johna Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 I am finding it difficult cutting 2mm card to give a nice clean site edge using a Stanley knife. So any recommendations the best method to use to get good results p!ease? Thanks Johna Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 I have built a lot of card structures. My weapon of choice is the Olfa knife (yellow handle). Snap off the dull blade to reveal a fresh one. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Campaman Posted November 6, 2019 Share Posted November 6, 2019 I use the larger snap off blade knife (cheap variety) and it usually takes 4-5 strokes to get through 2mm card to get a nice edge. To much pressure with a thick Stanley blade will give a angled edge. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johna Posted November 6, 2019 Author Share Posted November 6, 2019 Thanks for the reply folks. Think I been putting too much pressure on the blade as I have been trying to cut the sheets with just two cuts. Johna Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium DavidLong Posted November 7, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 7, 2019 On 05/11/2019 at 23:39, brossard said: I have built a lot of card structures. My weapon of choice is the Olfa knife (yellow handle). Snap off the dull blade to reveal a fresh one. John John, There seem to be a number of Olfa knives with yellow handles, do you have a particular one that you are referring to? David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted November 7, 2019 Share Posted November 7, 2019 This one. https://olfa.com/professional/product/heavy-duty-ratchet-lock-utility-knife-l-1/ There are several models that seem to have more or less the same specs. John 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
michl080 Posted November 7, 2019 Share Posted November 7, 2019 (edited) I prefer a different approach. This blade is not splitting the material, it digs kind of a small trench in several cuts. The edge of the cut is perpendicular to the surface. With a knife, you will always have a sloping edge. Michael Edited November 7, 2019 by michl080 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted November 7, 2019 Share Posted November 7, 2019 I use that for making V grooves in plastic card. Also for making half etched fold lines easier to bend. Maybe I should check out that out next time. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasdavetheroad Posted November 8, 2019 Share Posted November 8, 2019 I use a fresh scalpel blade in a retractable holder. The non sterile versions are cheap. For rough cutting I use snap off blade knives which I buy in packs from poundland Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Campaman Posted November 8, 2019 Share Posted November 8, 2019 The scraper type blade is OK for plastic, I would imagine it would make a mess of card. 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornholio Posted November 10, 2019 Share Posted November 10, 2019 @Phil Parker shared a tip recently of using a scrap piece of wood as a cutting guide. The thickness of the wood holds the blade perfectly vertical, therefore resulting in a nice straight cut. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Phil Parker Posted November 11, 2019 Administrators Share Posted November 11, 2019 19 hours ago, Cornholio said: @Phil Parker shared a tip recently of using a scrap piece of wood as a cutting guide. The thickness of the wood holds the blade perfectly vertical, therefore resulting in a nice straight cut. I used it on foamboard, but can't see why it wouldn't work on card as well. https://philsworkbench.blogspot.com/2019/07/cutting-foamboard-square.html 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveyDee68 Posted January 22, 2020 Share Posted January 22, 2020 On 11/11/2019 at 09:41, Phil Parker said: I used it on foamboard, but can't see why it wouldn't work on card as well. https://philsworkbench.blogspot.com/2019/07/cutting-foamboard-square.html How I wish I had read Phil's tip for cutting foamboard earlier!! Have just cut base layers* for dock piling for my micro layout Woodhey Wharf and the cuts are anything but vertical! What a simple but effective tip! I may well now do them again (eek!), although the point of using foamboard is that I don't need to glue three layers of card together to get the necessary depth, and it is such an easy material to cut!! I wonder if I could source a milled square metal bar, so the blade doesn't eat away the guide material? Could a rotary guillotine do the job? Some models claim to accurately cut through up to 2mm depth of material, and those would be vertical cuts. * Scalescenes download, Dock Walls 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveyDee68 Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 On 22/01/2020 at 01:07, SteveyDee68 said: Could a rotary guillotine do the job? Some models claim to accurately cut through up to 2mm depth of material, and those would be vertical cuts. Update Today I called in an artists suppliers for spray matt varnish, but also came away with brown and black inks, a selection of balsa wood and a rather nifty ruler/cutter designed for cutting art board mounts. Not only is it guaranteed to cut vertically through materials, but also materials up to 7mm thick, so 2mm thick card or 5mm thick foamboard shouldn't be a problem. It also does 45 degree cuts (for framing mounts) but which should come in handy for mitred corners on buildings, depending upon the accuracy! Bargain for £15! Steve S 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium dhjgreen Posted January 25, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 25, 2020 Any make or model info please? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveyDee68 Posted January 26, 2020 Share Posted January 26, 2020 On 25/01/2020 at 13:27, dhjgreen said: Any make or model info please? Hi - it is made by Jakar and is a Mount Cutter Kit with 40cm acrylic ruler (ref 7380). It cost £14.99 reduced from £19.99, and I got it instead of the 60cm version which would have cost £36.00 - that's called stumbling upon a bargain! The cutter slides in a groove in the rule, allowing multiple passes - the blades are bi-directional, cutting in both directions. Steve S 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam88 Posted January 26, 2020 Share Posted January 26, 2020 The 45deg cutter is also useful for cutting chamfered cork for track beds. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Rowsley17D Posted February 2, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 2, 2020 Thanks for the heads up on this product which I have just ordered - the aluminium version at £14.99 including postage. I've been trying to cut card at 90 deg for ages!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveyDee68 Posted February 24, 2020 Share Posted February 24, 2020 On 02/02/2020 at 12:10, Rowsley17D said: Thanks for the heads up on this product which I have just ordered - the aluminium version at £14.99 including postage. I've been trying to cut card at 90 deg for ages!! Hi Report back how you get on with it. My instructions suggest having "sacrificial" material underneath, and I have to get some more mountboard before I can try it. I will post results here when I do. Hours of fun! Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Rowsley17D Posted February 24, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 24, 2020 7 hours ago, SteveyDee68 said: Hi Report back how you get on with it. My instructions suggest having "sacrificial" material underneath, and I have to get some more mountboard before I can try it. I will post results here when I do. Hours of fun! Steve I have only had a try with it to see how it works. I use an A3 size cutting mat underneath but will need to get a bigger one for cutting larger sheets of card. Like using a knife I make several passes with the blade until it cuts right through the card. It certainly cuts at right angles. I found the cutting knife piece ran very stiffly along the aluminium ruler but lubricated it with some graphite powder. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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