Jump to content
Model Cars Magazine Forum

Recommended Posts

Posted (edited)

Anybody uses dental picks to cut styrene plastic? Do they really work? If not, what do you use for cutting?

Edited by angelo7
Posted

I have a dental pick I bought as a panel scriber. It has worked very well for many years. It just handles better than all the various other scribers I've purchased over the years.

Posted

i've had just the opposite results, but maybe didn't get the right set o' picks.

best i've used is the back edge of a #11 xacto blade for straight, and for curves the round / double ended tool shown here. the ends can be replaced as well as sharpened to different profiles. use dymo-label tape for curved plane surfaces.

Posted

If I'm just cutting sheet styrene, I use an Xacto knife. For scribing and cutting out doors and trunks, I use these...

009_zps3dykx55o.jpg

The dental pick has become my favorite tool to scribe with. I modified the tip of it like so...

006_zpswhhikthr.jpg

It actually cuts a finer line than anything else I have. I was concerned that the tip would break off easily. But, over a year later, it's still just like it was when I modified it. It cuts whether I push or pull it and follows the panel lines perfectly. It won't jump out of the line or wander like an Xacto blade will.

Posted

I have acquired dental pick from salvage/discarded hardware businesses (locally: Apache Reclamation) but you can also get dental picks from electronics tool suppliers like Tech-Tool, Newark, Digikey and Mouser. THey are commonly listed in the soldering tools sections.

Posted (edited)

Great answers. Thank you much for the video and photos. I just got a set of picks from Hobby Lobby. Never used them before and was wondering. Thank you guys!

Edited by angelo7
Posted

As always grab a scrap body and try it out. Tools are like women, they are an eye (or in this case )hand of the beholder. If you have a good grinder at home you can sharpen the picks to your liking.

Posted

The last time I was at my Dentist's office for an adjustment on my new dentures, I asked the Dentist if he had any old, discarded dental picks that he could part with.... I explained what I would be using them for... He very nicely gave me a bunch of cleaned, sanitized, packaged picks... I've got plenty now that I can use.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...