How to cut track links off of the sprue without breaking them?

Use a piece of foam behind them to relieve pressure and to use as support. I would try to use a new xacto blade with multiple light pressure cuts. It will be tedious and time consuming.

Hello!

My tip would be to use razor saw to cut the sprue attachment points (at least partially 3 of 5, then the rest could be done with a side cutter) and then file the remains off. Good luck with your build and have a nice day

Paweł

Try using a hot knife?

Use a small, thin saw.

I agree with Pawel. A finger nail clipper also works as a side-cutter.

Cheers!

Ron

A flush cutting sprue cutter is perfect for something like this.  It allows you to get in close spots and snip connection points easily with no pressure on the part.

Thanks for the suggestions, gentlemen. Will try few and see wht happenes.

Cheers...

Sometimes it helps to cut the big sprue. As in your photo the thick ones to the left and right of the piece. It doesn't always work, but that's where I usually go first.

I second the hot knife.  Or you could get one of those narrow jaw sprue cutters like the one by Volks:

http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/tools_techniques_and_reference_materials/f/23/t/163607.aspx

Spamicus

Sometimes it helps to cut the big sprue. As in your photo the thick ones to the left and right of the piece. It doesn't always work, but that's where I usually go first.

 

A hot knife also came to mind. I did find that with some parts even using brand new flush cutters I had broken a couple small parts. Cutting the main sprue in certain places did help if done in the right locations. It eases the tension being applied to the part as it's being cut.

I think I can Help ;

    Having just finished with some German made , many small part , circus stuff for the museum I solved the problem . As suggested I cut away the heavy sprue and then used a very fine nosed side cutter to remove the parts . I got my side cutter from H.L in the jewelry dept .

 Why ? Well I have looked at and bought many of those advertised . They do NOT come together flat on one side .There is always this in profile ><, when one side needs to be this -- . The ones from hobby lobby have a fairly thick profile which can gently ground away giving you very thin tapered nose blades .

     What I also did was go to my Pharmacy ."Foot care section " . They have Toe-Nail cutters that are like oversized finger-nail cutters with the curve in the blade in reverse to the finger ones .You can grind a notch in one side to use these like sprue cutters .

   I had one of those pairs of cutter/tweezer, like cutters that worked super great and I have found they developed legs and walked off .Gotta get new ones . There you go - Good luck .T.B.

SpursN17

Try using a hot knife?

 

 

WINNER!!! Worked like a charm with hot exacto knife. Only one broke.

Cheers...

castelnuovo

 

 

SpursN17

Try using a hot knife?

 

 

 

 

 

WINNER!!! Worked like a charm with hot exacto knife. Only one broke.

Cheers...

 

I got one of these sprue cutters about 15 years ago. It was $10 back then, well worth the money. I also have a larger one Gino posted for bigger jobs.

http://www.micromark.com/Tweezer-Sprue-Cutter-Despruing-Tweezer,8012.html?sc=WGB&utm_source=GoogleBase&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=GoogleBase&gclid=CLPW987EndECFRMlgQodw9QNOQ

Hi,
I usually cut up the thicker sprues in order to take out the stress when cutting the attachement points with a Xuron cutter.
Anyway - I see you have solved the problem, just my

Best Regards
Johan