Is there a good way to cut styrene rod (round and rectangular) so that the ends are as close to square as possible?

I can get them close by scraping the end carefully and so long as I leave a little extra from the final length, but with a lot of pieces to cut, that method requires a significant amount of extra work and eyestrain.

If I can make the jobe easier and quicker then that would be a bonus.

I usually use a single edge razor blade. Rolling the rod under light pressure on a cutting mat, it scores the rod and you can either snap it off, or continue to cut through. Just make sure the blade is straight up not angled. It may need a light swipe with a sander to square up the end.

If you try to "Chop" through it, you'll end up with an angle sure as I have plastic teeth. Just the nature of the shape of the blade, not my teeth. :-)

I too have had problems cutting hex and rod at 90 degrees. I did think of buying a microtome, which is a device we use for cutting thin sections of specimens for microsope examination............. so I checked out the one we had in the lab. It's a small, cheap looking thing that cost over £400. I'm waiting for the Small Shop to design one for about £15 now. :-)

Vinnie

hmmm, designing something sounds like an interesting activity? #:-)

There's a few on Ebay....
microtome :-)

Well, I do have a cheap solution for cutting round styrene rod which works well for me. Go to Sears or such and get yourself a $5 miniature tubing cutter. I have one I use at work for cutting automotive metal automatic transmission lines that works great. I know, I have to spend less time around automatic transmissions! LOL You can cut styrene rod at a 90 degree angle with one of these, but a word of warning, tighten the adjusting knob slowly when your cutting styrene.

I actually have one like that. Good for round, not so usefel on sqaure

If I'm having difficulty with cutting a rod and getting the end into its proper shape.. I just cut it slightly long and sand it to size and square it up that way.

Thats what I was doinf until I realised I had possibly several dozen bits of rod to cut. I didn't fancy the sand it square method for that much styrene. I will probably have to just put up with a little crookedness on some and make careful use of filler/superglue

A miter box in combo with your razor saw will give you nice square ends regardless of rod shape.

I use "The Chopper", it works pretty well for small diameter stock, and you can make many identical pieces pretty fast.


HTH

Mark

What is 'The Chopper' and wher can I find one?

"The Chopper" is made by NorthWest Short Lines, and think you can get one from www.micromark.com



HTH
Mark

I too use a miniature miter box and razor saw. It is good for cutting all shapes and sizes. Plus it allows you to cut at 90 and 45 degree angles.

I picked mine up at a local cratfs store.

Where did you get your chopper from roger, 'locally' or did you have to order from overseas?

oooh ouch! I think I hear my wallet crying especially when it's nearly half the price when ordering from overseas. Of course that doesn't include postage.

My suggestion exactly!

If don't mind dealing with a mob in Sydney, you could also check out Model Railway Craftsman in Blacktown. Haven't been there for a while, but they stocked NWSL gear when I last visited.

They seem to have re-jigged their site and don't list the tools yet, but contact details are there (worth a bell):

http://www.mrrc.com.au

Cheers

They make a smaller size CHOPPER also, runs a little cheaper.

I have the chopper, an X-acto miter box and razor saw, and a true sander.
They all work well. Though I don't use the true sander too much I sand by eye and hand. Too lazy to set up the sander.

Tom

I too have all of these tools (not the lab meat slicer) and I dont use any of them. For my money it is just easier to get great cuts with a hobby knife! This is how to do it. Score the rod, if it is small enough, and just snap the part off. If you want a perfect edge though it gets a little more tasking. What I do is measure, mark , score, snap the peice a bit long. Then come back and with the blade at a slight angle, slice off material till you get to the line. The reason you get a bevel is because the material has nowhere to go when cutting straight down. By having extra material on one end it will curle off as you cut.

If you have a lot to cut then its a matter of deciding how square you want them. You can also trim the parts after they are set on the model providing you have access.

If it is just round rod I use a compas to draw a line on larger stock. Then follow this line with a hobby knife. If it is small stock I just line it up with a ruler and cut away.

Hope this helps. -D