Hi Y'all,
I was asked by SWMBO what I would like for my birthday and my thumb and I have decided it's time I bite the bullet and order some decent sprue cutters.

Popular opinion seems to be that the Xuron cutters (410T or 410A) are the best on the market, but I was wondering, as I'm doing more photo-etch now, whether it is worthwhile getting a pair of their photo-etch shears (9180ET)as well (while the wife's buying).
My question really is, will using the 410's on PE blunt and degrade their performance or are they so well made they can handle both plastic sprues and photo-etch?

Regards,Lucien

Lucien,

I have the Xuron PE Shears, which are great, but I've bought decent electrical cutters for removing parts from sprues.

I think you would be much happier to have the PE Shears for PE and the Cutters for plastic.

The 410 cutters are designed for plastic, and won't really cut metal all that well. I ruined a pair cutting small music wire for antennas.

The PE shears are great, like a hot knife going through butter really, just make sure you only use them for cutting PE, as if they got damaged cutting something else, they wouldn't cut PE very well anymore. Mind you...they would probably cut styrene fine without any ill effects.

Thanks for the replies Jeff and Scott.
That settles it then, a set of 410's for the plastic and the 9180ET for the brass. Supplementary question, anyone know which are more useful the 410A(smooth finish) or the 410T(tight spaces)?

I have to settle for tools or paints from the wife, she refuses to buy me any more kits until the stash count gets below 20. So now I tell her she has to help me buy the tools and consumables that will enable that reduction. Though, as nearly everyone here can attest, that aint ever gonna happen. The best she can hope for is "Build one, buy one"

From the looks of it, I would pick the Xuron High Precision Hobby Shear - 410T, since it should cut in tighter places.

This probably would come in handy for dealing with large sprue gates like the ones DML prefers.

You might want to look at the NEW Professional Scale Modeling Tools from Xuron.

2175ET Pro Sprue Cutter http://hawkeyes-squawkbox.com/2008/11/15/xurons-new-professional-sprue-cutter/


9180ET Pro PE Scissors http://hawkeyes-squawkbox.com/2010/01/31/xurons-new-pro-pe-cutter-sneak-peek/


The 410 was good, but we've made a vastly superior tool with the new designs. Yours truly designed both of these!

It ALWAYS happens!

I bought a set of Xuron PE Shears not long ago, and guess what, Xuron comes out with a newer, BETTER set of PE Shears!

Can I trade in my never-been-used set for the new ones?

lol i love xuron tools i have the photo etch pro shears just got them there amazing also have the pro cutters but to be honest i love my 410a very smooth cut i feel that they cut better then the pro cutters . the regular 410 cutters are great also but the 410a have a flusher smoother cut. amazon has xuron cutters for a great price and if you sign up for the trial rime membership which is free you get free 2 day shipping . then after 30 day just cancel the membership. i got a brand new 410a for 9 dollars and free shipping. DONT USE THE 410 A OR T TO USE FOR PHOTO ETCH IT WONT HARM THE BLADE BUT THE OVERLAPPING SHEAR ACTION WILL RUIN THE THIN PHOTO ETCH THATS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME

For my pe work, I use a pair of scissors I got from Harbor Freight(a hobby tool assortment). They work great. for cutting styrene, I use a cheap pair of wire cutters and a razor knife. After all of the cutting, I sand down any excess styrene.

Thanks Gerald,
I folowed your advice and ordered the 2175ET Pro Sprue Cutter and the 9180ET Pro PE Scissors. They arrived a couple of days ago and the sprue cutters have already been put to good use.
I'm able to cut much closer to the part than previously (though I still trim with a #11 blade and sand). No more need to cut half a sprue gate away when working with the delicate parts.

SWMBO will get a foot rub for buying me these, but I won't trim her toenails with them.

well, I have them, and while I do use them, I find that I use my x-acto knife more to cut off PE parts.

The PE shears are great, like a hot knife going through butter really, just make sure you only use them for cutting PE, as if they got damaged cutting something else, they wouldn't cut PE very well anymore. Mind you...they would probably cut styrene fine without any ill effects.I have to settle for tools or paints from the wife, she refuses to buy me any more kits until the stash count gets below 20. So now I tell her she has to help me buy the tools and consumables that will enable that reduction. Though, as nearly everyone here can attest, that aint ever gonna happen. The best she can hope for is "Build one, buy one
I wish get moreCheap Maplestory MesosRS GoldandRift Goldthen I will be strong!!aha!