Sprue cutters: are they worth it?

[Hobbes]

I checked out some sprue cutters at SMW. But they all looked like ordinary wire cutters, with fairly thick jaws so while you cut a sprue you're forcing it apart. This tends to break small parts, which is why I use a scalpel or a saw to remove parts from the sprue. Are there sprue cutters that don't have this drawback ?

[McColm]

I use a pair of toe nail clippers/scissors which works for me.

[NARSES2]

Harro, I found that with sprue cutters you really do get what you pay for. I got a pair of rather expensive Xuron ones at SMW a couple of years ago and they have certainly repaid the cost.

Having said that, The Wookster gave me a very small pair recently (toe nail clippers ?), which I think he got in one of the UK "cheapo" shops, and they are great for small pieces with not over heavy gates.

For a lot of my older limited run kits however I use a saw and then clean up. The gates tend to be huge.

[zenrat]

Are they worth it?
Yes.
I have a pair of Xuron sprue cutters and they are the mutts nuts.  They have a flat side so you can cut right up close to the part.

https://www.hobbytools.com.au/xuron-2175et-professional-sprue-cutter/
They are not cheap but I got round that by receiving them as a xmas present last year.
Previously I had been using a pair of pincers and these are much better.

[NARSES2]

That's the pair I have mate

[PR19_Kit]

IIRC Xuron's were originally designed to cut model railway rail sections to length cleanly, but they work even better as sprue cutters.

[rickshaw]

I use a pair of wire cutters which I appear to have inherited from somewhere or other.  More than likely one of those "Computer tool kits" I was given by one employer or another.   They work well.   The blades are getting a little bit knicked from using them to cut something they weren't intended to cut at one stage or another.   

[JayBee]

I also have a pair of Xuron cutters. They are described as being "Shear" cutters, in other words the two cutting edges overlap and give a clean cut.
They work great 

[scooter]

I've got a Tamiya and a cheapo pair of sprue cutters, and they are fantastic on medium to large parts.  For the smaller parts, I use a scalpel or razor blade on them.

[TheChronicOne]

Yeah buddy!!!  I wouldn't be without a pair now. I didn't buy any labeled AS sprue cutters, rather a pair of "flush side cutters" or whatever. I used to use a little bitty pair of dikes but couldn't get as close to the part as I'd like. The sprue cutters though... can trim right up against a part which saved having to file away and sand away burrs. I mean.. you still should sand it a bit to smooth it out but it's much quicker and better than dealing with a big chunk of it.

In short... get you a pair and you'll fall in love!

[Old Wombat]

Absolutely "YES!"

I was using a pair of everyday side-cutters & my razor-saw until the SAPMA Expo this year, where I bought a pair of "Plato" Model 170 Shears. Since first using them I've used nothing else to get parts off sprues (except clear parts, I still use my razor-saw for that).

(Reads like a bloody advertising testimonial, doesn't it. )

[TheChronicOne]

That's what I have. Work great but mine wound up sprung somehow. I can still use them but if I'm not paying attention the cut will be jagged. No clue how they got that way... they worked beautiful then all of a sudden I picked them up to use again and they were out of whack.    I only used them on sprue that was thin enough... if I came across an unusually thick bit I reverted to the dykes. 

Of course.... I ordered them direct from mainland China so they were only $1.50 with free shipping. At that price I'm not too torn up about it.    Only drawback was they took nearly a month to get here.    

[Weaver]

I've got a pair of the Xuron ones. They're very good. They do force the parts of the sprue apart however and that can be a problem with delicate parts, so in that case, I try to avoid damage by cutting the sprue up in such a way that the 'detaching' cuts don't side-load the part. I occasionally use a chisel blade in a craft knife for very small or oddball parts.

Just noticed today that Hobbycraft are selling 'economy' sprue cutters for £4.50.

[chrisonord]

These look cheap enough
https://www.heamar.co.uk/cutters/43926-xuron-170-11-micro-shear-flush-cutter-615265902053.html?gclid=CjwKCAiAxuTQBRBmEiwAAkFF1s6csHCwMolmo-Qbt1K6wMUYIOuzF1NhQWp0mFFpSS2LTzn7Bqv2MRoCKVEQAvD_BwE
Chris

[NARSES2]

These look cheap enough
https://www.heamar.co.uk/cutters/43926-xuron-170-11-micro-shear-flush-cutter-615265902053.html?gclid=CjwKCAiAxuTQBRBmEiwAAkFF1s6csHCwMolmo-Qbt1K6wMUYIOuzF1NhQWp0mFFpSS2LTzn7Bqv2MRoCKVEQAvD_BwE
Chris

At least half the price I paid for mine  Price in Squires catalogue is £14.99.