After 9 or so builds now, I’m finally the proud owner of sprue cutters. Wow, what a difference! I had no idea how much easier they would make cutting parts off of the tree. I picked them up on a whim at Hobby Lobby because they were 1/3 off and I’m cursing myself for not getting them sooner. No more exacto knife nubs left on the piece for me : ) Just a simple snip, no more exacto sawing or brute force.
You know it’s been a long day when you are euphoric over a pair of glorified scissors. Seriously though, every model builder should have them.
I concur, I used to sneer at modelers who used them. I thought “pay good money when I already have a #11?”, until I gave my thumb a nice cut and thought “OK I’ll try them” and bought the Xuron Micro Shears. Like a hot knife through butter, shears close to the piece and cut my sanding time way down. Every modeler should have a set.
Sprue cutters are next on my list, but yeah, the right tool can make all the difference. I felt that way after I got my Squizzers decal scissors from Micro Mark. There is just no way that regular scissors or even a fresh No. 11 blade can handle some 1/700 scale ship and airplane decals like my Squizzers. I just plane love 'em.
Take a great tool and make it better. I took a Dremel and a grinding wheel to thin the blades down and they fit in tight spots better than before. I’m not too concerned about getting to close. I take care of the nub with flat nail clippers. After that a couple of strokes with a sanding sick and no sign of the nub.
sprue cutters & sanding sticks are the 2 most used tool in my box - it just cuts down on the amount of sanding you have to do and much more control than a #11 blade.
Mandrake… yes it is a Xuron and I wil say yes it is the angled one only because it is… well… angled. I didn’t know they made more than one kind to be honest[;)][:)]
EDIT
Turns out I have the regular cutters. The angled one has a MUCH more pronounced bend.