Best way to cut photo etched parts

I use an X-acto blade to cut stuff from the fret, but to clean up the burs I use sharpening stones.


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My pleasure Crasher. Works great for cutting small parts off of sprue too. Even if you use a set of clippers. If you drop the piece it makes it easy to find, just look for the tape, or it will prevent the piece from dropping when you clip it from the sprue. I use both a set of clippers and an x-acto for cutting small parts away.

Mike

That's a great tip about the tape Renarts - why didn't I think of that??? I don't believe you can cut it off without a small bit of 'flash' but to add to the above I stick PE parts for painting (badges etc) onto a piece of masking tape (wrong way up) to stop them moving about. That's why I just can't believe I didn't think of using the tape for cutting. Thanks!

I use an xacto blade on a piece of glass the glass does not give & the blade is a #17 I believe

I cut mine with an x-acto blad on a self healing cutting board. Lay some tape over the part, turn it over and cut from the other side of the tape. The piece sticks to the tape when cut and doesn't go flipping off into the nether regions. Clean up any excess flash with some emery cloth, jewlers file or very fine wet/dry sandpaper.

Mike

I use a special side cutter I bought from Micro Mark. It has a very thin jaw and cuts pretty close. After I remove the part I can then use the cutter to get up real close leaving no or very little "flash". I hold the part with small cushioned needle nose pliers to keep from loosing the part.

Every method that I know of will leave a little "flash" behind. I use my exacto knife to trim the parts and always have a little filing to touch them up.