[8-)]Can anyone tell me the best way to clean up photo etched parts? When I tried my modeling file (fine I think) the parts wanted to bend. I would appreciate the help. Thanks in advance. Oh by the way, the model is a 1/35 2cm flak 38 [8-)]
I very carefully use a sanding stick
Once I get the part off the fret, I trim it 1st with straight nail clipper. These are from tweezer Man on 1 of the mot used tools on my bench
For the small bit left I use a fine sanding stick. Go mostly in the direction of the edge at angle. Unless it is a big beefy part I won’t go across it perpendicular.
If you know anyone in the medical profession, try to get a set of non-serrated hemostat clamps (these are used in operations but are thrown out afterward). Barring this, get a set of needle nose pliers (non-serrated).
After you separate the PE part from the fret, clamp the part in your hemostat or pliers, with the edge requiring clean up exposed about 1mm. Then gently go over the part needed to be removed with a file, along the length of the part. Very easy to do and the part doesn’t get bent.
First you need to use a good quality PE Scissors to remove the parts. In the March issue of FSM they reviewed the new Xuron 9180ET Pro PE Scissor which I designed for them.
Secondly this article I wrote should be useful as it shows the methods I use to trim PE.
I have found a good pair of PE cutters to be a must. I haven’t got the new Xuron ones that Hawkeyes mentions yet, but do have the older set. I find that i can remove anything any access just fine. If there is any clean up needed, the sanding stick or a [piece of fine sand paper usually does the job.
I use a hard block of polycarbonate as a cutting surface, cut the part away from the fret using a sharp #11 blade, and then clean up the (very small if any) remaining nub using the conical grinding tool in my Mighty Mite Dremel tool on the 5000rpm setting. I’ll use locking tweezers to hold the part or, if it’s big enough, just hold it with my fingers. Quick and easy although I will say that there is a slight (you realize this the first time you try it) risk that the part can go flying, so some thought and awareness of the laws of physics and how to approach the grinder bit is needed beforehand. [;)]