Cutting Circles

[Lonewolf]

OK guys,

I have a circle cutter and a punch and die set. The punch and die set goes up to about 3/16" diameter and the circle cutter down to a radius of about half an inch. This leaves me with a gap between 3/16" and 1" to cover.

Ideas anyone?

[Lonewolf]

I'm still waiting for an answer chaps lol. I really need a good solution to this as I have to cut some accurate circles.

[John Tapsell]

Wolfie,

Olfa do a circle cutter - bit like a pair of compasses but one 'point' is a blade (is that what you already have?).

It'll cut anything from about a quarter inch to about nine inches.

I have to say it takes a bit of getting used to - too much pressure and the blade 'wanders'.

Other than that, nothing springs to mind.

Cheers,
John

[Ted Taylor]

lonewolf said:

OK guys,

I have a circle cutter and a punch and die set. The punch and die set goes up to about 3/16" diameter and the circle cutter down to a radius of about half an inch. This leaves me with a gap between 3/16" and 1" to cover.

Ideas anyone?

Get a GOOD pair of compasses with a screw adjustment and from a good art shop you can buy a small tool that fits into the pencil lead fitting called a circle cutter and looks like a tiny Assegi (Zulu spear)
will post pic when I find it
Ted

[typhoon]

I agree with the comment about the Olfa cutter - it does take practice and it cannot cut very small circles.

It's a good tip from Ted - I shall be looking for one of those when I'm next in town.

For some small sizes of circle the old fashioned hole punch can be used for some materials.

[alfie]

You could always try the old fashioned method of using a trepanning tool.

Alfie

[Lonewolf]

Olfa do a circle cutter - bit like a pair of compasses but one 'point' is a blade (is that what you already have?).

Yeah thats what I'm using. It doesn't go that small and as someone else said its not brilliant at the smaller circles anyway.

Get a GOOD pair of compasses with a screw adjustment and from a good art shop you can buy a small tool that fits into the pencil lead fitting called a circle cutter and looks like a tiny Assegi

That looks like a good idea, will look out for one.

You could always try the old fashioned method of using a trepanning tool.

A what???


Wolfie.

[Ted Taylor]

tedtaylor said:

Get a GOOD pair of compasses with a screw adjustment and from a good art shop you can buy a small tool that fits into the pencil lead fitting called a circle cutter and looks like a tiny Assegi (Zulu spear)
will post pic when I find it
Ted

here is what I am talking about

[Deleted]

lonewolf said:

... A what???

A trepanning tool!

[Ted Taylor]

Nick, can you adjust the size of that thing or do you buy several sizes?

[Deleted]

tedtaylor said:

Nick, can you adjust the size of that thing or do you buy several sizes?

Ayup Ted,

To be honest, I just went on on t'internet to find a pic for Wolfie.

[alfie]

lonewolf said:

You could always try the old fashioned method of using a trepanning tool.

A what???


Wolfie.

Wolfie

A trepanning tool is what I used in ages past to cut holes in aircraft skins. Basically, it's a pivot (dowel) to which is attached a horizontal bar. Sliding along the bar is a cutting blade. Provide a hole for the dowel, set the slide to the radius of the hole and rotate for a while. QED. If you're cutting discs then temporarily attach a dowel guide to your plasticard and remove when you've finished. If you can't buy one, then making one shouldn't be too difficult. We used to get our Engineering Workshops to knock one out for us.

Alfie

[alfie]

southsix1 said:

tedtaylor said:

Nick, can you adjust the size of that thing or do you buy several sizes?

Ayup Ted,

To be honest, I just went on on t'internet to find a pic for Wolfie.

I think that you'll find that that particular instrument is for cutting holes in skulls as trepanning is originally a surgical term.

Alfie

[Deleted]

alfie said:

I think that you'll find that that particular instrument is for cutting holes in skulls as trepanning is originally a surgical term.

Flippin RAF types ... picky ... picky ... picky ... ;D

Here's another one ...

[Fatty]

It depends on the size of the circle, i tend to use a coin or washer and then sand the plastic down to the size....