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Post by stitchdup on Oct 3, 2019 6:21:51 GMT -7
Hey guys, I've just purchased a load of pe parts for a bug so I am now looking for recommendations for a decent quality cutter and folders for it. I know some of you have good results with pe parts so what tools do you use? what glues are best? any other tips that may be useful? I have a sticky cutting board already so I'm hoping that will save losing parts. My next vw will be a bug, and possibly even stockish but not box stock. I'm thinking to mix the gunze oval with a tamiya chassis and the engine from the hasegawa kubelwagen to build something close to the original 1949 model but a few years down the road so some parts may be changed (mainly so i dont have to use the gunze seats as they are rubber)
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Post by mrmike on Oct 3, 2019 19:49:30 GMT -7
I use a chisel point blade to cut the PE from its sprue on a tacky surface so the part doesn't go flying into oblivion. For bending, I use a small pair of needle nose pliers without any serrations on the jaws. I also use superglue or CA (cyanoacrylate).
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Post by stitchdup on Oct 4, 2019 1:24:26 GMT -7
Thanks Mike, the pliers I have havant got a sharp enough edge for folding the parts and are too big for parts like wipers anyway. Probably going to get one of the 15 centimetre folders from bna models
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Post by DeeCee on Oct 4, 2019 4:34:52 GMT -7
I would start with the biggest darn magnifying glass i can get, coz i can't see the stuff to actually use it !!
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Post by poet on Oct 9, 2019 14:15:41 GMT -7
i use a knife blade and small steel ruler to bend my PE.
It just gets tricky when I have to do a double bend like for harnesses and chassis tabs.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2019 7:14:12 GMT -7
My eyes are too bad and fingers too fat to use PE effectively. Never had any success in folding it properly. I'm lucky if I can cut off a Ferrari emblem and get into place without a disaster. I use clear paint for attaching, since it usually takes more than one try to get into position. What is this sticky matt you talk about?
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Post by stitchdup on Oct 12, 2019 8:54:01 GMT -7
My eyes are too bad and fingers too fat to use PE effectively. Never had any success in folding it properly. I'm lucky if I can cut off a Ferrari emblem and get into place without a disaster. I use clear paint for attaching, since it usually takes more than one try to get into position. What is this sticky matt you talk about? It's like a cutting mat but instead of being smooth it has a slightly sticky coating. I'm not sure what its supposed to be used for but when I found it i thought it would be handy for cutting the smaller pe parts. Maybe something for scrapbooking or something similar |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2019 10:54:46 GMT -7
I work at Hobby Lobby and have never seen nor heard of it. I'll have to ask the scrap bookers.
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Post by lowlife on Oct 17, 2019 9:30:11 GMT -7
Quick tip for cutting photo-etch...stick the whole p\e piece to masking tape !
Cut pieces off and their stuck to the tape, can't drop em ! !
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Post by mmthrax on Jan 21, 2020 19:11:06 GMT -7
Been wanting to answer this for a while Les, but I couldn't remember where I got my stuff. I got my stuff last year and it's been patiently waiting. Anyway, I did my research and I wanted to share with you what I discovered. This is my set up. I haven't used it yet, but after my intense research, this is the gear I bought. It is made by "The Small Shop" here in the states. There are a few things in the product line, but I chose to get the SMS015 "Cut off set", and the SMS002 bending tool, referred to as "The Bug". The acriylic is black so you have a contrast to see what you are doing, and the little "foot" is clear for the same reason. They give you three plates, the idea being cut on one, move it to another so you don't lose it to the carpet. The Bug is a steel plate with an aluminum four sided foot that does different tasks. It is spring loaded so when you loosen the knob the foot rises getting ready to clasp the fret. Loosen it a ways and you can rotate the foot for a different task. I got a fret for the Oldsmobile and I am looking forward to using it. To adhere the bits to the car I am planning on using CA, or Model Master 2736 clear top coat enamel. Hope that helps. Cheers. If you want to see a demo of it, here is a link to it in action. www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sn-knVnTls |
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Post by stitchdup on Jan 22, 2020 1:25:13 GMT -7
Thanks Mark, good info to have. I need to check up on the one i ordered as i had forgotten until this thread popped up. It should have been here months ago cos stuff i've ordered from the same place since has arrived
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Post by lowlife on Jan 22, 2020 3:09:55 GMT -7
I'm interested in getting something to cut p/e out with, and something to smooth off the little bits left on the piece, after you've cut it off.
Let me know how you get on Les with the stuff you bought please, I might need to get some bits myself !
