RMweb Premium SR71 Posted November 3, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 3, 2020 Hi all, What do people use to cut the nice slide fit fine tubing Albion Alloys produce without turning the profile into an egg? I've got the normal copper pipe cutter but that doesn't go anything like small enough and I haven't been able to find a modellers equivalent. I need to produce a number of repeatable short stubs and I don't feel the jewelers saw is the right tool for the job even with a very fine blade. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davknigh Posted November 3, 2020 Share Posted November 3, 2020 It depends on the size you are working with but FWIW I managed some decent repeat cuts of some 0.7mm o/d brass tube with a utility knife. The trick was to have some 0.5mm wire inside the tube to keep it from collapsing while the blade was rolled over the tube. HTH David 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Argos Posted November 3, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 3, 2020 Hi SR71, There are various techniques: Use a very fine razor saw (e.g JLC https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=jlc+razor+saw&_sacat=2594&LH_TitleDesc=0&_sop=15) Roll the tube against a sharp hobby knife. Use a cutting disc in a drill. Hope that helps. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PenrithBeacon Posted November 3, 2020 Share Posted November 3, 2020 Piercing saw for me every time https://www.eileensemporium.com/materials-for-modellers/product/eclipse-piercing-saw-blades-52tpi-10-pack/category_pathway-1369 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon A Posted November 3, 2020 Share Posted November 3, 2020 Hold the tube in a pin vice and either use a piercing saw or a slitting disc. Cut to over length and file back to length again using a pin vice with a file. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PenrithBeacon Posted November 3, 2020 Share Posted November 3, 2020 I hold it in my power drill, it's big enough to get a good grip on and won't flatten the tube. Use a flat Swiss file to get right length and deburr with file and twist drill. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zunnan Posted November 3, 2020 Share Posted November 3, 2020 I use my own take on the pipe vice I got very intimate with when I was an apprentice knocking up electrical conduit... I have cut a V groove into a small block of wood, and line it with rubber band for very good grip and adjusting the depth of the groove to suit smaller diameter pieces. The rod/tube is held in place with another piece of wood lined with cork on top (again for grip, but also protects from deformities from over clamping) and I make the cut with a razor saw. Doing it this way I find is also a good way to multi-purpose it as a jig for making multiple identical cuts. If its particularly thin walled tube I'll slide a suitably sized smaller rod into the tube to support it while I make the cut. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium SR71 Posted November 3, 2020 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted November 3, 2020 Wow, that was a lot of quick replies, lots of ideas to try. Thanks all. I particularly like the pin vice to clamp, obvious when you think about it but I hadn't even considered it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted November 4, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 4, 2020 One of these is useful too; http://www.hobbyholidays.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=EXTUBECUT Mike. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Happy Hippo Posted November 4, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 4, 2020 I use a piercing saw and then face the tube off in the lathe. Good tooling which probably costs about the same as a couple of sound fitted locos some years ago was a very good investment. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Traxson Posted November 4, 2020 Share Posted November 4, 2020 4 hours ago, Enterprisingwestern said: One of these is useful too; http://www.hobbyholidays.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=EXTUBECUT Mike. I use one of these and a fine tooth razor saw to cut large numbers of spacers and bearing tubes for the kits I produce. There is a lockable back stop so repeating the same length is a doddle , it is designed so that you can also unscrew the handle and mount it in a vice too, made what used to be a real chore easy. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium SR71 Posted November 4, 2020 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted November 4, 2020 @Phil Traxson & @EnterprisingwesternA An excuse to buy tools... well I guess I won't be using any petrol for the next month... @Happy Hippo you make me jealous, apparently we need our kitchen counters for food not for machine tools. How unreasonable can you get? Thanks again all. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
5050 Posted November 5, 2020 Share Posted November 5, 2020 On 03/11/2020 at 18:47, Gordon A said: Hold the tube in a pin vice and either use a piercing saw or a slitting disc. Cut to over length and file back to length again using a pin vice with a file. I hold the pin vice horizontally in the vice and slip a small drill into the tube while cutting with a piercing saw (or a razor saw). It will rotate as the blade goes through the side wall, at which point loosen the pin vice in the vice jaws and turn it a bit to present fresh metal to the saw. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
5050 Posted November 5, 2020 Share Posted November 5, 2020 (edited) 45 minutes ago, 5050 said: I hold the pin vice horizontally in the vice and slip a small drill into the tube while cutting with a piercing saw (or a razor saw). It will rotate as the blade goes through the side wall, at which point loosen the pin vice in the vice jaws and turn it a bit to present fresh metal to the saw. The cut slice of tube will be held by the drill - and shouldn't be devoured by the carpet monster...... Er, sumfin funny 'appened there................. I reckon I must'a clicked 'quote' rather than 'edit'. It's me age yer know..................... Edited November 5, 2020 by 5050 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cypherman Posted November 6, 2020 Share Posted November 6, 2020 Hi all, As mentioned earlier here by On 03/11/2020 at 18:17, davknigh said: It depends on the size you are working with but FWIW I managed some decent repeat cuts of some 0.7mm o/d brass tube with a utility knife. The trick was to have some 0.5mm wire inside the tube to keep it from collapsing while the blade was rolled over the tube. HTH David Hi all, I do the same as davknigh. I slip a piece of steel wire inside and cut round that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheatley Posted November 7, 2020 Share Posted November 7, 2020 Stanley knife gently rolled on the bench every time here. Works up to about 3mm dia with no problems. Needs to be a chunky blade, not your smallest X-acto though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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