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How do you cut hypo tubing without crushing?

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  • Member since
    January 2007
How do you cut hypo tubing without crushing?
Posted by Gigatron on Saturday, January 19, 2008 1:01 PM

Hey gang,

Like the title asks, how do you cut hypo tubing without crushing it?  I'm using it for gun barrels on a 1/48 mustang, if that gives you the idea of the diamter of the tube.  I need to cut a few small sections (like 1/8" long), so I don't think I can use a dremel with cutoff wheel.

So, does anyone have any suggestions for cutting tubing that small?

Thanks, 

-Fred

 

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by ssgkopp on Saturday, January 19, 2008 4:30 PM
place your #11 blade where you want the cut and start rolling back and forth it will cut through.   Use this method on brass all the time.
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Greenville, NC
Posted by jtilley on Saturday, January 19, 2008 4:56 PM

That'll work fine on copper or brass.  On steel (which, I think, is what most hypodermic tubing is made of), knife blade will have trouble; if it does eventually cut the tubing, the blade will probably be rendered uselessly dull in the process.

I know of two other ways to tackle the problem.  If the tubing isn't too fine, you can shove a piece of appropriate-size piano wire through it.  Then cut the tubing, and the wire inside, with a good, heavy pair of wire-cutting pliers.  The pliers are highly unlikely to crush the wire; it should slide out of the cut tubing. 

If the tubing's too fine to push the wire through, try an abrasive disk in a fairly-fast-turning rotary tool.  That should give you a nice, clean cut.

Youth, talent, hard work, and enthusiasm are no match for old age and treachery.

  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Peoples Socialist Democratic Republic of Illinois
Posted by Triarius on Sunday, January 20, 2008 4:35 PM

I've cut a fair amount of this stuff, some fine enough to make .30 cal. barrels and pitot tubes in 1/72. The best method I've found for cutting small lengths is to put the small length you want to cut off in the jaws of an appropriately sized pin vise. Then use a high speed abrasive wheel to cut the tubing and true the end. Clean out the hole with a pin, make a light pass on the edge with 320 grit, and you're done.

Fred, why 1/8 inch long? I always make mine overlength and embed them within whatever I'm attaching them to.

If you must cut them that small, the above technique will work, but you will have to mount the pin vise in a larger device to keep from bending the tubing. 

Ross Martinek A little strangeness, now and then, is a good thing… Wink

  • Member since
    January 2007
Posted by Gigatron on Sunday, January 20, 2008 9:56 PM

Locking it in a pin vise - that's a good idea, Ross.  They have to be that small because, unfortunately, that's just about all the room I have to work.  If they go anyfurther back, I'll have to cut into the AM resin wheel wells.  Life ain't ever easy, is it?

-Fred

 

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Hayward, CA
Posted by MikeV on Monday, January 21, 2008 3:33 AM
You can also tape the piece of tubing to the edge of a cutting mat and use a dremel abrasive wheel, it works fine. Just cut slow and it will cut pretty clean.

Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: Piscataway, NJ!
Posted by wing_nut on Monday, January 21, 2008 2:43 PM
Simply score the tube edge of a file and snap it in 2.  Just like glass tubing. Clean up the end with the file.

Marc  

  • Member since
    January 2015
  • From: Katy, TX
Posted by Aggieman on Monday, January 28, 2008 8:28 PM
Well, here's a stupid question - where does one get the hypo tubing?
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Central USA
Posted by qmiester on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 6:16 AM
Only stupid question is the one that isn't asked - Check your local pharmacy, they usually stock them (you might want to check out the local regulations on buying hypodermic needles - some locations won't allow buying them w/o a prescription).  And if you need larger needles, check out a farm supply store - they've got some needles there that are 1/16" or larger.
Quincy
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Peoples Socialist Democratic Republic of Illinois
Posted by Triarius on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 10:09 AM

 Aggieman wrote:
Well, here's a stupid question - where does one get the hypo tubing?

