Best Modeling Knife?

[titaniumliger]

What is a good brand knife for generally cutting through or sawing off the plastic of Zoids was easy enough effort, or at least plastic overall? It was recommended to me to use a 11' hobby knife, but I found it barely able to scratch surfaces, discouraging my zoid amateur customizing/mutilating urges. The only other brand I am aware of is the Exacto knife, but that seems to large for a small model kit. Any suggestions or advice?

[Xehn]

I use Exactos and they work just fine. Just be careful, because if they slip, you're liable to lose a chunk of skin.

[Charlie]

I use testors modeling knife to trim off the excess, and it is pliable. A regular exacto maybe too rigid. Use any small scissors from any swiss army knife type to cut the parts from the sprue, (I use one with a serated blade from eddie bauer).

[skittle]

I've used exacto knives for everything, including cutting plastic. I have not used them on zoid models yet but if they can cut throgh some rather tough plastic wear (bowls, etc) I am sure they will work fine for models.

Make sure you get sharp ones so that you don't need to exert too much pressure. I got a chunk missing in the thigh due to this. Quite painful.

Also, they come in many different sizes and blade types.

[Tilly]

Yes, cut gently when using xactos. If the blade's getting dull enough you have to press hard to cut, don't use it!

For doing more than just shaving/cutting off small things, I hear dremels/rotary tools are the way to go, but I've never used one and can't offer much advice.

[Zoidmagnite]

I do a two step process. I gut the part free of the sprue with a pair of craftsman miniature side cutters. then I shave the remaining sprue off of the part with a razor knife.

[Snowflake]

Uh, if you mean actually cutting plastic that's more than a fraction of a millimeter thick, you need a saw or cutting disk. I found out the hard way (though I had an inkling) that an xacto knife won't actually cut anything thicker than flash. Like you said, it just scratches the surface of a thicker piece

[Xehn]

Exactos can cut through thicker stuff. Just takes longer, as you need to go over the same line over and over and over, each time getting a liiiittle deeper in.

[titaniumliger]

I'm thinking along the lines of cutting most commercial bought plastic, been eyeing various odds and ends of things, it occured to me my old pill containers may be useful in devising weaponary, for example. I am aware I may be jumping the gun on modeling into unhealthy realms by doing that, yes. I'll see about that Exacto knife, hopefully it will work.

While we're on the subject of tools, does anyone have experience using small hand drills on zoids, the basic model drill that is operated manually, just with a turn of the knob? Seems like it will work as well, but then again I am sure of it. I seek wisdom from the modeling elders, do divulge.

[Snowflake]

I've heard about those. I don't get how there'd be enough resistance for it to actually get a good hole going..

[Maethius]

I use a wide range of knives now.... x-acto, box knife, snap-blades... lately I've added jeweler clippers and wire cutters, and, for those things that just don't want to be cut... Dremmil!