"Tools for 28mm Head Swaps" Topic

Gents – have searched in vain for previous topics…

I've got a big bunch of head swaps I've got to do on 28mm figs. I have a craft knife, a pair of those clipper type cutters and a pin vise or drill.
But I find the craft knife struggles with the job, the clippers can destroy the head and if you're going to pin the new one in position, a little baby drill like that takes too long.
So what do you guys use? Small saw, or hack saw? Electric drill? Any particular brand of tools you recommend?
EC

I gently rock a craft knife blade to and fro across the neck, trim the body and glue with UHU power!

I did end up in Casualty with a sliced thumb once though…!

I use an X-acto razer saw and pin vise. I also use a Dremel to sand down figure bases (with normal sand paper head) and save the shavings for fill.

If your hand is really steady you could use the Dremel to drill the body and maybe the head.

Xacto Number 6 heavy duty blade handle (coupled with deburring blade) is ideal for 28mm head swapping. Use a gentle rocking motion when cutting off heads. You can often snap a head off after the cut is about 3/4s of the way through.

After that, sand/debur, drill and pin with brass rod …. The picture is my setup (less the gorilla cyano glue). The cutter is only for cutting the brass rods not for cutting off a head that you want to (re)use.

many many years ago I was able to buy a set of scalpels from a dental surgeon, I only have a few left but they are great for cleaning up and converting figures.

I love this place :-)
thanks for all the tips guys. I will look at getting some of these tools. If using a Dremel to drill out either body or head do any of you use a vice or something else to grip the object – or indeed the drill – when working?
EC

I use a jewelers saw for cutting apart figures. Its worked the best for me.

If you are using a Dremel to drill your holes Id certainly advise some sort of vice to hold the part in place along with some safety glasses.

Sawblade X-acto knife for decapitation and the Dremel (with glasses and a dust mask) for drilling pinholes. Also, grab one of those jar-lid-opener-grabby-friction things. You don't want to squeeze the head or figure too tight against the bare metal of a vise or a pair of channel locks.

I use pair of wire snip pliers that you can buy at Michael's or Hobby Lobby. The cheaper one with the blue plastic handle. I think that it comes in a pack of 4 or 5 different craft pliers. It's perfect because the angle of the blades are very open, so that you can get under the neck.

My method takes some practice, but once you get a feel for it, you can knock out ten figures in a couple of minutes.

Open the snips and place them around the neck of the intended victim. Close the pliers and check to make sure that you have clearance all the way around. You don't want to cut off the poor lads ears now, do ya.

OK, this is where the "touch" part comes in. Begin to twist the pliers around the head slowly. Enough pressure should be supplied to score the neck. Tread lightly here. DO NOT Squeeze the pliers or you'll end up with a big "V" in the neck and a ruined head.

Keep twisting and the head will begin to twist and before you are halfway around, the head will pop off cleanly.

I'll admit that it does take some practice, but it results in a good clean cut and no mess to tidy up with files and such.

Try it on some junk figures first. After 5 or so you should
be able to graduate to the real thing.