forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com

WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Hints and Tips/Questions about modeling => Topic started by: Chuckt5 on February 23, 2014, 07:24:47 AM

Title: cutting micro tube?
Post by: Chuckt5 on February 23, 2014, 07:24:47 AM

I dont know what it is when it comes to me and cutting, but for the life of me I can't seem to score .5mm tube evenly all around. The result is when I go to snap it, I get an uneven break!  :'(

Any hints or tips on how to do this properly?

My goal is to be able to cut it 1.5mm long, but I cant even cut it 15mm straight!

HELP!

Title: Re: cutting micro tube?
Post by: Ernie on February 23, 2014, 07:39:12 AM

Hi Chuck
  Des has a section called "Cutting Jig" for cutting micro-tube on the main page.  Here's a
link, left column near the bottom.  I tried it and it worked like a charm.  Hope it helps.
http://www.ww1aircraftmodels.com/page8.html

Cheers,
Ernie :)

Title: Re: cutting micro tube?
Post by: Chuckt5 on February 23, 2014, 07:41:35 AM

I have something like that, but when I go and try to score the tube, it doesnt want to roll underneath the knife!

Am I pressing down to hard on the tube?

Title: Re: cutting micro tube?
Post by: uncletony on February 23, 2014, 07:44:06 AM

don't snap it. cut right thru it with a (SHARP) #11 blade using a rolling motion. a couple a rolls back and forth and the tube will cut cleanly.

Title: Re: cutting micro tube?
Post by: Chuckt5 on February 23, 2014, 07:58:21 AM

I have tried that too but my problem seems to be when I roll it, it starts to creep across the tube. The result is tubes cut at inconsitent lengths!

Man I suck at this  :-\

Title: Re: cutting micro tube?
Post by: Ernie on February 23, 2014, 08:05:34 AM

Chuck, are you using a pin or nail as a backstop for the tube in the groove?  Sometimes I
found it helped to put the open end of the jig on a wedge of some kind (paintbrush handle?) so
that the tube naturally feeds toward the nail stop.  Don't give up, you will master it!

Cheers,
Ernie :)

Title: Re: cutting micro tube?
Post by: Chuckt5 on February 23, 2014, 08:10:18 AM

Good idea (about leaning the jig downward). I will give that a try.

Someone on another site also mentioned to roll the tube forward, rather than towards you. That seems to make a HUGE difference as well for me.

Thanks again, Chuck.

Title: Re: cutting micro tube?
Post by: hiddeous1973 on February 23, 2014, 05:15:50 PM

Hi, I use a JLC mitre box and a single edge razor blade. The very first few times the razor blade goes not well (very thight fit) but after a while this set-up works great for me. It is very handy for repeat cut off and ease to use. You can score lightly or sometimes with a fresh blade go through a tube with a single action of the razor.

Title: Re: cutting micro tube?
Post by: Des on August 11, 2014, 07:17:03 PM

For quite a while now I have been using a small sheet of perspex with correct dimension holes for cutting my brass tube, it is extremely easy and all the tubes are exactly the same length, great for cutting the tube for making turnbuckles and spark plugs, here is a link to my method;

http://www.ww1aircraftmodels.com/page48.html

Des.