Recomendations for a sheet styrene cutter?

davehal9000 · Post by **davehal9000** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 1:59 am

I've got some money to burn and it's about time I added a new tool or two to my modeling arsenal. What cutters are you guys using for sheet styrene? Been using squares and X-Acto knife blades for decades but would like something more precise. I've seen the Chop III. Anything better? Looking to be able to cut your average sized sheet, various thicknesses and to be able to replicate as needed

Lt. Z0mBe · Post by **Lt. Z0mBe** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 2:30 am

Get to the Choppa! er..Chopper II

It's great. If you've not cutting very small pieces and the sheet's not that thick, a sharp pair of sewing scissors works great. With little pieces, though, the scissors will curl them.

I use draftsman's templates and an X-Acto for a lot of stuff. I basically have one of these I've made myself at the bench out of squares and steel rulers:

http://www.micromark.com/duplicate-it,9546.html

Works like a champ with my version. I can only imagine a real one works better.

Kenny

kryptosdaddy · Post by **kryptosdaddy** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 11:49 am

I have used an etcher and /or a heavy utility razor blade and a 6 oz bal peen head to cut .080. For some of the bigger things i have my craftsman miter box. But that micro mark tool is interesting.

davehal9000 · Post by **davehal9000** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 2:30 pm

On a similar not, anyone have a too for making long strips? I've got a balsa cutter I've used for longer than I care to remember, but there's gotta be something better out there.

Sluis Van Shipyards · Post by **Sluis Van Shipyards** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 7:49 pm

I have an Olfa plastic cutter. There's two similar, same blade type, on these pages:
http://www.olfaproducts.com/SPD/olfa-pc ... 202416.jsp
http://www.olfaproducts.com/SPD/olfa-p- ... 727601.jsp

Lt. Z0mBe · Post by **Lt. Z0mBe** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 10:27 pm

Sluis Van Shipyards wrote:I have an Olfa plastic cutter. There's two similar, same blade type, on these pages:
http://www.olfaproducts.com/SPD/olfa-pc ... 202416.jsp
http://www.olfaproducts.com/SPD/olfa-p- ... 727601.jsp

Crap! Forgot about my Olfa circle cutter too.

http://www.olfa.com/CircleCuttersDetail ... =50&Id=149

Kenny

ajmadison · Post by **ajmadison** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 4:24 am

davehal9000 wrote:On a similar not, anyone have a too for making long strips? I've got a balsa cutter I've used for longer than I care to remember, but there's gotta be something better out there.

Get one of those professional photo cutters.

Like one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Carl-12200-Profes ... 749&sr=1-2

but for very narrow strips, like between 1mm and 5mm, I tend to cut those by hand or if great precision is needed, I buy the strip packs from Evergreen.

davehal9000 · Post by **davehal9000** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 2:19 pm

I never seen to have the exact Evergreen I need at 3 am when I'm building.

I'd been eyeing that cutter and it's been getting good reviews. I don't need something to slice all the way through, just something to score it squarely and preferably able to repeat the same cuts

kryptosdaddy · Post by **kryptosdaddy** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 3:15 pm

I have a CARL cutter like the one above and i love it for cutting thin sheet and other small card for patterns ect.

Mottom · Post by **Mottom** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 5:18 pm

I have a Rotary Trimmer that works very well on thin sheet. With some fancy clamping of a strait edge I can get duplicate cuts fairly easy.