"Scissors for Paper Modeling" Topic

What sort of scissors do you use for working with paper models?

* a cheap pair of scissors
* an ordinary pair of scissors
* a fancy pair of scissors (titanium, extra-sharp, etc.)
* I don't use scissors
* I don't do paper models

Don't use scissors – use sharp/new blade on hobby knife w/metal ruler/straight edge.

P.

Hobby knife or razor blade.

Depending on the model:

I use a Fiskars MicroTip stubby scissors – very short and sharp, good for getting into tight confine cuts when necessary.

For longer straights and cuts, I use a regular Fiskars 8" scissors.

link

I have not used their shape cutters, but I am wondering about them.

Also use Xacto knife and wire nippers to remove super tight spots.

Fiskars are expensive, but to me, worth every penny.

Scrapbooking scissors. Any high quality scissors will do though.

I mostly just use scissors, because the rest of my modeling is rough hewn, so trying for perfect cuts is a waste of time.

But an Xacto knife is generally considered a superior tool, I believe.

One of these:

One of these:

link

And one of these:

Probably 95% of the work gets done with the short scissors. If I am doing something that is predominantly long straight lines – I will use the big scissors. When I need to cut out from the middle of a sheet – I use the knife. For paper and similar stuff – I like the retractable one (less likely to have an accident when the cat jumps on the table).

Knife + straight edge. Scissors I only use for rounded edges. Looking at the Fiskars website, I think the ones with the bottle opener could prove useful.

Sounds gimicky, and I felt used when I bought them, but X-Acto makes a U-shaped handle that holds two blades. Pinch the handle, they cross and work like scissors.

Works really well for small cut-outs, because both blades are so thin you don't have the paper trying to lie flat against one blade while the other blade pushes against it. It works well on exceptionally small pieces, like decals for 28mm unit insignia.

Oh, and rock beats scissors, but not paper.

I use a pair of "arthritis" scissors. A few years back I did some damage to my right thumb when cleaning a plastic grinder at work. Since then a regular scissors starts to hurt my thumb after just a few minutes use.
For those small hard to get cuts I will use a pair of fine point scissors, but only when I really must.

If you use scissors use really sharp ones. You don't want to have even slightly bend edges. Best is to use a x-acto knife and a cutting matt.

No scissors, only a very sharp blade and steel ruler to guide it.

Fiskars in three sizes--good and not that expensive at WalMart.

Olfa SVR2 knife--MUCH better than my old Xacto, takes less pressure (important for those of us older types). I find I have more control over the blade.

BTW, I design for scissors primarily, even though I know that's heresy in some quarters.

NOpe.
No Scissors. Just exacto blades.

I've yet to work with paper models, but if I did, I would definitely want the best (and affordable) cutting instruments available.

From what I've been seeing, paper modelling is evolving into an attractive art.

Honeybee scissors for me.

Dale

cutter-bee titanium scissors (craft store, scrapbooking section). also, curved blade fiskars for round parts (craft store, sewing section).