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Post by stitchdup on Jan 22, 2020 8:37:32 GMT -7
I'm interested in getting something to cut p/e out with, and something to smooth off the little bits left on the piece, after you've cut it off. Let me know how you get on Les with the stuff you bought please, I might need to get some bits myself ! I was recommended to use diamond files mate. I have a really cheap set but they are near flat now cos the stuff isn't well stuck. You get what you pay for i guess and these were less than 3 quid |
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Post by Deano on Jan 22, 2020 17:52:15 GMT -7
Been wanting to answer this for a while Les, but I couldn't remember where I got my stuff. I got my stuff last year and it's been patiently waiting. Anyway, I did my research and I wanted to share with you what I discovered. This is my set up. I haven't used it yet, but after my intense research, this is the gear I bought. It is made by "The Small Shop" here in the states. There are a few things in the product line, but I chose to get the SMS015 "Cut off set", and the SMS002 bending tool, referred to as "The Bug". The acriylic is black so you have a contrast to see what you are doing, and the little "foot" is clear for the same reason. They give you three plates, the idea being cut on one, move it to another so you don't lose it to the carpet. The Bug is a steel plate with an aluminum four sided foot that does different tasks. It is spring loaded so when you loosen the knob the foot rises getting ready to clasp the fret. Loosen it a ways and you can rotate the foot for a different task. I got a fret for the Oldsmobile and I am looking forward to using it. To adhere the bits to the car I am planning on using CA, or Model Master 2736 clear top coat enamel. Hope that helps. Cheers. If you want to see a demo of it, here is a link to it in action. www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sn-knVnTlsKeen to see the Bug in use, looks handy! |
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Post by Deano on Jan 22, 2020 18:27:36 GMT -7
Well, spent better than half hour on Youtube, there is some awesome stuff, might have to get me some of those tools. Thanks for the link.
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Post by mmthrax on Jan 22, 2020 23:19:47 GMT -7
You're welcome sir. Glad I could help.  |
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Post by Deano on Jan 25, 2020 13:22:45 GMT -7
My bug turned up from an Aussie supplier, can't wait to use!
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Post by mmthrax on Jan 27, 2020 9:02:52 GMT -7
That was fast!
Excited to see what you do with it.
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Post by lowlife on Jan 31, 2020 4:09:11 GMT -7
Thought id post this up quick, i bit the bullet and ordered these p/e scissors from Tamiya. Tried a few bits out and they work great, bit expensive yes, but worth the money i think ! My Hemi is for size reference, yes there small scissors alright !
Just need to be able to see the stuff now to cut out !   |
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Post by mmthrax on Jan 31, 2020 7:58:59 GMT -7
My Hemi is for size reference, That mat helps a bit too, mate.  Let us know how you get on with them. I love "product reports." |
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Post by stitchdup on Jan 31, 2020 8:40:19 GMT -7
I'm interested to know too mate, i'm using surgical knives at the moment and half the time the blades snap/shatter
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Post by lowlife on Jan 31, 2020 12:07:01 GMT -7
thanks for that Mark, yeah ok so I forgot it's on a mat that's marked out like a ruler...bit stupid i know !  And for both of you, I'm so far very pleased ! The good thing is they are very slim, so can fit around the gap around the p/e piece and simply snip off ! The ends being curved helps too. You can't cut wide pieces of p/e, but it's fine for what I need. You can also trim pieces quite well, but ideally I'd recommend a fine diamond file to smooth them totally (not that I've got one.... Yet ! ) There's a couple of bits I'll be adding to the hemi, I'll get some 'in action' pics ! icon_giggles Hope that helps ! |
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Post by mmthrax on Feb 16, 2020 22:46:49 GMT -7
Just a quick addition to this thread regarding tools. You can see the brand and part number. I used this shear on the radiator cores for the Ducati. The shears are straight and cut right through the metal quickly and cleanly. You can see the snippets.  |
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Post by lowlife on Feb 17, 2020 4:49:22 GMT -7
They look good, I'd like to try them out ! Had a slight problem with mine, I have p/e discs that came so thick i can't cut them out ! Not sure why some p/e has to be so thick, I've used thin pieces that are just as detailed, seems like the thick stuff I'm still stuck on how to cut it...  May try a diamond file next, but man some of this stuff is small... cant-believe-my-eyes-smiley-emoticon |
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Post by stitchdup on Mar 27, 2020 13:28:24 GMT -7
I gave up on my pe folding tool i ordered back in october since it seems to be lost somewhere in a customs warehouse, so ordered another from BNAmodelworld in australia. It arrived today so i will do a review during next months non usa build (im sure you all know what it will be, lol)
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