How to cut perfect circles from card...

[supervike]

Maybe this is a dumb question...


I want to cut out some perfect circles of thin card (like from a cereal box)

The size of the circle I want is the inner part of a 30mm Dark age style base.

Basically, I just want an \'insert\' to fit within the lip of the base.

I\'ve got a plastic circle template that has the right size....I can draw the circle out, using the template, but whether I use scissors or a hobby knife, the results are poor.

I tried to use the plastic guide to cut with as a template, but the knife cuts into the plastic.

Anybody got an easier way to cut a specifically sized circle?

 

[Amazon warrior]

Well, you could try something like this!

Just google circle cutter, you should find plenty of the things.

 

[BPI]

If you don\'t need to produce enough to make it worth spending any money, just bung an exacto blade into a compass (drafting). I have owned a knife with a tiny blade (2mm) that swivelled, good for cutting along hand drawn lines with paper but took time to learn how to use & I don\'t know that it would have coped with card. Good luck :beer: B.

 

[ktooloo]

I have had the same issue with an art class, so I spent the $5-10 (US) for a compass cutter. It\'s basically like a circle drawing compass, but the \"drawing end\" has a razor blade instead. : ) The one I got is made by Xacto and it was about $9 (US). It came with 6 extra blades and a little center-point protector thingy that\'s actually pretty damned nifty. : )

I haven\'t tried it on plasticard yet. It works OK on mat board and great on normal to thick paper so I think it\'ll work out on plasticard with not too much extra effort.

 

[supervike]

Cheers folks!

Appreciate it.

 

[dogfacedboy uk1]

You can try punches as well - these work better on materials like plasticard but it may work on card. I have a leather punch with a rotating wheel with different sizes on and a punch set. perfect every time.

dfb

 

[freakinacage]

actually the best and quickest way to make inserts i have found is not a circle cutter. if you duct tape the inside of the base, you can then dust it with a little talc. then sqidge in some putty (a gs/millput mix works well, ideally something that cures hard so magic sculpt or apoxie sculpt would also work). you can then just pop it out when it has hardened. have done tons that way

 

[DXM]

What I\'ve found with compasses with blades is that the blade tends to skate ( grab and pull ). What I\'ll do is go in the opposite direction using the back of the blade or using a divider ( compass with two points ) and scratch the circle into the plastic. Slowly working you way through the plastic or go almost all the way through and snap of the excess and then touch up the burrs with sandpaper.

 

[Einion]

I\'d also go with putty but if you need them more uniform how about plastic card instead of card? You could mount a square to a rod (hot glue?) chuck it up in a Dremel and spin them against abrasive paper at low speed for very accurate circles.

Einion

 

[Bortus]

Hey man if all your trying to do is fill the bases then let me tell you what I do and this is where my background as a house painter comes in. First go to your nearest home center and look in the painting department for a product called \"spackling paste\". I use one called \"Crawfords\" because it resists shrinking which is what can happen with cheaper products. Simply take the spackling paste and a small putty knife and fill the bottom. Put a bit more than needed and when dry lay a piece of sandpaper, grit number 180 durite (resists clogging), and sand til smooth. Make sure it\'s dust free then prime the base to seal the spackling paste and voila! I do this with all minis I paint including all warhammer pieces and it\'s the first step I always take. Hope this helps.

 

[Pearlay]

Circle Cutting Ideas

Find a Pipe that has the correct Diameter and Sharpen edge with File, Spack with hammer will cut Circles pretty easy.

 

[bullfrog]

Do you have any relatives who looooove to scrapbook or do papercrafts?

If so then they might have punches that will make short work of a bit of plasticard. I have more than a dozen different sizes and three of them cover the most common bases sizes. That is unless you want to punch a bit thats ten feet thick.
On the same note with papercrafts .... there are many different brands/types of circle cutters. I know the idea has already been suggested but some of the crafts ones can be quite cheap and still sturdy enough for the task at hand.

 

[aon14]

Use a pin.
Place your master onto a piece of plasticard.
Score round it with a pin.
You will need a couple of goes to score it enough.
Cut roughly round it with a craft knife.
Snap off the excess plasticard.

Compas cuters don't work very well on small diameters.

If you're going to do a lot then one of those push pins with a big plastic head on them is best.
Or
Melt a piece of sprue over a flame.
Insert a regular dress making pin into the end.
or a smaller piece of sprue and drill through.

With this method you can also use templates for all sorts of shapes like ovals or whatever.