Much easier and no questions about legality. They also have every size you could want. Small Parts 

Buried somewhere in these forums is my chart of tubing sizes and equivalents for 1/72, 1/48, 1/32, and 1/35 scales. It apparently never got stickied. 

Ross Martinek A little strangeness, now and then, is a good thing… Wink

  • Member since
    January 2007
Posted by Gigatron on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 9:34 AM

 wing_nut wrote:
Simply score the tube edge of a file and snap it in 2.  Just like glass tubing. Clean up the end with the file.

I tried this method last night - works like a freakin' charm.  Great tip, Marc Thumbs Up [tup].

I used the corner of a tri-file, sawed back and forth a few times and snapped it clean off.  No deformation of the tube and any little spurs cleaned right up with the file.

-Fred

 

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Hayward, CA
Posted by MikeV on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 1:15 PM
 Gigatron wrote:

 wing_nut wrote:
Simply score the tube edge of a file and snap it in 2.  Just like glass tubing. Clean up the end with the file.

I tried this method last night - works like a freakin' charm.  Great tip, Marc Thumbs Up [tup].

I used the corner of a tri-file, sawed back and forth a few times and snapped it clean off.  No deformation of the tube and any little spurs cleaned right up with the file.

-Fred

 

Cool! Cool [8D]

Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: Piscataway, NJ!
Posted by wing_nut on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 3:48 PM
FINALLY... something from 8th grade science class has some use in lifeSmile [:)]

Marc  

  • Member since
    January 2007
Posted by Gigatron on Thursday, January 31, 2008 8:32 AM

 wing_nut wrote:
FINALLY... something from 8th grade science class has some use in lifeSmile [:)]

What?  you mean you don't capture test tubes of methane and then blow them up over a bunson burner on a daily basis? Laugh [(-D]

Don't ask, I had a psychotic science teacher in 8th grade - but at least it made science dangerous ...err, fun Laugh [(-D]

-Fred

 

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: Piscataway, NJ!
Posted by wing_nut on Thursday, January 31, 2008 5:14 PM
 Gigatron wrote:

 wing_nut wrote:
FINALLY... something from 8th grade science class has some use in lifeSmile [:)]

What?  you mean you don't capture test tubes of methane and then blow them up over a bunson burner on a daily basis? Laugh [(-D]

Don't ask, I had a psychotic science teacher in 8th grade - but at least it made science dangerous ...err, fun Laugh [(-D]

-Fred

 

 

I AM a test tube of methane. 

Marc  

  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: Left forever
Posted by Bgrigg on Thursday, January 31, 2008 5:26 PM
 wing_nut wrote:
 Gigatron wrote:

 wing_nut wrote:
FINALLY... something from 8th grade science class has some use in lifeSmile [:)]

What?  you mean you don't capture test tubes of methane and then blow them up over a bunson burner on a daily basis? Laugh [(-D]

Don't ask, I had a psychotic science teacher in 8th grade - but at least it made science dangerous ...err, fun Laugh [(-D]

-Fred

 

 

I AM a test tube of methane. 

Since it's a "test" tube of methane, it's something you pass? Propeller [8-]

So long folks!

  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Peoples Socialist Democratic Republic of Illinois
Posted by Triarius on Thursday, January 31, 2008 5:29 PM
 wing_nut wrote:
 

I AM a test tube of methane. 

As are we all, ultimately… 

Ross Martinek A little strangeness, now and then, is a good thing… Wink

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Hayward, CA
Posted by MikeV on Friday, February 1, 2008 12:38 AM
 wing_nut wrote:
 Gigatron wrote:

 wing_nut wrote:
FINALLY... something from 8th grade science class has some use in lifeSmile [:)]

What?  you mean you don't capture test tubes of methane and then blow them up over a bunson burner on a daily basis? Laugh [(-D]

Don't ask, I had a psychotic science teacher in 8th grade - but at least it made science dangerous ...err, fun Laugh [(-D]

-Fred

 

 

I AM a test tube of methane. 

Methane? Like this? Laugh [(-D]Laugh [(-D]Laugh [(-D]Laugh [(-D]Laugh [(-D]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_BGyLZhY40

Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
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