need help cutting through a lot of metal
- Thread starter barkel
- Start date
Simple answer:= very carefully.
If you\'re looking to keep the squig you\'ve got very little options.
If not you could try using a Dremel with a MicroCircular Saw blade on it. BE VERY CAREFUL MESS IT UP AND IT\'S A GOOD WAY TO LOOSE FINGERS!
Jewellers hacksaw is probably safer but a lot slower and time consuming. You could try an Old wood chisel and trim off that way(using a hammer to force it through)
Best things I can come up with as it\'s a fair old chunk of lead to remove.
If you\'re looking to keep the squig you\'ve got very little options.
If not you could try using a Dremel with a MicroCircular Saw blade on it. BE VERY CAREFUL MESS IT UP AND IT\'S A GOOD WAY TO LOOSE FINGERS!
Jewellers hacksaw is probably safer but a lot slower and time consuming. You could try an Old wood chisel and trim off that way(using a hammer to force it through)
Best things I can come up with as it\'s a fair old chunk of lead to remove.
I agree with the \'very carefully\' sentiment!
First piece of advice:
Check the catalogue to see if there is an alternative to what you are suggesting. eg, could you convert a spider rider to a night Gobbo instead? The job you describe will not be easy IMO.
Secondly, I would personally avoid the micro saw as despite being as sharp as hell it is a \'blunt\' instrument in terms of precision control. If I were tackling this I would use a small diamond or High Speed Steel (HSS) carving tool and slowly work my way around his legs. Don\'t get too close as you can always clean up with a needle file afterwards. Also, use the tool in shortish bursts as it will get VERY hot (as will the model itself).
Whilst I am sounding like your dad I might as well add, that you should always wear goggles when carrying out this sort of operation as a red-hot piece of lead or diamond tipped piece of metal will go through your eyeball in a nanosecond
First piece of advice:
Check the catalogue to see if there is an alternative to what you are suggesting. eg, could you convert a spider rider to a night Gobbo instead? The job you describe will not be easy IMO.
Secondly, I would personally avoid the micro saw as despite being as sharp as hell it is a \'blunt\' instrument in terms of precision control. If I were tackling this I would use a small diamond or High Speed Steel (HSS) carving tool and slowly work my way around his legs. Don\'t get too close as you can always clean up with a needle file afterwards. Also, use the tool in shortish bursts as it will get VERY hot (as will the model itself).
Whilst I am sounding like your dad I might as well add, that you should always wear goggles when carrying out this sort of operation as a red-hot piece of lead or diamond tipped piece of metal will go through your eyeball in a nanosecond
One of the tools I use for metal cutting is my bonsai (yes the little trees) concave cutters, they are normally used to slice through boweles on trees, but I have found that they cut through metal leaving a fine edge on one side and channeling the remainder metal into the concave area. Now if you do not care about what happens to some components of the rider of the squig you could use this tool to pretty accurately remove some of the harder pieces, then reshape the figure as normal.
A quick note if you do try this, is to remember is that I have found that these cutters can slice through metal almost like butter at times (so watch your fingers)and that they can send metal shooting at rapid speeds, so you might want to wrap a cloth around what you are cutting or cut in a bin, or something. I would make a few practice cuts on something that you do not care about first to gain an understanding of how they work.
farseerlum
New member
i use a pin vice and drill a multitude of holes around the joints then cut through with stanly blade, sidecutters or saw.
the pin vice is fairly good at putting a hole where you want. saves stuff ups.
the pin vice is fairly good at putting a hole where you want. saves stuff ups.
Sounds an impossible task if you want to salvage both pieces. But if you dont mind loosing the mount I would suggest (along with ALL the safety advice given above) that you use suitable snips to remove the majority of metal then switch to a dremel with high carbon steel milling bits. Dipping the bit in olive oil periodically will help prevent clogging and keep the temperature down a little, giving you very small swarf (the metal pieces that are milled off) and a clean finnish.
Good luck, whatever you decide to try, but please take care. If we all sound a little preachy on this last point its only because we are all thinking of the times we\'ve nearly lost eyes/fingers/minis trying to do similar things!
Good luck, whatever you decide to try, but please take care. If we all sound a little preachy on this last point its only because we are all thinking of the times we\'ve nearly lost eyes/fingers/minis trying to do similar things!
It only makes sense to be as careful as possible, you have all the time in the world to study or take precautions, and it only takes an instant to permanently cripple yourself. A friend of mine just had his index finger completely crushed, and had to have reconstructed, pinned, implanted into his body, and they just performed the operation to bring it back out, if he keeps the finger (they dont decide to amputate it after all of this) he\'ll still be missing the top joint. So be careful.
Sand Rat
New member
Hmm, got to go with everyone in the BE BLOODY CAREFULL school of thought - on top of that if you dont want to save the squig I would cut it off below the level of the gobbos feet so that you are not fighting with it as well as all the rest of the mini while you are trying to remove the metal
airhead
Coffin Dodger / Keymaster
Watch you lungs too
In addition to what everyone has said, wear a respirator. Lead dust in the air is not a good thing to be breathing. A drimel will send lead powder everywhere. Don\'t breath it, wash your hands before eating. Don\'t do this in a food prep area (kitchen).
Lead and other heavy metals do not leave the body. They just accumulate until your body cannot deal any longer. Usually the liver or brain go first.
In addition to what everyone has said, wear a respirator. Lead dust in the air is not a good thing to be breathing. A drimel will send lead powder everywhere. Don\'t breath it, wash your hands before eating. Don\'t do this in a food prep area (kitchen).
Lead and other heavy metals do not leave the body. They just accumulate until your body cannot deal any longer. Usually the liver or brain go first.
thanks
It\'s nice to know you people care about me!
I have every intention of being careful. IF I use a dremel I will make sure to use goggles, gloves and a mask. I will likely do the deed outside so as not to expose my children to debris, lead smoke, or cuss words.
I also have no intention of saving the squig. At first I contemplated it, but I threw that idea away as impossible and risky.
I did consider using other goblins instead of the squig hopper. It would be far easier, but the hoppers really have the energy I\'m looking for.
Thanks again.
barkel
It\'s nice to know you people care about me!
I have every intention of being careful. IF I use a dremel I will make sure to use goggles, gloves and a mask. I will likely do the deed outside so as not to expose my children to debris, lead smoke, or cuss words.
I also have no intention of saving the squig. At first I contemplated it, but I threw that idea away as impossible and risky.
I did consider using other goblins instead of the squig hopper. It would be far easier, but the hoppers really have the energy I\'m looking for.
Thanks again.
barkel
