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"Recommendation for cutting tool?" Topic


14 Posts

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876 hits since 10 Jul 2012
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Comments or corrections?

elsyrsyn10 Jul 2012 7:03 a.m. PST

Razor saw, maybe?

Doug

MajorB10 Jul 2012 7:05 a.m. PST

Stanley knife. Score and snap.

Personally, though, I wouldn't use them for scratchbuilding. There are far easier materials around.

rigmarole10 Jul 2012 7:13 a.m. PST

As above – score and snap. You can use the back of the blade instead also.

Cheers, Richard

Rrobbyrobot10 Jul 2012 7:34 a.m. PST

I use a snap blade knife. Cheaper than Xacto. Takes a few passes, but it'll work. There are easier materials around, but I'm cheap.

Mako1110 Jul 2012 8:09 a.m. PST

A Dremel with the rotary cutting tool should make short work of them.

Make sure to wear eye protection, since occasionally the cutting blades shatter. Buy the heavy duty cutoff blades, since they are a lot more robust, so worth the extra money, and work slowly, letting the blade do the cutting.

Chocolate Fezian10 Jul 2012 9:32 a.m. PST

"Dremel with the rotary cutting tool" will melt the plastic and clog the cutting tool.
Razor saw or Stanley

GildasFacit Sponsoring Member of TMP10 Jul 2012 10:16 a.m. PST

Not a good material to use a knife on – has a tendency to shatter when stressed. A hand saw is better.

To be honest it is a pretty lousy modelling material, far better to toss it and save yourself time and trouble by using Plasticard.

Personally I rate my time as higher in value than a few sheets of better stuff.

14Bore Supporting Member of TMP10 Jul 2012 1:19 p.m. PST

Use straight edge and score a couple of times, both sides if need be. Low speed cutting tool, Dremel or fine tooth hand saw. To me free is a good thing, I always say my time doesn't cost me anything. I carved some 15mm cannon carrages from balsa and thought it was fun.

Cerdic10 Jul 2012 3:46 p.m. PST

Break out the Stan…..

Jovian110 Jul 2012 3:50 p.m. PST

Unless you are making windows where transparency and some strength are needed, I'd toss them. They are a PITA to work with and they easily split, crack or break in places opposite of the direction you want them to or would like them to break.

If you are going to use a cutting tool, a Scroll Saw with a very thin kerf blade is probably best – like this: link

Knockman11 Jul 2012 4:50 a.m. PST

Taking it just a tad further, I recycled some broken bits of one CD case to use the broken shards as 28mm urban wall/plate damage/broken sheet glass. Smash one up and see what you end up with – but like Mako11 says, wear eye protection!

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