kate
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,503 
Location: The city that doesn't sleep
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 3:30:05 GMT
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Post by kate on Oct 11, 2019 21:14:05 GMT
I bought a cheap wire nipper from the jewelry-making section at M's, and it just doesn't cut well enough to separate die sets - I have to work it really hard, and then it leaves a burr on both sides.
I want something that will cut flush to the die - and NOT something that's going to kill my hands! Can anyone tell me either the name of the cutter you use (if it's great) or the keywords I need to use to search for them myself (I assume that "wire cutters" will not be strong enough, but maybe I'm wrong)?
Die sets cost way too much to be ruined by bad cutters!
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Apr 18, 2024 23:05:04 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2019 21:56:12 GMT
I won't buy dies that I have to cut apart. Even the cheapie ones on Amazon come pre-cut, I don't know why the super expensive ones can't go through that finishing step before being considered ready to sell.
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Oct 11, 2019 22:12:32 GMT
I won't buy dies that I have to cut apart. Even the cheapie ones on Amazon come pre-cut, I don't know why the super expensive ones can't go through that finishing step before being considered ready to sell. ITA! |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Apr 18, 2024 23:05:04 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2019 22:23:08 GMT
Grab a pair of tin snips (or they might just be called snips or aviation snips) from a hardware store. They're specifically designed for cutting sheet metals. You should be able to find them in a range of different sizes so you can get a smaller pair for cutting dies apart.
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GiantsFan
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,280
Site Supporter
Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
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Post by GiantsFan on Oct 11, 2019 23:02:10 GMT
The beading/crafting ones just didn't have enough heft for me. I use a pair of Craftsman diagonal snips. They're flat on one side so you can get really close. And I hold the die in my trash can to cut. (Those little burrs fly far!) After cutting I run a small rasp over the area. You can find diagonals at a hardware store like Home Depot or Lowes or Ace.
I, too, wish the companies would sell dies already snipped and cleaned up. Especially now that most dies that coordinate with full stamps set are well over $20.
Every time I see one of the cardmaker celebs with a band-aid on I think its from a die that wasn't snipped close enough.
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Post by freeatlast on Oct 11, 2019 23:18:30 GMT
About 5 years ago, someone on another board recommended the Wiss 9-3/4" metal snips (they have to be the ones with the yellow handle). I bought these behemoths from Amazon and have been very pleased with them. Note: they are BIG, they are powerful. I have cut into a die once accidentally with them. Fortunately the cut was no where near the cutting edge of the die. Despite their size, I can cut really close and clean.
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peasquared
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,426
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Post by peasquared on Oct 11, 2019 23:24:41 GMT
I use the smallest pair of Tim Holtz scissors. They usually work. I'll have to look into some metal snips, though.
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Post by papersilly on Oct 12, 2019 0:08:02 GMT
Tin snips and a metal file for the rough edges
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Post by midorica on Oct 12, 2019 4:08:47 GMT
I use the ones by Your Next Stamp, they weren't too expensive and do a nice job. I do try to remember to cover them with a cloth of some kind when I'm cutting though, because the little metal snips fly all over the place! I'm terrified they'll hit me in the eye.
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Post by Embri on Oct 12, 2019 4:36:06 GMT
Not all metal nippers are created equal - many of them are meant for electrical wire / jewelry wire only, very thin and weak materials rather than steel dies. Steel is quite hard to cut. Honestly I have just as much success in many places flexing the dies apart with needlenose pliers rather than cutting them. You still need cutters because some pieces are nested inside bigger dies and/or have triple connection points, but whenever possible using metal fatigue is safer and easier on the hands.
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Post by anniefb on Oct 12, 2019 4:39:36 GMT
I bought the ones Jennifer McGuire recommended a while back and find them very good. They're the Xuron micro sheer flush cutter. Link. |
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Oct 12, 2019 4:55:36 GMT
I won't buy dies that I have to cut apart. Even the cheapie ones on Amazon come pre-cut, I don't know why the super expensive ones can't go through that finishing step before being considered ready to sell. Two possibilities: one is that increases the cost even more, particularly if it has to be done manually, and the other is that it cuts down on the potential fraud of people emailing to say that dies are missing from the set. |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Apr 18, 2024 23:05:04 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2019 6:07:22 GMT
I won't buy dies that I have to cut apart. Even the cheapie ones on Amazon come pre-cut, I don't know why the super expensive ones can't go through that finishing step before being considered ready to sell. Two possibilities: one is that increases the cost even more, particularly if it has to be done manually, and the other is that it cuts down on the potential fraud of people emailing to say that dies are missing from the set. But the cheapie dies on Amazon would have both those concerns and yet they still manage to finish the product completely before sale... Oh, well. It's fine. I'll just continue not buying the ones that come incomplete. |
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scrappermcg
Junior Member
Posts: 88
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Post by scrappermcg on Oct 12, 2019 17:39:58 GMT
I use the Euro tool and it works pretty good. I also use a metal file to smooth the cut edge |
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Post by artisticscrapper on Oct 13, 2019 3:20:01 GMT
Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘die cutting’. I absolutely hate having to cut dies apart, especially when they nest a tiny one inside an already small die. Spellbinders and Sizzix seem to have no problem having their manufacturers produce dies that don’t have to be taken apart.
When I have to DYI them I use the jewelry snips. They are okay but I’d be up for something that cut a little cleaner. I also wear some cheap safety glasses I bought a while back.
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