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I seriosuly think I've cut my fingers trimming spures maybe 3 times in the last 15 years lol

Simples, don't trim with a blade.

I clip it from the sprue, then clip again as close as possible.
From there I use a file to smooth it out and remove excess plastic.

This is however due to tons of past injuries involving blades digging into my thumb.

Mdlbuildr wrote:

 Guildenstern wrote:
...you can sharpen your xacto/hobby knife blade by running it over your jeans, carefully of course...

No you can't. A dull knife is a dull knife. Those blades are not made to be sharpened. Ever. Don't do this and expect a good tool. Please.

Err.... yeah you can. Granted I never used my jeans to do it, I always used stones or leather. I'm sure some of them sharpen better than others, but you can most definitely sharpen them. I used to sharpen mine all the time and get them back to an edge that was good as new. I used to find they'd go duller slightly quicker after I sharpened them vs when they were new, but it wasn't a huge problem and I was never taught how to sharpen knives so I was probably doing it wrong, but it still worked

It's not just me, one of the best modellers of scale vehicles I know about, Paul Budzik, sharpens his blades himself to keep a keen edge on them when doing stuff that constantly requires it so he doesn't have to dispose of a handful of blades on each model.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Snoopdeville3 wrote:
I seriosuly think I've cut my fingers trimming spures maybe 3 times in the last 15 years lol

I've only cut my fingers trimming sprues once in 23 years, when I was about, ummm, 8 or 9 years old. Once the models are free from the sprues and I'm cleaning them up, I've cut myself too many times to count.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 scarletsquig wrote:
If you can't reach them with a file after they're glued, the mould line probably won't be visible anyway, so don't worry about it.

If that's a lie you're happy telling yourself, along with the people who fully assemble before painting because they think they you can't see areas you can't reach with a brush

I use nail cutters from the dollar store to remove fom spru and cleaning there is even a dandy little file I stole from my wife. Not dollar store but I likes it.

Oh side note you learn to cut away from yourself or lose fingers then they arnt there to cut anymore. Thats why butchers dont use protection.

Also guy above me I paint them fully built, and have no problems. Maybe you need a thinner brush or fingers?

thanks for the help. I hope this helps others to figure it out to.