Professional Photo-Etch Scissor First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

If you've been modeling a while (and I have), you might remember some of the various techniques used to remove photo-etched metal parts from their fret frames. Solutions ranging from razor blades to X-Acto knives and performed on glass or plexi-glass surfaces. These techniques do work, but some still leave a bit of the fret frame on the part which requires careful filing and handling, all while not dropping the part into the carpet never to be seen again.

Xuron has come to the rescue with these miniaturized metal shears which have similar precision to their nice sprue cutters, but provide cutting precision for getting parts safely clear of the fret frame. Thiis tool is quite sharp, has scissor-like points to reach into constrained areas, and is comfortable to articulate in your hands. One note - the package indicates that these are not for cutting wire. These scissors will definitely cut wire, but the sharp edges would be damaged from the thicker metal of wire and would loose their edge prematurely.

If you pay a visit to the Xuron website, you'll find a wide range of tools for a large number of applications. I'm happy that the hobby industry is one of those target audiences! These tools are available from your local hobby retailer or online hobby store.

My sincere thanks to Xuron for this review sample!