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Cutting Thin Sheet Metal

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  • Member since
    November 2005
Cutting Thin Sheet Metal
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, January 23, 2005 11:28 AM
Hey guys,

I wanted to see what everyone else uses for cutting thin sheet metal when scratchbuilding. For the this stuff, I just use an exacto or a razor and the results are ok. For the stuff that is just a little thicker, I use tiny scissors. There are two problems I have with this though. The first is that sometimes it leaves the tiniest lip, that seems impossible to flatten out. The big problem is complex shapes though... Sometimes it is impossible to get the small details or cut-in parts without the scissors messing things up.

Is there a better way to do this?

~ Thanks
~ Garth
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Third rock from the sun.
Posted by Woody on Sunday, January 23, 2005 4:27 PM
I pretty much do it the same as you but I use snips with a very finely serrated edges. The metal cuts very cleanly because it doesn't slip as the snips cut. I believe they are called wire snips and are designed to grip wire so it can be cut cleanly without sliding out of the jaws.

" I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." --John Paul Jones
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Brooklyn
Posted by wibhi2 on Sunday, January 23, 2005 5:39 PM
Depending on the guage, I'll use either scissors or Weiss tin snips ( will cut up to 20 guage fairly easily). To get rid of the lip, lay the piece on a piece of glass and take a brass tube and roll out the edges.
3d modelling is an option a true mental excercise in frusrtation
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