Both instruments are great, high performing sickle scalers that can be used in all sextants. The design and function of both instruments are essentially the same. So what is the difference? The key differences for me come down to price and the need to sharpen.
Price
Montana Jack = $30
BlackJack = $50
Sharpening
Montana Jack = Must be sharpened at least 1 x week (that’s my experience)
BlackJack = Never needs to be sharpened
American Eagle claims that the XP technology eliminates the need to ever sharpen an instrument again. Is that true? In my experience, that has pretty much been the case. My BlackJack instruments remained very sharp for 3-4 months and even at 8, 9, 10 months they were still relatively sharp. I’m still using BlackJacks that are just about a year old and they are still very functional. If you prefer having instruments super sharp at every appointment and don’t mind sharpening often (this will increase the cost of sharpening), then the Montana Jack is a better choice for you. But if you’re like most hygienists (I include myself here), then sharpening is something we fail to do often enough and too many times end up working with relatively dull instruments.
We must also keep in mind that sharpening is not free. Your employer is paying you to sharpen, unless you are sharpening off the clock of course : ). Here’s a quick calculation with the following assumptions to make the point. Let’s say the hygienist is spending 10 minutes per week sharpening instruments and is paid $35 per hour.
Unadjusted Cost Comparison (per year)
PDT: 3 instruments per set x 5 sets x $30 per unit = $450
American Eagle: 3 instruments per set x 5 sets x $50 = $750
Cost difference: PDT is $300 cheaper
Adjusted Cost Comparison (per year)
PDT: 3 instruments per set x 5 sets x $30 per unit + annual sharpening cost of $303 = $753
American Eagle: 3 instruments per set x 5 sets x $50 = $750
Cost difference: PDT is now $3 more expensive
As you can see by the calculations above, when you add in the actual cost of sharpening to your annual instrument costs the price advantage of the PDT instrument goes away. And because of that, the clear winner, in my view, is the American Eagle Black Jack XP instrument.
Photos
PDT Montana Jack Rigid Shank
(Top) American Eagle Black Jack XP
(Bottom) PDT Montana Jack
(Left) Black Jack. (Right) Montana Jack
American Eagle Black Jack XP
Video
Mark Frias, RDH
Quick email from my mobile…I know you have good contact with Lewis – watched interview.
In this case (thanks for this), you perhaps need to mention that we have all scales/curettes in BOTH XP and TT (Talon Tough). If they want ‘super-sharp’ all the time – with sharpening, they can order AESBJX – Blackjack in TT. Might even be cheaper than Montsna Jack!
Btw, best sharpening technique is use of very fine ‘stropping’ stone after every use. Then it is done ‘automatically’, which is easier to remember.
Stephen
Good points. I tend to focus on the XP instruments because to me they are a game changer.