This may be a stupid question...

How do people use brass stock for scratchbuilding? Like, how do you cut sheets into shapes and stuff? I imagine my poor little X-Acto would get dull trying to scribe lines, and I don't have a zillion-dollar diamond-tipped DeWalt cutoff chop saw. Ok, I can see using the Dremel cutoff wheel for thin brass rods and the like, but what about cutting brass sheet? Don't handheld sheetmetal cutters bend the piece you're working on? Plus, they aren't really that precise.. I only ask b/c I think using brass could open up a whole new world of scratchbuilding for people like me, especially on parts where styrene might bend under weight. The soldering part seems easy enough.. Thanks!