Sprue cutters

[RobertK]

Hello everyone!

I have a Xuron (can't remember which model) which was supposed to be a flush cutter, but I'm not sure if it was any real improvment from my old basic sprue cutter I had. It's not really anything wrong with it but I expected it to be better and sometimes it leaves some stress marks and small damage which I sometimes I have to repair, nothing major but still..
So, my question is, what kind of sprue cutters does everyone use? I'm on a lookout for something new, and better

[Timplastic]

there is quite a few versions of xuron shears.
The top versions are 2175 which are good. I recently got hold of the top level tamiya cutters and i really like them. I have also had some over variants of good cutters and i find non of them do a perfect flush cut, but some are better than others, the tamiya i would recommend.
i always leave a little nub left too trim either with a tamiya knife or sanding

[RobBye]

I use a Xuron "2175ET Professional Sprue Cutter" for plastic and Xuron's "9180ET Professional Photo Etch Scissors" for PE. I'm pleased with the results from each.

[ForbesHutton]

I use xurons myself, but the Godhands are supposed to the the absolute best.

[youtube][/youtube]

[digger303]

2175ET Professional Sprue Cutter for me and the 9180ET Professional Photo Etch Scissors

God hands are very pricey and well on the back burner and I am very satisfied with the Xurons. Some plastic is softer and easier to damage and as Tim says leave a tiny nub and sand the rest. If memory serves either Paul or Lee said they thought the Xurons were a tad better than Tamiya, but it may just be that one feels to you better than the other.

[chops1sc]

I've only used small wire clippers before getting some Xuron 2175ET. Reading up on Xuron cutters, they utilize blade by-pass cutting (like scissors) so they actually cut instead of crushing like wire cutters. I don't know if Tamiya's sprue cutters are the same or not.

I really like my Xurons though.

[RobertK]

That's the one I have 2175ET, couldnt remember the model.
Maybe there is something wrong with mine, it says shear but it's honestly more tear.

Wow those god hands seems amazing and comes with a hefty price tag.. I think I will look into Tamita cutters.

[digger303]

That's the one I have 2175ET, couldnt remember the model.
Maybe there is something wrong with mine, it says shear but it's honestly more tear.

Wow those god hands seems amazing and comes with a hefty price tag.. I think I will look into Tamita cutters.

perhaps they are faulty and should be returned.

[Augustus]

Earlier in the year I bought a pair of Sharp Pointed Side Cutter for Plastic (Slim Jaw) by Tamiya. They were my first decent pair of cutters and I love em.

I saw Paul using them (Well they looked the same and were Tamiya) on one of the live shows and he seems to like them too.

I can't comment on the others as being new to the game I'd only used Chinese Cheapos before.

[digger303]

Hello everyone!

I have a Xuron (can't remember which model) which was supposed to be a flush cutter, but I'm not sure if it was any real improvment from my old basic sprue cutter I had. It's not really anything wrong with it but I expected it to be better and sometimes it leaves some stress marks and small damage which I sometimes I have to repair, nothing major but still..
So, my question is, what kind of sprue cutters does everyone use? I'm on a lookout for something new, and better

Even the good tools will tear a little hole in part if the sprue gate is quite thick , always resulting in some tear out especially if you are nipping close to the part.

[chops1sc]

Even the good tools will tear a little hole in part if the sprue gate is quite thick , always resulting in some tear out especially if you are nipping close to the part.

This. I try to leave a good size nib on the part if I think it will tear out. I'd rather sand first than fill & sand!

[Avgas]

I'd rather sand first than fill & sand!

Wheras I usually sand first then finish up filling and sanding...

[digger303]

Even the good tools will tear a little hole in part if the sprue gate is quite thick , always resulting in some tear out especially if you are nipping close to the part.

This. I try to leave a good size nib on the part if I think it will tear out. I'd rather sand first than fill & sand!

agreed for sure

[darkhelmet25]

Greetings all - I saw some of the live show this evening and Paul commented that he now much prefers the precision of the Tamiya cutter over the Xuron (though he did mention the size differential between the two). I'm curious if anyone else has compared these two and what their experience has been in terms of cutting action, wear, etc. - size not being an issue. Xuron seems to highlight the point that their cutting action doesn't pinch the plastic, but cleanly shears through it. Also, what version of Tamiya cutters is Paul now using - I seem to recall that he previously mentioned this was a newer version than what he previously used. The Tamiya website is awful in trying to identify specific tools and seems to be constantly changing. Any thoughts and guidance are much appreciated.

[Augustus]

Greetings all - I saw some of the live show this evening and Paul commented that he now much prefers the precision of the Tamiya cutter over the Xuron (though he did mention the size differential between the two). I'm curious if anyone else has compared these two and what their experience has been in terms of cutting action, wear, etc. - size not being an issue. Xuron seems to highlight the point that their cutting action doesn't pinch the plastic, but cleanly shears through it. Also, what version of Tamiya cutters is Paul now using - I seem to recall that he previously mentioned this was a newer version than what he previously used. The Tamiya website is awful in trying to identify specific tools and seems to be constantly changing. Any thoughts and guidance are much appreciated.

I believe Paul uses Sharp Pointed Side Cutter for Plastic (Slim Jaw) which I have too. You can also get them with out the 'slim jaw' but I'm not sure how much difference there is. The shop I use here in Oz sells them for $41 AUD but you you can get them cheaper shopping around.

I never used Xuron so I can't compare but I find them great and able to get into tight areas on the Sprue etc. Nazeem asked about how they cut through Airfix thick sprues, I've not done an Airfix model but the ones I have done the words hot knife and butter spring to mind.

