RMweb Gold Bucoops Posted January 16, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 16, 2022 Good afternoon, I want to be able to neartly cut Nickel Silver or Brass sheet for things like carriage floors, roofs (then rolled) etc. - but how can I do it neatly? I have some 0.022" NS I am hoping to use as a floor for a coach for example. I am hoping there's a suitable guilotine or similar? But can anyone suggest a specific one as I don't want to pay £hundreds but equally I want one that is up to the job. Thank you Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brassey Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 I use tin snips. Used the same pair for 45 years. Does it for me. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR traction instructor Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 (edited) These Irwin ones are currently available, heavy duty and excellent, I find. Distortion is minimal due to the blade/cutting edge design. BeRTIe Edited January 16, 2022 by BR traction instructor 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
micklner Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 (edited) Use a scrawker and a metal ruler , pull the scrawker through the metal until you get a witness line (a mark ) on the otherside , then bend and snap the metal off. Tin snips like above are ok for small pieces, as they cut ,the metal will buckle and or distort. Edited January 17, 2022 by micklner 2 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Bucoops Posted January 16, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted January 16, 2022 Thank you both - OK, any idea of left handed ones are available? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Bucoops Posted January 16, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted January 16, 2022 3 minutes ago, micklner said: Use a scrawker and a metal ruler , pull thescrawker through the metal until you get a witness line (a mark ) on the otherside , then bend and snap the metal off. Tin snips like above are ok for small pieces, as they cut ,the metal will buckle and or distort. That was my concern with snips, thinking back far too long when I last used some I seem to recall one side curling up extensively but couldn't remember if the other did or did not. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Bucoops Posted January 16, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted January 16, 2022 Ok, I've ordered one of these to try - https://olfacutters.co.uk/index.php?route=product/search&search=Olfa PC-S Plastic Cutter It says for plastic rather than metal but I won't be using it much. I will probably find some tin snips at some point too for less accurate or more curved work. I do have a piercing saw but being left handed and cack handed I break blades continuously 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brassey Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 2 hours ago, Bucoops said: That was my concern with snips, thinking back far too long when I last used some I seem to recall one side curling up extensively but couldn't remember if the other did or did not. If you are putting it through rollers, that will replace any curling. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Bucoops Posted January 16, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted January 16, 2022 1 hour ago, Brassey said: If you are putting it through rollers, that will replace any curling. Very true, but flat coach floors I'd hope not to have to I'll see how I get on with the olfa thing I've ordered. I just remembered, I have scored through before, using a needle file. I seem to recall it took several days for my hand to recover from that! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Phil Parker Posted January 16, 2022 Administrators Share Posted January 16, 2022 4 hours ago, Bucoops said: Ok, I've ordered one of these to try - https://olfacutters.co.uk/index.php?route=product/search&search=Olfa PC-S Plastic Cutter It says for plastic rather than metal but I won't be using it much. I will probably find some tin snips at some point too for less accurate or more curved work. I do have a piercing saw but being left handed and cack handed I break blades continuously I have used the Olfa for years for metal cutting. I rarely use snips. 1 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
micklner Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 10 hours ago, Bucoops said: Very true, but flat coach floors I'd hope not to have to I'll see how I get on with the olfa thing I've ordered. I just remembered, I have scored through before, using a needle file. I seem to recall it took several days for my hand to recover from that! You can also use the scrawker for relieving etched lines in kits before folding. Make sure you do not cut through too far !. Good article here re Coach roofs etc https://www.scalefour.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5766 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doilum Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 In these gauges a pair of kitchen scissors cope well. Buy a new pair for the kitchen first though. Slightly thicker sheet can be cut on a band saw by firmly taping the sheet to a piece of sacrificial hardboard. I once had a large guillotine, condemned under H&S, from the school art room. I found it OK with thicker sheet but the thinner stuff tended to crease and fold rather than cut cleanly. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
