I picked up this circle cutter at Mickaels for around $5. It has proven to be a valuable tool for masking. Perfect for those round windows, roundels on Brit aircraft and …well…anything round!
It is made by OLFA. I heated up the plastic above the needle to bend it in, for smaller circles.
cutting a set of masks for a CH-46
Perfect!!!
Just a little piece of tape over the pinhole and “good to go”!!!
Just got me thinking, I have a nice Rotring bow compass which has been redundant for some time - I think I will make some “adjustments” & fit a blade to one end & give it a try.
I should also find a use for my also now redundant set of Isograph pens?
I have one of those Olfa circle cutting tools too, great idea on bending the tip for smaller circles! Wish I had thought of it about a week ago. [sigh]
I think I am doing something wrong with mine, as the circles are not always perfect. Perhaps the angle at which I am holding the tool? I know it is not the tool’s fault, but I wish I could get the technique down to turn out cicrles good enough to mask roundels with.
I started out with the same problem. The finish point didn’t line up with the start point. I discovered that putting the tape on a piece of scrap styrene, then spinning the styrene instead of the cutter. Perfect every time!!!
Good luck!
AHA!!! That’s the answer. Thanks fermis, I am going to trythat techniaue right away! [^]
Harbor Freight Tools sells a punch & die set (think Waldron mini-punches on steroids). The sizes range from 1/8 to 3/4 inch. I’ve used mine for punching masking tape, decals, sheet plastic, and even sheet brass
I bought the pictured Harbor Freight punch and die set and am requesting advice on cleaning it of the nasty oil/grease residue it came with.
I don’t want to cause a potential rust problem but this set needs some serious cleaning prior to use!
Also, what do you use for backing on the tape that you punch out?
Thanks in advance!
First, that’s a good tip on turning the plastic instead of the cutter. I’ll have to give that a try. I’ve started several times to buy one of those cutters but never did. When I first got back to modeling I bought a compass kit that has a leg with attachment that you can use a pen or pencil with. I bought a retractable blade knife that’s the same size as a pen and tried cutting circles and radius with it and it just didn’t work very well. Always got off track. Maybe this will fix the problem.
I’ve had a set of gasket making punches for ages that I’ve used to punch out masks and discs from plastic and thin sheet metal. I’m guessing that’s what the Harbor Freight kit is intended for. Mine goes from .125 - .750 too. Does the HF kit come with pilots to insert in the face of the punches for making washers or round gaskets?
Jayhawk, I use thin styrene sheet for backing. I’ve got a drawer full of .010, .020, .030, .040 sheet. Some lacquer thinner or brake cleaner will probably cut that oil off.
Tony