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DIY Stompboxes => Building your own stompbox => Topic started by: $uperpuma on April 25, 2006, 01:06:02 AM

Title: Have a hardtime cutting those PCB's straight?
Post by: $uperpuma on April 25, 2006, 01:06:02 AM
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93211 (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93211) Tiny Table saw!

Title: Re: Have a hardtime cutting those PCB's straight?
Post by: rockgardenlove on April 25, 2006, 01:07:27 AM
Looks a bit excessive IMO...I use a cheap little hacksaw from my local hardware store.
Title: Re: Have a hardtime cutting those PCB's straight?
Post by: chunks717 on April 25, 2006, 01:14:14 AM
utility knife:$1.50
metal ruler:$3.00
ten fingers:priceless
*be careful kids!*
Title: Re: Have a hardtime cutting those PCB's straight?
Post by: $uperpuma on April 25, 2006, 01:16:21 AM
I make 3-5 boards a week... either for customers or for myself...trying to score them with a utility knife or cut them with a dremel, it either takes too long or doesn't cut perfect... between teir $40 drill press and $50 mini table saw I am two steps closer to having nice professional results in the optimum amount of time.. the powder coating setup is next :)
Title: Re: Have a hardtime cutting those PCB's straight?
Post by: LyleCaldwell on April 25, 2006, 01:20:32 AM
I love a nice power miter saw.
Title: Re: Have a hardtime cutting those PCB's straight?
Post by: gez on April 25, 2006, 03:22:56 AM
If you're going to spend money, and if you make a fair few boards, a guillotine is the quickest and best option.  It's also the safest - no dust!
Title: Re: Have a hardtime cutting those PCB's straight?
Post by: RJ on April 25, 2006, 04:32:33 AM
I like the guillotine approach too...I picked up a benchtop 6" metal shear at a House of Tools or maybe Princess Auto *edit: for 60 bucks* and it's great for cutting pcbs....couldn't be easier really, and no dust.

Gotta say though, that mini table saw looks pretty neat! 
Title: Re: Have a hardtime cutting those PCB's straight?
Post by: RaceDriver205 on April 25, 2006, 05:11:27 AM
QuoteIt's also the safest - no dust!
Dont worry about it, check out the discussion on "dust injury" at:
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=44440.0
Title: Re: Have a hardtime cutting those PCB's straight?
Post by: gez on April 25, 2006, 06:07:39 AM
Quote from: RaceDriver205 on April 25, 2006, 05:11:27 AM
QuoteIt's also the safest - no dust!
Dont worry about it, check out the discussion on "dust injury" at:
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=44440.0

Glass fibre can irritate the lungs.  As far as I know it stays there.  It's a real concern.  I know this from my time of 'working' with fibreglass. 

It's thought that resins like epoxy might be carcinogenic.  Time will tell. 

I am concerned, read some stuff on fibreglass and you might be too.
Title: Re: Have a hardtime cutting those PCB's straight?
Post by: bancika on April 25, 2006, 06:32:20 AM
I cut them with ruler and sharp blade, it's enough to cut about 1/4 of board thickness and it will snap straight when broken...
Title: Re: Have a hardtime cutting those PCB's straight?
Post by: MadMatt on April 25, 2006, 07:07:37 AM
Hey,
:icon_idea:
the last times i´ve used a little, and easy to make tool......get yourself a router, make a small table to clamp to your bench(a piece of wood, drill a hole in it and fix your Router beneath.)Get a set of bits with ballbearings on the shaft, make yourself a template of a piece of wood and then you can tape the PCB´s on it and drive it (carefull) along the bit....it´s even possible to make complex cutted PCB´s.
This takes little time to build and make the templates for your PCB´s, but once you´re finished you can cut many PCB´s to absolutely accuracy in very little time.
I also use this setup to Cut Custom Pickguards in my shop.Works well!
If needed i can make a drawing for you....please let me know.
Good Luck,

Matthias
Title: Re: Have a hardtime cutting those PCB's straight?
Post by: markm on April 25, 2006, 07:13:05 AM
Quote from: chunks717 on April 25, 2006, 01:14:14 AM
utility knife:$1.50
metal ruler:$3.00
ten fingers:priceless
*be careful kids!*

:icon_lol:
I use this method too....works great!
Title: Re: Have a hardtime cutting those PCB's straight?
Post by: nelson on April 25, 2006, 11:25:34 AM
I use wallpaper scissors.

Straight cuts in a jiffy.
Title: Re: Have a hardtime cutting those PCB's straight?
Post by: R.G. on April 25, 2006, 11:40:51 AM
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90757 (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90757)
Title: Re: Have a hardtime cutting those PCB's straight?
Post by: $uperpuma on April 25, 2006, 12:08:04 PM
That thing looks like it would work like a champ, too!  And if someone owes you money.... start with the pinky
Title: Re: Have a hardtime cutting those PCB's straight?
Post by: mdh on April 25, 2006, 12:51:19 PM
Quote from: R.G. on April 25, 2006, 11:40:51 AM
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90757 (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90757)

Whoa, a shear and a brake in one... that looks sweet! I think some of the Luddites in this thread don't get that many of us do this sort of a thing as an excuse to buy cool new tools  ;)
Title: Re: Have a hardtime cutting those PCB's straight?
Post by: Brian Marshall on April 25, 2006, 02:09:49 PM
airborne fiberglass particles are actually quite similar to asbestos.  I use tin snips to cut my boards.
Title: Re: Have a hardtime cutting those PCB's straight?
Post by: R.G. on April 25, 2006, 05:41:47 PM
QuoteWhoa, a shear and a brake in one... that looks sweet!
I couldn't find the one I really wanted to recommend. I have the 12" version. It has a shear, brake, and also slip rolls for rolling sheet metal into tubes. Yeah, right, like I make a lot of sheet metal tubes... 8-)

But the shear is GREAT!
Title: Re: Have a hardtime cutting those PCB's straight?
Post by: johngreene on April 25, 2006, 06:08:04 PM
Quote from: R.G. on April 25, 2006, 05:41:47 PM
QuoteWhoa, a shear and a brake in one... that looks sweet!
I couldn't find the one I really wanted to recommend. I have the 12" version. It has a shear, brake, and also slip rolls for rolling sheet metal into tubes. Yeah, right, like I make a lot of sheet metal tubes... 8-)

But the shear is GREAT!
A couple of jobs ago..... we bought a Central Machinery brake/shear/roller from Harbor Freight and the guide for the shear was not perpendicular to the shear blade! We had to install our own block so we could make straight cuts. During the assembly process there were bolt holes that weren't tapped, bolts that were not threaded, etc. Had similar experiences with drill presses and other Central Machinery tools. If you are able to 'rework' them, they can be worth the risk, but I wouldn't expect them to be perfect out of the box.

--john