A Tale of Two Nippers

[R. Thorne]

While waiting for parts, I decided to work on one of those (should be fun, but minimal efforts at detailing) models.  In the process, I decided to save my “good” sprue cutters and use my Dspiae ones.  I have used the 3.peaks nippers for the past 3 years, try others, but always come back to the “good” nippers.  Anyway, just thought I would show the difference between removing as much of the nub with each pair of nippers.  Also, the difference in jaw opening is readily apparent.  Obviously, I gave up using the Dspiae ones as it just caused a lot more sanding (not my favorite pastime).

p.s.  I just ordered another pair of 3.peaks for $22.00 on sale as a backup to the backup pair I have had for a year.  The first pair is still going strong.

[karbuildr]

Would this be the 3.peaks nippers you're utilizing? I found these on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/professional-plastic-cutting-pliers-MK-02/dp/B005MNCATO

 

 

[R. Thorne]

Yes.

[NOBLNG]

They want $59 for those 3Peaks nippers on Amazon.ca.? I have a pair of cheapos that I got at Princess Auto for a few bucks that I use on everything including soft wire. I also have a pair of one sided Meng nippers that I got recently. They slice through styrene like a hot knife through butter. They have however, developed slop in the jaws after VERY little use and don’t always close flush on the cutting face. I see from taking these pics also that the cutting blade is beginning to dull.?

[Mike 1017]

I use $6.00 wire cutters. They work great.

Mike

[karbuildr]

On 12/22/2023 at 7:31 PM, R. Thorne said:

Yes.

Thanks for confirming Ron.

[Dpate]

Nothing beats the GODHAND nippers.  But what you should of done when cutting the dashboard off was use the blue pair to cut the gate, and than use the dspiae's from the side to cleanly cut the nub off.  There not meant to cut thick sprue (such as gates), and you can easily damage the thin blades. 

[Matt Bacon]

Those wide gates you’re better off not cutting at all… just bend the dash up and down a few times and it’ll snap right off. You can use the DSPAIE nippers on what’s left, or just smooth it with a file or sanding stick… You’re not tearing the plastic like you would breaking off a part with a single point gate, so it won’t start taking chunks out of the dash (or body shell).

best,

M.

[NOBLNG]

7 hours ago, Dpate said:

 There not meant to cut thick sprue (such as gates), and you can easily damage the thin blades. 

That may be what happened to my Meng nippers. I have cut sprue with them and found on the packaging later that it is not recommended.?

[Richard Bartrop]

When the attachment is that thick,  I'd just as soon take a saw to it.

[R. Thorne]

Just giving my personal experiences with cutters/nippers.  These are the ones I have used over the years.  While I never tried the Godhands, everything I have seen and heard suggests they are similar in design and results to Dspiae, but perhaps slightly thinner and more delicate to use.  All of the more expensive nippers do not recommend  cutting sprues (possibly why the jaws don’t open as wide).  I keep my old xuron cutters for “heavy” cutting (making sprue glue, etc.,)but I don’t baby the 3.peaks and have cut sprues with them, if necessary.  Put simply, they cut closer with less cleanup than any of the others.  I believe the closeup pics of my old cutters speaks for itself.  Merry Christmas to all.

[Dpate]

8 hours ago, R. Thorne said:

Just giving my personal experiences with cutters/nippers.  These are the ones I have used over the years.  While I never tried the Godhands, everything I have seen and heard suggests they are similar in design and results to Dspiae, but perhaps slightly thinner and more delicate to use.  All of the more expensive nippers do not recommend  cutting sprues (possibly why the jaws don’t open as wide).  I keep my old xuron cutters for “heavy” cutting (making sprue glue, etc.,)but I don’t baby the 3.peaks and have cut sprues with them, if necessary.  Put simply, they cut closer with less cleanup than any of the others.  I believe the closeup pics of my old cutters speaks for itself.  Merry Christmas to all.

Those are nice. The dspiae’s might look similar to godhands(red handle), but there not the same at all. Now the blue handle godhands are even thinner. Basically red pair is for cutting the nub, and blue pair is for clean up. The main use for that method was towards gunpla, but lots of methods from other similar hobbies have made there way to model cars. All these single blade nippers do a great job cutting the nub, with a clean cut (no stress mark) leaving minimum clean up if any at all if used properly. A little sanding afterwards can save from having a $120+ in two pair of nippers though. 

