While cutting card or balsa wood may not seem like a fine art, it is probably the most difficult aspect of model making. The results easily distinguish the amateur from the professional. By learning the basics correctly and eliminating bad habits, professional standard models can be achieved with little practice.
Steps
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Prepare your work surface. Make sure the cutting mat is flat to the table top and that there is a nice even, stable surface to work on. Clear a space to the side to make room for cut outs and have a bin nearby to toss small unusable scraps into.
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Mark your cut lines. Using the drawing tools if necessary, lightly draw the desired shape at least a 3/4 inch from the edge of the card. Do not be heavy handed with the pencil - draw the line just so that it can be made out clearly and cleanly erased.Advertisement
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Use a steel ruler and blade for straight cuts. The majority of cuts made in model making are straight lines. It is important to know the best way to hold the steel ruler and blade. Place the ruler under the cut line. Put pressure on the ruler with fingers; it should be hard to the card or balsa surface. Use the blade lightly, applying minimal pressure to the material surface with it. Keep the blade perpendicular to the card surface to achieve an even, un-slanted edge.
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Score when needed. Using the blade lightly in this manner is known as scoring. Repeatedly score along the cut line, using the ruler to guide the blade and keep it straight, until it cuts cleanly through the material. Card and balsa are made of many tiny, thin layers. Scoring allows the blade to cut through each layer cleanly. Applying a lot of pressure to the blade crushes these layers. This, along with uneven pressure application along the cut line, leads to frayed, uneven edges.
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Extend the lines for clean cuts and corners. When scoring along a cut line, begin an inch or so before the cut line starts and keep cutting after it ends i.e. Score a longer, extended line than the one actually desired. As lighter pressure is applied naturally at the beginning and at the end of the cut, an even edge is assured along your cut line. This method also ensures cleaner corners when cutting your perpendicular lines.
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Remove the piece gently. If cut cleanly and correctly the shape should simply pop out of the card or balsa with a gentle push. If it doesn't, don't force it out. Run the blade in the cut lines again, remembering to extend beyond the lines, to cut any remaining fibers.Advertisement
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Tips
- Use a HB pencil to mark cut lines - H pencil lines are tougher to erase and B pencils get soft and blunt too quickly. The HB is a nice compromise.Thanks
- Do not be tempted to use the card edge as the edge for the desired shape. If every edge is cut every time, there will be a noticeably cleaner, uniform finish. It is a good habit to get into and it will improve with practice.Thanks
- Change the blade often. Professional model makers, who still do work by hand, will use a blade for a minimal amount of time before changing it. Sharp blades yield the best results, especially when using the scoring technique.Thanks
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Warnings
- Blades are extremely sharp and can easily cause serious injury if used incorrectly. When cutting, ideally, run the blade parallel to the torso. Do not cut towards the body.Thanks
- Exert great caution when changing the blade. Grip from the blunt side firmly and hold away from the body. Do not use a table edge as a lever - the blade could go flying off the handle in any direction. Blade removal tools can be purchased easily online or in art stores for the cautious crafter.Thanks
- Dispose of used blades safely. Do not throw them loose into the trash - they can easily cause injury when removing the bag later. Keep a container such as a tightly sealed jar or plastic container with a thin slit on the lid on the work surface to pop the used blades into. When full, seal container completely and place in trash if there is no access to a blade disposal bank.Thanks
- When not using your scalpel, place a protective covering over the blade before putting it away with the rest of the tools. It is easy to get cut by an unprotected blade when reaching blindly into a drawer or desk caddy.Thanks
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