Question for you scratch build structure-builders. Is there a tool or fixture available that aids you in cutting styrene to exact 90 degree angles (and other angles, also)? I seem to remember something in a post awhile back, but can't find it via the search tool (not even sure if it was on this forum....). Thanks in advance
There is something that is called the Chopper, II or III. I do not have one but I believe you can set at a 90 degree angle. You could also use a machinist's square. Or, at the very least, a draftsman's right triangle.
NWSL makes the Chopper II. It will cut angles or square cuts. They also make The Dupilcutter II that does only straight cuts. It has a guide that locks in place and a bar that you tighten down over your plastic so you can make duplicate sized pieces. I have the Duplicutter II and it is very easy to use.
NWSL brochures: (PDF files) http://www.nwsl.com/Brochure Pages/broch ChopperII Tools.htm http://www.nwsl.com/Catalog/pg011-cat2-01-v0605.pdf
I am not sure if you are talking about cutting sheets of styrene or smaller strips and shapes. I guess it doesn't matter because I use the same tool for both. I made my own homemade version of NWSL's Chopper and use it as is to cut small strips and shapes to exact lengths. To cut sheets, I add a minature framing square. Butt the sheet up against the Chopper's fence and hold the framing square in the correct location and then scribe a line with an exacto knife along the square's edge. Snap off the piece at the scribed line. I also use this method to scribe and cut window and door openings so they are all straight and parallel. I also made a homemade version of NWSL's True Sander to sand edges at 90 degrees. Sorry NWSL but I am a frugal modeler.
I just started using a rotary paper trimmer. It cut a .060 (the thickest I have) styrene sheet with no problem. I like it because the shuttle track locks into place clamping the item you are cutting. And the blades are easily replaceable. Here's one at Amazon: [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-Rotary-Paper-Trimmer-12/dp/B00026UUVG"]Amazon.com: Fiskars Rotary Paper Trimmer 12'': Kitchen & Dining[/ame] I borrowed mine from my Mom. She bought it at Costco for around $40.00. I've never used the Chopper, but I've used similar products and the chopping arm always seems to come out of alignment.
I just use a small square and an exacto knife. I use a Chpper II when I have to cut many parts, but it's pretty limited to thin stock, and does a terrible job on styrene tubes and shapes. I had to shim the blade to make the cut square up and down. I also have a small aluminum miter fixture, which I use with a jeweler's saw. Great for styrene and brass. I've nearly sawn through the thing, after 35 years. I sometimes prefer it over the chopper--I just clamp a piece of scrap inside the channel. A rotary paper trimmer! I haven't seen one of those since my early days in the printing industry. They were used to cut black paper squares on a paste-up board. The squares would show up clear on the negatives, and we'd strip the negatives of the pictures into the squares before making the proofs and then the plate. We had a terrible time with tear-outs at the corners of the black paper which the rotary trimmer solved. My blade sometimes wanders near the end of cuts but then I'm often cutting pieces 36 inches long for ships. For some work, I just use the grid on my cutting board!
