Trimming question

[Pyro[TK]]

What should I use to trim my ata armor?

 

I used scissors for my mando but it didn't have so many curves

 

I was thinking of buying a dremal but I don't know what blade to use or if it will work

[ajax407[TK]]

I'm using the good old fashioned score and snap method. Use a sharp blade and take your time are the words I live by. I finish up by hand sanding it or using the dremel with the sanding drum if I need to take more down.

 

At least that's what works for me. Good luck and have fun!

[Pyro[TK]]

Thanks I'll try that

[Chunk[501st]]

Im not sure what ATA Armor is made out of. But I have a FX. I marked with a pencil & used a dremil. The dremil I used I bought at Harbor Freight for $7. So you don't need to go out & buy the most expensive one at the store. I used a corse sanding drum & it took off my excess very quickly. I did both theigh tops in under 5min, & I was being extra carful. Make sure ou wear goggles if you use a dremil. It WILL kick up lots of plastic right into your face.

[pandatrooper[TK]]

Get some curved lexan scissors from a hobby shop they're used for cutting RC car bodies.

[Amish Trooper]

Get some curved lexan scissors from a hobby shop they're used for cutting RC car bodies.

Those work well. Some people like to use a hot knife too. I have tried all that has been mentioned and really I use all that has been mentioned. I mix and match for certain areas

[SuperTrooper]

The hot knife works better for ABS. I use the curve RC scissors, an a dremel with a fine grit sanding drum the most.

[carbonitekid]

I used a Dremmel with thin (1mm ) grinding discs to cut away most of the excess the the dremel coupled with a small sanding drum to take it closer in. Then just sand with a fine grade paper.

 

An alternate trick I have used on plastic for years is to uise the angled edge of a 6"steel rule to scrape a smooth edge. Takes some practice but is especially good at getting rid of burrs.

[theunemployedstormtroopers]

The blood inside my lid is infact real! So now my hot knife has become my new best friend followed by a knock off dremel tool. The hot knife can leave a nasty goopey edge if real hot and moved too slow but a tiny sanding drum cleans it up quickly. One thing i would like to mention is choice of hot knifes. I use a simple one that is nothing more then a soldering iron that came with an attachment tip that uses excacto knife blades. Works well but blades seem to dull quicker when hot

[troopermaster]

I use tin snips to trim close to my trim line and then use a Dremel sanding drum to take it to the line. Scrape off the burrs with a utility knife blade and this leave the edges very smooth. A quick rub with some fine grit sand paper and your done

[ABS80]

The cleanest and fastest way is the score and snap technique, but this works best for straight cuts on leg, arms and armor parts, for the curved parts I use a dremel at full speed using fiberglass reinforced cutting discs, it cuts like in butter.

 

Mark

Edited June 9, 2010 by ABS80

[TK bondservnt[501st]]

score lightly first pass, score harder second pass,

snap even curves this way by scribing 2x with a sharp blade.

 

scissors for the really complex or difficult curves.

 

sand with 60 grt. done.