Tin snip rail cutters

[Anonymous]

Can you use Tin snips for rail cutting?
They are the heavy kind you can get at a hardware store.
Thanks

[Budliner]

I used a pair of wire cuters works good after you file a small dent

try it on some crapy old track

B -

[FThunder11]

I also used wire cutters and then just sanded the end.

[Budliner]

its true look
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=484&item=3189708636&rd=1#ebayphotohosting

[DSchmitt]

The Xuron cutters sold in many hobby shops work much better and are not very expensive. It cuts almost straight so little to no filing is needed.

There are also special flush cutters made (they cut straight on one side) They are more expensive and easily damaged than the Xuron cutter.

Regular wire cutters and tin snips can actually cru***he rail.

[Budliner]

but what too do
pay for a tool that gets used very little
or usde a tool that we may have already for free that dose a very good job

at some point I hope to get to the level of detail that I start to count rivets and have to have the most precise rail



Kenneth-

[orsonroy]

As my daddy used to say, "use the right tool for the right job". Invest a whopping $14.95 in a Xuron rail nipper. They're designed to make a flat, flush cut on the flat face of the blades, so you don't have to mess around cleaning up the cut edge. They're also made of a different, case-hardened steel than most wire cutters, so they don't (as easily) become dull or pitted from cutting lots of nickel-silver rail. I've had a pair for about ten years and used them to help build several layouts. They're still going strong.

And whatever you do, don't use them as wire cutters! You'll screw up the blades. Buy a $3.00 wire cutter for that job.

[dknelson]

Tin ships not only cru***he rail but they tend to twist it a bit. Snip some tin with it sometime and you'll see what I mean. It isn't like cutting paper with sissors.
I would suggest using a zona saw if the rail nipper is too costly. I think Atlas makes a usable saw as does x-acto.
Dave Nelson

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by DSchmitt

The Xuron cutters sold in many hobby shops work much better and are not very expensive. It cuts almost straight so little to no filing is needed.

There are also special flush cutters made (they cut straight on one side) They are more expensive and easily damaged than the Xuron cutter.

Regular wire cutters and tin snips can actually cru***he rail.

BINGO!!

[^][;)][:D]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by orsonroy

As my daddy used to say, "use the right tool for the right job". Invest a whopping $14.95 in a Xuron rail nipper. They're designed to make a flat, flush cut on the flat face of the blades, so you don't have to mess around cleaning up the cut edge. They're also made of a different, case-hardened steel than most wire cutters, so they don't (as easily) become dull or pitted from cutting lots of nickel-silver rail. I've had a pair for about ten years and used them to help build several layouts. They're still going strong.

And whatever you do, don't use them as wire cutters! You'll screw up the blades. Buy a $3.00 wire cutter for that job.

I AGREE 100% !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I built, with two others, a big club layout years ago - 220 squarefeet. Xuron was here near unknown.

One member made a trip to Colorado. In Denver (Caboose Hobby Shop ???) he buyed 5 rail nipper - 3 Xuron and two, I dont know the brand but they have lightblue knobs.

Both make a perfect job - the Xuron was perfect and after hundreds of cuttings it works well today. The other one, the blade is a little bit shorter is a tick BETTER and works fine today.

[Eriediamond]

JCTrain, good tips and advice above but may I offer another means of cutting rail that is fast and accurate. I use a thin cut of wheel in my dremel tool and always cut so the "sparks- debrie" is thrown to the outside of the rail. This insures that any burr left from the cutting is on the outside of the rail and won't interfere with wheel flanges. Just another suggestion. Ken

[Anonymous]

I would try it on some old track

[orsonroy]

Using a cutoff wheel in a motor tool will work, but WEAR SAFETY GLASSES. Those little suckers LOVE to shatter at speeds, especially if you bend them even a little while cutting. Using a cutoff wheel also takes longer than using a Xuron snip, and is more likely to result in a crooked cut.

[Fergmiester]

I have two sets of Xuron, large and small both are excellent for MR'ing. However don't try to cut and hardened steel or straight pins as they have a high carbon content and will chew up the cutting edge.[:(]

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I've worked with cutoff wheels before.

Thanks for the feed back, I'll just go buy a rail cutter.