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Hey all, I cut a lot of styrene and I need some advice. For cutting plasticard, I have a duplicutter - which I love - but I don't have anything for tubing.

Right now, I am looking at the Chopper II, and also the Miter-Rite.

I don't think there's a strong case for both, I think it's one or the other, they seem to do very similar things.

So do any of you own one or both of those? If so, what are your thoughts? Is there something similar\better\cheaper I should be looking into? I do have a miter box and a razor saw, and wasn't happy with that. Note I'm also not looking for the cheapest option, either.

http://www.micromark.com/Micro-Tubing-Cutter

I use this, but a no-brand one, exactly the same though. Don't use the chopper II, tried it once and that's when I bought the tube cutter.

Go slowly with tightening it so you don't crush the tube, and you will usually find you need to give the cut end a quick going over with a round file because it will have squashed in a tiny bit.

Use mine for styrenetube, aluminium and even thin brass, but be prepared to work at for a while with the thicker tubes.

nedsta wrote:
http://www.micromark.com/Micro-Tubing-Cutter

I use this, but a no-brand one, exactly the same though.

Yeah, I have a similar gadget. Mine doesn't go down to the really thin stuff (I think 2mm is about the smallest it can handle) but that can be handled easily enough with a knife anyway.


If you're after something to cut at an angle, though, can't help there. I just use a knife and hope for the best.

I use a hobby mitre box and a hobby saw. No need to buy other tools imho.

However that being said, Luke Towan goes over some good stuffs in his video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3XHkRf2fvA

(about scratchbuilding with styrene)

Luke Towan's channel is great for a lot of modeling tips. Can't recommend it enough.

 Guildenstern wrote:
I use a hobby mitre box and a hobby saw. No need to buy other tools imho.

However that being said, Luke Towan goes over some good stuffs in his video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3XHkRf2fvA

(about scratchbuilding with styrene)

Probably best option for a hollow tube.

a chopper would probably crush the tube making it kinda useless.

 Guildenstern wrote:
I use a hobby mitre box and a hobby saw. No need to buy other tools imho.

However that being said, Luke Towan goes over some good stuffs in his video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3XHkRf2fvA

(about scratchbuilding with styrene)

Did you buy a small one or make your own? I kinda want to make one to allow for 30 degree cuts as well as 45.

 Gordon Shumway wrote:

 Guildenstern wrote:
I use a hobby mitre box and a hobby saw. No need to buy other tools imho.

However that being said, Luke Towan goes over some good stuffs in his video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3XHkRf2fvA

(about scratchbuilding with styrene)

Did you buy a small one or make your own? I kinda want to make one to allow for 30 degree cuts as well as 45.

There are companies that make it

i didnt buy mine from micro marks at all but i got some cheap combo on ebay for like 10$ with the saw.

Though I personally don't have one (yet), the Chopper II is pretty much the gold standard for cutting styrene strips, but I don't think it can cut tubing as well (at least larger tubing).

 Desubot wrote:

 Gordon Shumway wrote:

 Guildenstern wrote:
I use a hobby mitre box and a hobby saw. No need to buy other tools imho.

However that being said, Luke Towan goes over some good stuffs in his video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3XHkRf2fvA

(about scratchbuilding with styrene)

Did you buy a small one or make your own? I kinda want to make one to allow for 30 degree cuts as well as 45.

There are companies that make it

i didnt buy mine from micro marks at all but i got some cheap combo on ebay for like 10$ with the saw.

Yah same (well except I used amazon haha)

But they're out there!