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Does anyone here - 427 Cobra - 11-20-2010
Does anyone here know how to make, or buy a tool to make perfect circles for scribing? I need to make a few parts that are thin, and circular - I need some way to make these easier, and smoother than tracing, and cutting out with scissors. I'm sick of sanding these to a perfectly round circle after cutting them out! This takes more time, and effort than I really want to.
~ Cobra Chris
RE: Does anyone here - benson - 11-20-2010
Yep, go buy a good quality compass/divider. Not the el chaepo ones you give kids, but good draftsmans tools. Most have enough "points" that you can use as a scribe to get a good line going, and enough passes if your styrene isn't crazy thick should get you through. My current stable is a couple of "Weems and Plath" ones from the old sailing days, with the screw type fitting.
Just like this:
http://www.mdnautical.com/weems_plath/cp_176.jpg
You get what you pay for, yeah $20 isn't exactly cheap, but this is such a multipurpose tool (think measuring symmetrically, scribing arcs, making styrene circles, etc etc etc) that its worth having a nice one for.
Some searching should even reveal a compass with a attachment for a No. 11 blade. I use to have one but took mercy on a poor fellow modeler who was having the same issues you were having and gave it to him. Hard to find, but they ARE out there. Pick you center, carefully spin it around and around making progressively deeper passes and before you know it you have a instant circle out of styrene.
Hope this helps
RE: Does anyone here - 427 Cobra - 11-20-2010
Bless you!!! This is exactly what I need. This is a serious tool rather than a cheap-ass junky thing - thin, and flimsy is what I have, but there's no way I could do that with it. I figured that I could scribe by going over it several times, but I need something industrial that can stand use over, and over again. This would pay for itself the first day I had it! I have so many circles that I need to scribe still. Something that can offer perfect accuracy with durability would be wonderful. I wish you'd pop in more often - I definately need your guidance, I have a lot of work yet to go, and more tools to buy to get it done!
~ Cobra Chris
RE: Does anyone here - directorcass - 11-20-2010
Chris, google "OLFA Circle Cutter". Similiar to a compas but is made to cut circles. It comes with a blade. I have used mine for many years and can't get by without it.
RE: Does anyone here - dbhs - 11-21-2010
I've used these and they work great. Keep an eye on the center point when you're twisting it around. It will dig into the hole and make it bigger/distorted throwing the circle out of whack. On the thin styrene i was using a single pass was enough to bend and crack the sytrene on the score mark. Good luck !
RE: Does anyone here - Zark - 05-19-2011
dbhs is correct about the center hole, I have made a small (size of a penny) disk made of thicker plastic (about 1/8"). This disk I've drilled with about a #60 drill, doesn't have to be centered, and I place it where I want the circle with double sided tape. I get a circle without a center hole to fill. Just a thought. Zark
RE: Does anyone here - Zark - 05-19-2011
dbhs is correct about the center hole, I have made a small (size of a penny) disk made of thicker plastic (about 1/8"). This disk I've drilled with about a #60 drill, doesn't have to be centered, and I place it where I want the circle with double sided tape. I get a circle without a center hole to fill. Just a thought. Zark