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What do you all use to cut apart dies? I have a wire cutter but it's a little too large. I went to Home Depot today to try to find something with a smaller head but no luck...
I had tried my jewelry-making wire cutter, but it was not strong enough. I bought a Stanley FatMax. There's a number on it, but I don't know if it's a model number: 14-563. It has a small enough tip for all the dies I have needed to cut apart.
Agree you need 'side cutting' pliers, such as jewellery pliers made for cutting wire. An alternative is the side cutting, or flush cutting pliers for electrical cables, or for cable ties.
I have been very happy with my Made in the U.S. Xuron Micro-Shear pliers I bought on Amazon. It's great for the small areas. I make sure I use the tip in the small areas and cut/snip as a 90-degree angle from the cutting spot. That's important. I also store it in the cardboard it came in with a wee bit sticking out to get it out. Works like a charm used properly and is guaranteed for life (used properly). ;)
I use narrow nosed jewelry pliers and bend the metal tags back and forth close to the die until it breaks off. Keeps pieces from flying all over the place.
I had tried my jewelry-making wire cutter, but it was not strong enough. I bought a Stanley FatMax. There's a number on it, but I don't know if it's a model number: 14-563. It has a small enough tip for all the dies I have needed to cut apart.
I usually just swivel, wiggle parts that need to be separated until the connecting metal comes apart. Sometimes just use pointy nose pliers to help.
I tried the Xuron Micro-Shear flush cutters and they weren't sturdy enough for my dies; the dies dented the cutters, plus the cutters flexed just enough that the blades didn't meet evenly. I went to the model railroad store and got the heavier Xuron Track Cutter. 2175B. They worked much better on my sturdier dies. I didn need to use a metal file to smooth the sharp edges of the sprue, but I would have had to do that on the earlier pair as well.
cutting dies