As for wear, they seem to be as sharp as when I got them a few months ago although I doubt they get as much use as Pauls lol

The part number for the slim jaw ones is 74123, and 74035 for the non slim jaw. they're both the same price.

[digger303]

I can say the xuron leave the thick plastic with a straight 90 degree cut as if sawn. Cheap cutters will slide sideways through the cut and leave it with a beveled cut and a squashed pinched look. Not what you want when the plastic is brittle.
Looking at those pictures I would say the jaws of the xuron do look slimmer than the Tamiya
Not saying one is better than the other because I have never used a Tamiya, but I can say I do love my xuron.

[Augustus]

Looking at those pictures I would say the jaws of the xuron do look slimmer than the Tamiya
.

You'd have to put them side by side to compare the jaws as the Xurons are around 20% bigger overall.

[digger303]

Looking at those pictures I would say the jaws of the xuron do look slimmer than the Tamiya
.

You'd have to put them side by side to compare the jaws as the Xurons are around 20% bigger overall.

very true , so what I did was measure with a protractor the angle of the jaws and the result is. They are the same, the xuron jaws looks smaller because there is a cut out near the pivot point.
So I guess if you have small hands buy the tamiya, a tool must feel good to you.

[Kevthemodeller]

I've got these https://www.emodels.co.uk/tamiya-modell ... 74093.html they where the type Paul recommended a while back before Xuron 2175's (I think) Mine work perfectly good clean effortless cut and about half the price of Xuron's.

[jmatt]

I've got a God Hand cutter and absolutely love it. I can nip the part right where it meets the sprue nub and it never leaves a mark. I just squeeze nice and slow... Worth every penny.

[digger303]

I've got a God Hand cutter and absolutely love it. I can nip the part right where it meets the sprue nub and it never leaves a mark. I just squeeze nice and slow... Worth every penny.

Is this the case with very thick sprue attachment points or the sprue frame .Not that ,that is a called for....just curious

[jelliott]

I have a pair of Xurons (I don't believe they are the 2175's) and they are okay, they do cut with the off-set blades and do a pretty nice job. I also have a pair of the Tamiya cutters and I really like them as well. The one thing I do like about the Xurons is the way they fit my hand, they are more comfortable to hold onto. I would have to say that I use each equally, there are times that the tips of the Tamiya fit better to clip the part and there are times when I prefer the cut of the Xurons. I hadn't really looked at Gods Hands cutters until now, HOLY *(@$#! I honestly don't know if I could justify spending that much on a pair of cutters, granted sometimes you get what you pay for, and other times you don't, you are just paying for the brand.

[digger303]

What actually makes these GOD hand so good....Damascus steel ?...made from ore from a volcano ?? or is it in the marketing.

[jmatt]

I've got a God Hand cutter and absolutely love it. I can nip the part right where it meets the sprue nub and it never leaves a mark. I just squeeze nice and slow... Worth every penny.

Is this the case with very thick sprue attachment points or the sprue frame .Not that ,that is a called for....just curious

Depends on how thick. It will handle most sprue attachment without a problem. For the ones that are many mm across, I'll resort to wiggling an exacto-blade through it.

As to why it seems so effective, I think it's just very sharp, with very thin blades and well machined.

[ForbesHutton]

What actually makes these GOD hand so good....Damascus steel ?...made from ore from a volcano ?? or is it in the marketing.

Most cutters have a habit of the cutting edges "scissoring" at the final moment of the cut, instead of meeting edge to edge, the sprue slightly forces the edges away from each other, allowing the edges to pass each other. They are designed this way so that you don't get "edge to edge" as the slightest bit of extra force on the handles will force the edges together, flattening out the edges.

If you look at the God Hand cutters, they have a set screw between the handle and hinge, that's there to prevent to much force or travel when edge to edge, so they won't be flattened. Because the risk (assuming you don't mess with the screw...) of damage is removed, they cutters are designed with a firmer hinge so that the two edges will meet properly.

the blade edges on the God Hand do this: ><

most other brands design the blades to do this: >
...........................................................< (sorry, had to add the dots or the system moves the second arrow all the way to the left)

[digger303]

I've got a God Hand cutter and absolutely love it. I can nip the part right where it meets the sprue nub and it never leaves a mark. I just squeeze nice and slow... Worth every penny.

Is this the case with very thick sprue attachment points or the sprue frame .Not that ,that is a called for....just curious

Depends on how thick. It will handle most sprue attachment without a problem. For the ones that are many mm across, I'll resort to wiggling an exacto-blade through it.

As to why it seems so effective, I think it's just very sharp, with very thin blades and well machined.

Thanks
Found some manufacturers blurb that says do not more than 3mm sprue.

[darkhelmet25]

I seem to recall that Paul went back to Tamiya from the Xurons. This is apparently a different model from Tamiya - not what he was using prior to the Xurons. Any idea what the current Tamiya cutters he's using are? The Tamiya website is next to useless.

[Garion77]

I was about to put a post on sprue cutters myself too... can someone tell me the difference between the models from tamiya ? They have 2 sharps pointed side cutters that look the same on the pictures... Model no. 74123 and 74035

[digger303]

I seem to recall that Paul went back to Tamiya from the Xurons. This is apparently a different model from Tamiya - not what he was using prior to the Xurons. Any idea what the current Tamiya cutters he's using are? The Tamiya website is next to useless.

I think the newer Tamiya cutters which are referred to as sharp pointed.
From the pics they look to be very similar to the Xurons, but you know it is really up to the individuals and how any tool fits there grip. You might not like one of them.

FROM THE BLURB
They have a slightly slimmer jaw than previous Tamiya plastic cutter products, enabling easier removal of smaller parts which have less clearance.