A primary school teacher in New Zealand has uncovered a surprising crafting tool that she describes as a “game-changer,” prompting a rush among shoppers eager to purchase it.

Jordan Shallcrass, aged 31, has been highly enthusiastic about Ryobi’s USB Lithium Power Cutter, which retails for $89 at Bunnings.

She demonstrated the tool’s capabilities in a TikTok video, where she effortlessly sliced through thick cardboard, forming neat squares for an upcoming art lesson. The video, lasting 52 seconds, showcased the cutter in action.

With over a decade of teaching experience, Jordan praised the cutting tool, calling it “worth its weight in gold.”

Jordan recommends this versatile tool not only for those who enjoy crafting but also for anyone who frequently needs to cut different materials or deal with large amounts of cardboard.

In her demonstration, she showed how the Ryobi device operates: simply insert and twist the lithium battery into the end of the tool, and it’s ready for use.

The Christchurch-based teacher also made mention of the rechargeable battery being ‘really easy to recharge’, thanks to its USB C port.

New Zealand primary school teacher Jordan Shallcrass revealed her ultimate art class hack in the Ryobi USB Lithium Power Cutter, available for $89 at Bunnings. The teacher showcased the tool in action in a viral video shared to her @miss_shallcrass account

The Ryobi USB Lithium Power Cutter, which is available at Bunnings, is a handheld device that  has is able to quickly and accurately cut through tricky materials like plastic, carpet, rubber, paper and cardboard

As she effortlessly pushed the power cutter along pieces of thick cardboard, Jordan also addressed any safety concerns about the tool being accidentally picked up by her young students.

‘It has double triggers, so you don’t have to worry about it getting into kids’ hands and them easily being able to use it,’ she explained.

Jordan spoke further to Daily Mail about the craft tool, explaining that preparing cumbersome materials like cardboard for art classes was a time consuming process, which is difficult when teachers already have ‘limited free time for lesson planning’.

But once she’d discovered the power cutter, Jordan knew it would be a gamechanger for school.

‘I’ve even used it to create organisation systems with old boxes for my classroom,’ she said.

‘I also regularly use the power cutter at home to break down cardboard boxes,’ she added. 

‘It can also cut fabric, which was another reason I was interested in getting it.’

The Kiwi woman, who shared the now viral video on her @miss_shallcrass account, was quickly inundated with hundreds of impressed comments – many noting other potential uses for the nifty tool.

NZ teacher Jordan described the power tool as an unlikely game changer in her classroom (left) and had even used it to make things like these dividers (right), created by cutting up old cardboard boxes

Bunnings shoppers who like to undertake creative projects were quick to note the abundance of potential of uses for the power cutting tool and were excited that it could be used on a number of different materials

‘As a kinder teacher, YES PLEASE!’ read one response. 

‘It would be great for kids school assignments or making costumes,’ a dad replied.

‘I have one and it is a life saver!’ chimed in another person. ‘[M]akes cutting up boxes so easy! I live in an apartment building with a small recycling chute and now can cut all my boxes down to fit easily.’

‘I have never coveted a power tool before now,’ one excited responder wrote.

‘I want it, just to cut things for fun…running to Bunnings,’ another person added.

The online product description notes that the hand-held Ryobi USB Lithium Power Cutter tool is 202mm in width, 60mm in height and 100mm depth.

The power cutter is designed to be used on ‘plastic, carpet, rubber, paper and cardboard’ and described as a ‘great alternative to using scissors or a box cutter’.

It also has an ‘integrated guideline’, which helps users to ‘make accurate and clean cuts’.

As Jordan noted, the device has a number of in-built safety measures, including a blade guard and a lock-off safety switch.

Jordan told Daily Mail that this wasn’t the only Ryobi tool that was helpful and convenient for classroom art projects.

The teacher also swore by the Ryobi USB Lithium Soldering Pen, $99 and the Ryobi USB Lithium Soldering Glue Pen, $79, which are also both stocked at Bunnings.

Jordan noted that all three tools operate on ‘the same batteries’.  

‘I have the three port charger and just grab a battery when needed,’ she added.