Compass Cutter Really Sucks!

[EricGoedkoop]

Originally Posted by medved

I had tried to cut out the tyre 'edges' (a 'life-saver' hollow circle @15mm/18mm) & it just chewed them up - if the internal cut went OK the outer would kill it... & vice versa of course

Rings are tough, no matter how you do it. I'd rather do them with a compass cutter than try to center up punches any day of the week. I cut the outside first (for obvious reasons) and then put a little piece of tape over the center hole on the back of the part before going after the inside. This helps hold the pin of the cutter in place.



Nice thing about aeroplane tires is that they're going to get sanded!

[medved]

Originally Posted by EricGoedkoop

Rings are tough, no matter how you do it. I'd rather do them with a compass cutter than try to center up punches any day of the week. I cut the outside first (for obvious reasons) and then put a little piece of tape over the center hole on the back of the part before going after the inside. This helps hold the pin of the cutter in place.



Nice thing about aeroplane tires is that they're going to get sanded!

I had wondered about a combo, cutter for outer & punch for inner.
Best of both worlds?
I am gonna try what you say regarding tape too - that had occurred to me during my previous upset but I was somewhat deflated as I had just destroyed 4 tyres
Nevertheless I think I must try & get this right, particularly as I have plans for other models with wheels - a simple Loco would be nice! Who needs an easy life after all! :D



Wondering who is the resident Tank expert? I see each genre has its own special requirements, so guess there must be someone who is to tanks what Goldenbear is to ships

[Don Boose]

Kevin Stephens, Charlie C, BManic, Jim Nunn, Struna, Johnny, Daimyo, and Greg Perry (ModelPerry) are a few of the outstanding AFV builders who come to mind. silveroxide does some oustanding work on 19th century horse-drawn vehicles and artillery. My apologies to others of the same skill level whom I have failed to mention.

Don

[the hermit]

i agree about the circle cutters

my mother is a draft artist

this is what she will state about this issue

"dont use them, take the time to develope your cutting skill and learn to
cut them free hand cutting 1/4 of the circle arc exactly the same each time then rotating the circle allways cutting the same stroke int he same position example from 12 to 3 on the clock dial the rotating the circle
if you will practice this technique for freehand cutting you can master it
the key is teaching your arm to performe the same cut in the same way each time"

she can cut perfect circles free hand it is amazing

i can do pretty close too as well but i have to go muuuuch slower lol


thought you would like to know

[Keds_Girl_Lala]

May I send her my T-35 tank with 4,328 wheel part to cut please???

[Getter 1]

Medved,

I have a compass cutter very similar to the one in your pic there and I too had similar troubles with it at 1st. Eric covered all the tips I could've given especially the hold the cutter stationary and rotated the part :P

I usually cut all small circles by hand so the cutter hardly ever gets use for anything other than circle bulkhead parts.

However I do toss this question up for any who can answer.

I have bought my 1st Airship model of the USS Macon and of course it has circle bulkheads. They are fairly large and so I want to use the circle cutter on them. Now most models I've come across till now have had the centers marked, this one doesn't. I was wondering if anyone had a good tip on finding circle centers.

G1

[EricGoedkoop]

How to Find the Center of a Circle | eHow.com

[Getter 1]

Many Thanks :D

G1

[SCEtoAUX]

Here is a way to use geometry to find the center of a circle.
Find Circle Center
That is the most accurate.

You find the center of a segment line that you draw on the circle, draw a perpendicular line to that, then find the center of the perpendicular line. I remember that from geometry class in 1969.

The attached is a circle center finder.
Cut it out, leaving the triangle attached to the upper leg.

Score and fold between the triangle and upper leg.

With the triangle folded over, align the inside lines of the two legs with the outside perimiter of the circle.

Open up the triangle and draw a line along the side that starts at the intersection of the two legs. I usually guesstimate where the center of the circle is so I don't have a long line in the circle.

Fold the triangle back over and rotate the legs around 90 degrees.

Again align the inside of the legs with the outside perimeter of the circle.

Open up the triangle again and draw another line as before.

Where the two lines intersect is (close to) the center of the circle.

Always double check, though. It is not a precise tool. You can use that image to make a better one.

[peter taft]

If all else fails.. Make one disk from spare paper {the diameter you require} fold it in half then half again... open it up and you have an exact center where the two lines cross, push a tiny pin through to make a hole for the tip of a fine pencil to go through and place over all your disks to mark the middle of them all. Very simplistic - but hey.. it works