[bobss396]

I have some Hurons we had at work. I would take the old beat up ones home (they were being discarded) and sharpen then with a file. Good for another 10,000 cuts. I also don't cut that close to good material. I'll use a chisel-point xacto blade for that level of plastic surgery.

I have been using the same #11 and #17 blades for close to 2 years. I hone them on a Smith's stone when they get dull.

[BDSchindler]

oh...nippERS.  Boy did my brain read that wrong! ?

[Keef]

I’ve been using these for the past couple of years and love them 

[deuces wild]

I also have a pair of those^^^^^... Picked them up at home depot...

[Proximitas]

I use a cheap pair of Chinesium nippers that came with my 3d printer for the thick quick and dirty cut at the sprue gate and a pair of $14 Toenail nippers for the close clean cut stuff. Then I finish up with diamond file and a 10000 grit glass burnisher. 

 

[bobss396]

I got a pair of Harbor Fright ones, $3.99 and I soon broke them. Of course cutting some stout wire. I was disgusted and threw them in the trash.

[Bugatti Fan]

Cheapo cutters are certainly not designed to cut stout wire, and not much good for anything else either.      If the wire was steel, even worse !

Always buy good quality tools designed and fit for purpose. Right tool, right job. Even quality tools can be damaged if misused, but will prove a good investment if used properly and will last for many years.

[Monty]

On 12/23/2023 at 9:17 AM, Mike 1017 said:

I use $6.00 wire cutters. They work great.

Mike

Glad they worked for you.  A couple years ago I made the mistake of buying cheap Walmart toenail clippers to use as basic sprue cutters.  (I blame my "thriftiness" on my partial Scottish heritage) 

They looked kinda like this, but nowhere as fancy.

They were apparently made out of a combination of Chinese welding slag and Pop Rocks because one of the blades broke the first time I tried to use them, attempting to cut through 1/8" MPC sprue, which as we all know is right up there with Tungsten steel...or not.  

I now have something better.  

 

[1hobby1]

I’ve had great luck with the Tamiya nippers. 

[stavanzer]

I have a variety of Nippers. Some Chinese, some Taiwan, and a Xuron, that I can never seem to find when I'm working.....

I also use a pair of Harbor Freight Dykes for heavy sprue cutting to save the wear on the nippers. And a pair of straight cut, Toenail Clippers for flush cuts.

[martinfan5]

On 12/24/2023 at 9:57 AM, Dpate said:

Nothing beats the GODHAND nippers.  But what you should of done when cutting the dashboard off was use the blue pair to cut the gate, and than use the dspiae's from the side to cleanly cut the nub off.  There not meant to cut thick sprue (such as gates), and you can easily damage the thin blades. 

I love GODHAND nippers, I had to learn the hard way with my pair of the Ultimate Nipper , I pushed my luck a bit too far and cut one too many pieces of sprue,  broke the tip of the blade off,  that hurt, I don't remember what I paid but it was at least $50.    Replaced it with their Blade One Nipper , little thicker blade, it just doesnt cut as nice as the Ultimate( it still cuts good) .

Edited August 11, 2024 by martinfan5

[Dpate]

17 hours ago, martinfan5 said:

I love GODHAND nippers, I had to learn the hard way with my pair of the Ultimate Nipper , I pushed my luck a bit too far and cut one too many pieces of sprue,  broke the tip of the blade off,  that hurt, I don't remember what I paid but it was at least $50.    Replaced it with their Blade One Nipper , little thicker blade, it just doesnt cut as nice as the Ultimate( it still cuts good) .

Yeah that stinks, and sucks they cost so much. So far I’ve been fortunate, and haven’t damaged mine yet. I have however damaged my micro mark nippers dropping them ?. They still work though okay, but I mainly use them now for cutting parts off the tree. Than get in close with the god hands, and I now ALWAYS keep the nipper sleeve cover on when not in use. 

[Jiml0001]

A couple of years ago when I got more into 3D, I needed something to cut flush leaving no extra.   Removing parts from 3D print platforms means cutting dozens of attachment points for every part you print.   I picked up these flush cutting nippers for about $5 dollars thinking I would see if they hold up.    These turned out to be the best nippers I ever used and they cut flush.   Also the tip is narrow so I can get in tight spaces.    I love them.    When it came time to find another pair for a spare I looked on line and found them on TEMU.    Five pair for $10 plus $3.00 shipping.   Well, my hoarding self took over and as a result I now have 22 pairs.   You never know, right?    I find these great, flush cutting, narrow tip and they hold up real well for an unbelievable price.