Improve Your Circle Cutter

**Bomarc** · #1 08-15-2010, 11:16 AM

Get the most circle cutting bang for your buck!

So I’m getting ready to start another build, and I need to make wheels that are fairly small. I wanted to cut discs using this cutter I bought several months ago (back story here, here, and here):

Out of the package, this cutter will cut down to about 7/16” diameter circles (if you take the little red cap you see in the picture off), but I needed a tad smaller. Looking it over this morning I determined one can squeeze a bit more out of this device. For those of you who have this cutter, here's what I did to modify the tool.

Take it all apart (“parade rest” as we used to say in the NAV):

I used a dremel tool for the first modification, but a file and knife will probably do the job as well, just not as fast. Grind out the portion of material just up to the center hole as shown. You want to take it up to the first thread of the threaded portion on top of the tool:

That was the hard part. For the second modification, mount the blade as you normally would:

Then take a pair of pliers and snap off the portion of the blade that protrudes above the frame:

You may have to re-adjust the remains of the blade so that nothing protrudes from the top. Now reassemble the tool and you can slide that blade pretty darn close to the point now, about an eighth of an inch away:

Cuts good in mat board:

And card:

Hope I didn't void the warranty!

Mike

**Tom Lapinski** · #2 08-15-2010, 12:36 PM

Thanks for the hint. Bought 2 of the cutters just in case I screw up the modification. Had to buy from the guy in Hong Kong.

**Gil** · #3 08-15-2010, 02:17 PM

Well Mike, voiding the warranty of another fine product! Didn't your mother tell you about these type of things or did you just skip hearing that part like I did....,

Nice Modification. I've held off buying one because of this issue. No more excuses now.

One question (if you don't mind) is how thin can you cut rim like structures? This is more a test of the cutter than anything else but it would definitely put icing on the cake...,

Best Regards & Thanks,
+Gil

**billy.leliveld** · #4 08-15-2010, 02:35 PM

YesThat's just uber smart...:D

**mbauer** · #5 08-15-2010, 03:16 PM

Like Gil said, "Held off on buying one becuase of this issue. No more excuses now".

Looks like I'll be ordering one, the xacto beam cutter is absolutely no good. This one looks like it won't flex like the beam cutter does.

Great tip and selling point! Thank you for sharing!!!!!

Warrantly? smorarranty-with skills like you have, you can fix anything!

Best regards,
Mike Bauer