctor blade holders will vary with press type.