Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

So I am about to start cutting the hell out of some models and I'm using a 38mm Dremel speedclic blade. This IMO is too think, I lose a lot of metal this way.

Whats the best way to cut your metal? Clippers you lose even more, just at an odd angel so I think these are a little pants tbh

What kind of metal you are talking about?

General advise:
Trace it. break and file.

Chrres!

Just a bog standard eldar mini....

The thought of just breaking had actually occurred in this particular case, but I'm sure this can't always be used.

I may try that for this one.

Razor saw. The GW one is OK, it's what I have, but there are better and cheaper ones available, sually from jewellery supply stores.

Edit: huh, GW aren't selling it anymore, but here's an example.

http://www.amazon.ca/Xacto-X75300-Precision-Razor-Saw/dp/B00004Z2U4

There are these really thin "shim-stock" type tiny table-saw looking blades.
I have a set that looks like these:
http://www.dhgate.com/store/product/20pc-22mm-circular-saw-blades-wood-cutter/159870256.htmlThey are super thin and flexible.
IMPORTANT: I strongly suggest not holding the piece you cut with your fingers: put in a soft-jaw vice.
They sometimes like to grab without warning and zip around the part into unwary fingers.
These things cut through skin and nails like they are not there... you have been warned.

Awesome, I'll hunt some down in the UK forsure.

Makes me think I should also get goggles! Boring

http://www.amazon.ca/Grobet-Swiss-Ergonomic-Jewelers-Blades/dp/B000OVNL8I/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hi_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0FCWKDG7WW47GE09CFZM

I think you would want a Jeweler saw blade, with a least a 3/0 blade (or smaller). These blades break and snap (you'll get a feel for it, eventually. Like drilling with a pin vise, they break more often when you don't have many new blades / drill bits).

When you cut, you should not cut down the middle of a joint, but rather decide which part (for instance, Hip or Thigh) looks to be easier to rebuild with Green Stuff.

I used the razor saw that was linked above and it eats up a lot of material. It's very sturdy and does a great job of chewing through thicker metal when you don't mind losing material, like cutting through a base that you'll discard so that you can mount the feet directly to a base.

Razor saws are not the greatest for cutting metal minis unless you are cutting a small section like arm or leg.

Zona makes one that is only .010" thick

Jeweler's saws work better, but take a fair amount of practice to learn to use well. One critical trick to using a jeweler's saw is pre-tensioning the blade. Tighten one end and then compress the frame between your gut and your workbench and tighten the other end of the blade to pre-tension it.

Next trick is to use a bench pin which allows you to support both ends of the piece being cut.

Then: keep the blade vertical at all times. This keeps the cutting tension the same on both sides of the blade and helps prevent blade breakage (and you WILL break blades).

http://www.amazon.ca/SE-Bench-V-slot-7-5x2-25in-2-75in/dp/B00F15VYPO/ref=sr_1_4?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1425439465&sr=1-4&keywords=bench+pin

or the one in this set: http://www.amazon.ca/Jewelers-Frame-Bench-V-Slot-Blades/dp/B000OVNPYI/ref=pd_sim_sbs_k_6/189-4979657-3269504?ie=UTF8&refRID=0VDRA0CYEQ45038SDV0Q

 Talizvar wrote:
There are these really thin "shim-stock" type tiny table-saw looking blades.
I have a set that looks like these:

Spoiler:

http://www.dhgate.com/store/product/20pc-22mm-circular-saw-blades-wood-cutter/159870256.htmlThey are super thin and flexible.
IMPORTANT: I strongly suggest not holding the piece you cut with your fingers: put in a soft-jaw vice.
They sometimes like to grab without warning and zip around the part into unwary fingers.
These things cut through skin and nails like they are not there... you have been warned.

I need some of those for my dremel. I doubt they would arrive before the 14th though.