What is your preferred tooth count on a Zona (or other) razor saw for styrene structure kits, bashing or scratch building? 42 , 52 teeth per inch? I picked up a 42 which was pretty fine but wondered if finer that that is better or necessary to avoid marring cut edges on building walls/corners. Thanks.
Captain,
I recently undertook a project in which I needed to replace a broken rear set of steps on my old American Flyer diesel switcher engine. To accomplish the task, I bought an exact duplicate on eBay, so I only had one chance to get it right. I had to cut out a piece of the plastic shell that required several different angled cuts.
I used a jeweler’s saw that I purchased at Micro Mark along with ultra fine and super fine blades. Micro Mark diid not indicate how many teeth per inch, and I didn’t count them, but it is not uncommon to find 48 to 60 teeth per inch on jeweler’s saw blades.
The results obtained were phenomenal. I was able to cut out a perfect replacement piece for my old diesel and I used JB Pro Weld to glue it. Essentiall, you cannot see where the replacenment piece was glued into place unless you really look closely.
For the price of the jeweler’s saw and a pack of blades, I highly recommend that approach.
Good luck.
Rich
As far as tooth count, the more the better for fine work. The caveat to this is that finer blades clog up quicker, especially on soft materials like plastic. One way to avoid edge damage on “break out” is to back up the part you’re cutting with a sacrificial surface so the saw just keeps on cutting through without interruption. Another is to cut slightly outside your line and file to finish, but you may already be doing that. Like Rich, I use a jewelers saw, but it’s better at curves than straight lines. For really straight lines I use a Japanese flush cutting saw I bought at Harbor Freight. It doesn’t have a spine like a razor saw so it can flex if required. I understand Dr. Evil uses a frikken lazer beam.
Lou
Aside from frequent saw wiping/cleaning off of plastic flecks, is there a downside to using too fine a teeth set? Thanks guys.
Laser beams-no sanding required! I often fantasize about laser beam lawn implants. One throw of a switch and your entire lawn is mowed in an instant!
The only downside that I have experienced with ultra-fine blades in the jeweler’s saw is broken blades. Even with extreme care, the blades occasionally break. But Micro-Mark sells a dozen blades in a package for only a few bucks, so there are always backups available.
Other than that, in my experience, the finer the blade, the greater the number of teeth, the better the results. It is always better to avoid cutting away as little material as possible in order to ensure the best results. That’s why I moved away from the standard hobby saw to the jeweler’s saw.
Rich