MINIATURES REFERENCE:
Converting

I use the Xacto jewler's fret saw or an Xacto razor saw depending on the job. Although they appear expensive, Xacto prices are really quite reasonable when you see the quality of the tool... admirable when you consider the virtual monopoly that Xacto has in the detail-tool market.

The fret say looks like a miniature hacksaw, and it goes through pewter and lead much more quickly than you'd think. The only problem is that the blade is about a mm thick, which doesn't sound like much, but you'd be surprised how much metal gets sawed away (like an entire neck of a 25mm-scale figure!).

The razor saw has a thinner blade, and is essentially a serrated razor blade - a hobby knife with teeth. It takes off less metal, but it is so rigid and the blade is so broad that it is difficult to get into tight places (the fret saw, while a larger tool, is easier to move into tight areas due to the lesser breadth of the blade.