Cutting plastic mesh

[Kit Basher]

I'm working on a kit that involves cutting plastic mesh to match a pattern printed in the instructions. So far, I've been taping the mesh over the pattern and cutting it with a razor blade. This works, but the mesh still wants to flex and move around, so this method is not optimal. Just wondering if there is a better way. Any suggestions?

[stitchdup]

does it fit to a loose part? if it does you could glue it in place then trim it afterwards.

[Kit Basher]

22 minutes ago, stitchdup said:

does it fit to a loose part? if it does you could glue it in place then trim it afterwards.

Unfortunately, no. It has to match the pattern really well, and then be placed down in a hollow. Thanks for the reply.

[NOBLNG]

Could you transfer the pattern to some wide masking tape and use the tape itself as the pattern? The tape may help the mesh to keep its shape while trimming. I usually photo copy the pattern before cutting it out so that I have spares. 

Edited June 27, 2024 by NOBLNG

[stavanzer]

Try Decal Scissors.

[bobss396]

Something like that needs to be restrained. I'll clamp it down to a thick piece of plastic, use a scale as a guide. Then I "chop" it with a sharp flat blade. 

[iBorg]

What about pinning it and the directions to a soft piece of wood?

[Kit Basher]

3 hours ago, NOBLNG said:

Could you transfer the pattern to some wide masking tape and use the tape itself as the pattern? The tape may help the mesh to keep its shape while trimming. I usually photo copy the pattern before cutting it out so that I have spares. 

Thanks, I will give that a try.

 

3 hours ago, stavanzer said:

Try Decal Scissors.

Thanks, I've been doing that for final trimming, but initial cutting to the pattern is the hard part.

 

3 hours ago, bobss396 said:

Something like that needs to be restrained. I'll clamp it down to a thick piece of plastic, use a scale as a guide. Then I "chop" it with a sharp flat blade. 

Thanks, I like the chopping idea. I've been pulling the blade across the mesh, which makes it move. Some of the cuts are curves, I don't know how I'll "chop" those.

 

2 hours ago, iBorg said:

What about pinning it and the directions to a soft piece of wood?

Thanks, I haven't tried that, but I suspect it would take more than pins to hold this stuff in place.

Edited June 27, 2024 by Kit Basher

[NOBLNG]

30 minutes ago, Kit Basher said:

Thanks, I like the chopping idea. I've been pulling the blade across the mesh, which makes it move. Some of the cuts are curves, I don't know how I'll "chop" those.

Can you post a picture of the mesh? Seeing the style and pattern might give us a better idea of what you’re up against.

Edited June 27, 2024 by NOBLNG

[Ulf]

I once glued a net to the drawing with the outline of the net which in turn was glued to a cardboard box with glue stick that dissolve in water, cut and then just washed off the glue. I think it was one of the several Tamiya armour kits I build years ago, it was a bit floppy but a stiffer one would have been impossible to assemble. 

Edited June 27, 2024 by Ulf

[peteski]

Use a hot knife or even a fine-tip soldering iron to melt the plastic mesh instead of cutting.  That might actually be beneficial to stabilize the edges.

But I agree with others that seeing the actual shape might be helpful in providing ideas.

[Kit Basher]

1 hour ago, Ulf said:

I once glued a net to the drawing with the outline of the net which in turn was glued to a cardboard box with glue stick that dissolve in water, cut and then just washed off the glue. I think it was one of the several Tamiya armour kits I build years ago, it was a bit floppy but a stiffer one would have been impossible to assemble. 

Thanks, that is interesting. Sounds like it would work well. This is also a Tamiya kit, BTW. I'm going to try the masking tape trick later this evening, but I may pick your brain about the glue you used.

3 hours ago, NOBLNG said:

Can you post a picture of the mesh? Seeing the style and pattern might give us a better idea of what you’re up against.

 

1 hour ago, peteski said:

Use a hot knife or even a fine-tip soldering iron to melt the plastic mesh instead of cutting.  That might actually be beneficial to stabilize the edges.

But I agree with others that seeing the actual shape might be helpful in providing ideas.

Thanks. The hot knife is another good idea. I will post a photo of the mesh and instructions later tonight.

[Kit Basher]

Found some time, so here's the photo of what I'm doing. As you can see, I have to cut diagonally across the mesh. You can also see my attempts haven't been terribly accurate. Thanks for all the input so far!

[Spottedlaurel]

Scissors? And cut the pieces oversize and trim them as necessary?

[Ulf]

38 minutes ago, Kit Basher said:

Thanks, that is interesting. Sounds like it would work well. This is also a Tamiya kit, BTW. I'm going to try the masking tape trick later this evening, but I may pick your brain about the glue you used.

 

Thanks. The hot knife is another good idea. I will post a photo of the mesh and instructions later tonight.

I think you are wondering about what glue I used(?). English is not my first language so I'll answer what I think you are asking.
Perfect to glue millimeter paper with and drill too, so I got the distances between my drill holes equal in the picture.
Test that the glue can really be dissolved with water when it has solidified, ordinary so-called white glue cannot be dissolved.

[espo]

The plastic mesh material looks fairly thin. Maybe if you can find a pair of scissors that medics use to cut their materials. I by chance got a pair years ago that are made of stainless steel. The cutting edge is just over 2 inches long and there is no flex between the blades as you use them for cutting. These things cut .5 mm sheet plastic like butter.  

[Kit Basher]

6 minutes ago, Ulf said:

I think you are wondering about what glue I used(?). English is not my first language so I'll answer what I think you are asking.
Perfect to glue millimeter paper with and drill too, so I got the distances between my drill holes equal in the picture.
Test that the glue can really be dissolved with water when it has solidified, ordinary so-called white glue cannot be dissolved.

Thanks, Ulf! I just checked and I can buy that stuff online. Sorry I used the idiom, but you interpreted it correctly. "Pick your brain" means seeking information.

[Kit Basher]

9 minutes ago, espo said:

The plastic mesh material looks fairly thin. Maybe if you can find a pair of scissors that medics use to cut their materials. I by chance got a pair years ago that are made of stainless steel. The cutting edge is just over 2 inches long and there is no flex between the blades as you use them for cutting. These things cut .5 mm sheet plastic like butter.  

Thanks David. The mesh cuts easily with scissors, and I think if I can somehow attach the pattern to the mesh, scissors would work. I'm going to try that with masking tape later tonight.

[Kit Basher]

23 hours ago, NOBLNG said:

Could you transfer the pattern to some wide masking tape and use the tape itself as the pattern? The tape may help the mesh to keep its shape while trimming. I usually photo copy the pattern before cutting it out so that I have spares. 

This method worked really well. I stuck Tamiya tape to the instructions, traced the outline of the pattern onto the tape, put the tape on the mesh, and cut it out with scissors. Easy and great results. Thanks, Greg!

And thanks to all for your suggestions!

Edited June 28, 2024 by Kit Basher

[NOBLNG]

1 minute ago, Kit Basher said:

This method worked really well. I stuck Tamiya tape to the instructions, traced the outline of the pattern onto the tape, put the tape on the mesh, and cut it out with scissors. Easy and great results. Thanks, Greg!

You’re welcome Hugh. I’m happy that it worked for you.?