micklner Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 4 minutes ago, doilum said: In these gauges a pair of kitchen scissors cope well. Buy a new pair for the kitchen first though. Slightly thicker sheet can be cut on a band saw by firmly taping the sheet to a piece of sacrificial hardboard. I once had a large guillotine, condemned under H&S, from the school art room. I found it OK with thicker sheet but the thinner stuff tended to crease and fold rather than cut cleanly. Sorry I dont agree re scissors., the metal will always buckle. A condemed Gillotine with blunt blades? sounds very dangerous !! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doilum Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 7 hours ago, micklner said: Sorry I dont agree re scissors., the metal will always buckle. A condemed Gillotine with blunt blades? sounds very dangerous !! I am fortunate in having / had most of the alternative kit mentioned. Just being honest about what I actually do. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Pulham Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 (edited) I used to use a scrawker but then I bought one of these from Warco Warco Mini Formit They have gone up a little (I paid £179 for mine) Edited January 17, 2022 by Rob Pulham 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Bucoops Posted January 17, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted January 17, 2022 1 hour ago, Rob Pulham said: I used to use a scrawker but then I bought one of these from Warco Warco Mini Formit They have gone up a little (I paid £179 for mine) Nice - but for my needs I'd be thinking it's about £10 a use 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete55 Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 (edited) 4 hours ago, Rob Pulham said: I used to use a scrawker but then I bought one of these from Warco Warco Mini Formit They have gone up a little (I paid £179 for mine) A very nice piece of kit I must admit, but it's minimum rolling diameter of 29mm is too large for most 4mm boilers sadly. I agree with Micklner. Brass or nickel sheet is best cut with a scrawker and metal straight edge. Thin 10 thou sheet can also be cut with a scalpel and new blade along a straight edge, several passes being made before bending to break off the part. Tinsnips always buckle parts of the material, and the notion that rolling it will eliminate buckles is pretty false. You will usually have ripples remaining. Edited January 17, 2022 by pete55 spelling! 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doilum Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 4 hours ago, Rob Pulham said: I used to use a scrawker but then I bought one of these from Warco Warco Mini Formit They have gone up a little (I paid £179 for mine) OK, maybe not one of those..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Pulham Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 14 hours ago, pete55 said: A very nice piece of kit I must admit, but it's minimum rolling diameter of 29mm is too large for most 4mm boilers sadly. I agree with Micklner. Brass or nickel sheet is best cut with a scrawker and metal straight edge. Thin 10 thou sheet can also be cut with a scalpel and new blade along a straight edge, several passes being made before bending to break off the part. Tinsnips always buckle parts of the material, and the notion that rolling it will eliminate buckles is pretty false. You will usually have ripples remaining. Hi Pete, I must confess that I have a set of GW Models rollers so I have never used it for rolling anything. I use it purely as a Guillotine a job it does very well. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pebbles Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 I have an old second hand guilotine, that I aquired as part of a job lot. It has an edge so the cuts remain square relative to the previous cut. Despite having a metric scale on its right hand side I have found it impossible to accurately cut to a specific size. That said, it's fine for chassis spacers providing you use the single cut for all the spacers on a chassis. On the other hand screwkers can produce fairly accurate first time cuts. However, if thicker metal is being cut the depth of the cut will produce a "v" shape and this will need to be taken into account. Finally my screwker is made from an old heavy duty hacksaw blade ground to the required shape. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Bucoops Posted January 19, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted January 19, 2022 Good news! The olfa thingy has arrived and I've done my first cut with it. Bad news! I should have worn gloves, it's going to take a while to get all the shards out my hands 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Phil Parker Posted January 19, 2022 Administrators Share Posted January 19, 2022 What are you doing with it? I've cut loads of metal and plastic with mine. You might make a coil of metal, but nothing that needs gloves. Several gentle passes is the key. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Bucoops Posted January 19, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted January 19, 2022 1 hour ago, Phil Parker said: What are you doing with it? I've cut loads of metal and plastic with mine. You might make a coil of metal, but nothing that needs gloves. Several gentle passes is the key. Swarf is the word I meant not shards. I think I did it too lightly to begin with, it was very fine pieces coming off. It cut very neatly though Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Phil Parker Posted January 19, 2022 Administrators Share Posted January 19, 2022 Like most tools, it takes a bit of practice, but you'll wonder how you did without it. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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