cutting styrene. what tools to use?

[dieselfuel]

I'm getting further along on my clod body and I've just about destroyed a pair of lexan scissors in the process. Is there a better way of cutting styrene that is .060-.080" thick?

 

[Drnkirishm]

Dremel or tin snips work well.

 

[JavelinSST390]

Go to your Hobby store and buy what's called a razor saw. They're pretty much made for this sort of thing and will even cut thin aluminum.

They also make a mitre box for razor saws, but they're not very accurate.

And for just cutting out chunks of styrene sheet I just use my wife's heavy-duty kitchen scissors (The really BIG ones that come with knife sets,)

 

[Brainstain]

I use a dremel or just an X-acto with a ruler. If the blade is sharp the bigger Xacto will go right through .030 so it should only take 2 swipes on .060 -.080 and it will be far less messy.

 

[obijuan]

xacto all the way homebro, body scissors can cut some shit but for the cleanliness use a ruler and a blade. saws just cut crooked and are messy.

with the xacto blade you can just give it a few good scores and snap it right off. if you need the smooth finish of the edge to adhere to something just score it all the way through.

edit, how did you just about destroy your body scissors? ive only had one pair and never had a lexan body lol. ive cut wires, pizza, and 1/4 inch thick styrene, nose hairs, and even some thin metal. id say i got my 10 bucks out of them.

 

[Grizzly4x4]

For big rough cuts I like my tin snips. For smaller cuts I use an X acto to score it a few times.
I don't have a razor saw but I think that would be a great tool as well.

 

[dieselfuel]

Wow thanks guys! Ill look into one of these razor saws. And in the mean time ill just exacto it.

 

[STANG KILLA SS]

i use an exacto on my .080, 1-2 scores, then just snap it. super easy and clean everytime.