Cutting a plastic body with thread

[chopper82p]

use shoelace to cut pvc!

[TAMIYAMCHASSIS]

Why not just use scissors???

[pantablo]

@TAMIYAMCHASSIS -scissors wont cut hard plastic. They only cut the lexan bodies. This is a hard plastic body by Tamiya. 

[MikeHendershotJr]

nice! i like the Cew Cab idea!



[pantablo]

@MikeHendershotJr -I've done quite a few of them. The longer wheelbase helps in 1:10 scale rigs and they just look cool!

[munen3434]

can you cut lexan bodies like this?

[pantablo]

@munen3434 -Not sure as I've never done it. Only issue I could foresee is how flexible it is allowing it to move around as you cut. Otherwise I don't see why you couldn't do it. Although lexan is easy enough to cut with scissors.

[TheChris1696]

Would this work if I needed to fit an rc body on a truck? I have to cut the front of it to fit over the bumper...

[pantablo]

@TheChris1696 -Not sure what you mean. if the body is lexan, scissors would be best, then maybe an x-acto knife. If a hard plastic body, then this is as good as any.

[450hp202turbo]

what about a very fine jewellers coping saw

[pantablo]

@450hp202turbo -I don't have one but I'm sure it would work just as well. There are many methods of cutting a body, some better than others depending on the specific situation. This is just one way.

[450hp202turbo]

@pantablo Yeah i think i would do it your way if i was too try and swing the doors on my sand scorcher

[yeohwl91]

Can I use this method to cut 0.4cm thick plastic material?

[pantablo]

@yeohwl91 -possibly. you'd have to be careful and run the thread slower but I see no reason you couldn't.

[yeohwl91]

Do sewing thread works for it?

[pantablo]

@yeohwl91 -This is using regular sewing thread.

[IMATANK84]

you could just use a dremmel drill lol

[pantablo]

@IMATANK84 -wouldn't cut as cleanly, and the thread cuts much thinner.

[TheChris1696]

When the edges of the body you cut out aren't straight and are uneven, how can you starighten them out? I tried sand paper but it didn't work.

[pantablo]

@TheChris1696 -what grit sandpaper did you use. you might need to use something more coarse. I've used small hobby metal files and sandpaper, mostly, to finish off the edge as needed. As you get more practice you'll have an easier time staying on the tape line so your post cutting edge cleanup will be minimized.

[Harvz78]

Do you need to use a specific tread?

[pantablo]

@Harvz78 -Nope. I just bought standard thread at the drug store.

[2face87rauscher]

Hm Hardbody! Naja muss man probieren

[2face87rauscher]

Und mit einer schere wird der Schnitt sicher 3 mahl gerader als mit so was!

[pantablo]

@2face87rauscher -using babelfish to translate I would respond that scissors would cut a lexan shell, not a hardbody. Also, going slowly I use the edge of the tape to keep the cut straight. Usually still requires a small amount of sanding.

Scheren würden ein lexan Oberteil, nicht ein hardbody schneiden. Auch langsam gehend benutze ich den Rand des Klebebandes, um den Schnitt gerade zu halten. Erfordert normalerweise noch eine kleine Menge des Versandens.

[theBaron0530]

Astounding! I would never have thought that thread would cut plastic. We're discussing this right now on AgapeModels as a means of cutting an injection molded canopy. I'm going to have to try it, thanks for the demo and tip!

[pantablo]

Thanks theBaron0530. I can't take credit for the idea though. I just put it to video so it was easily believed. 1/24th scale modelers have been doing this for ages apparently. I saw this on an RC site in photos and was so surprised at its ease I had to video it.

[elbergron]

cool

[FlyingRustler]

is this lexan? or hard plastic like from a toy? i hope its lexan.

[pantablo]

@FlyingRustler -hard plastic (ABS). This is an old Tamiya rc body. Lexan I would just cut with scissors.

[thedarag77]

omg, like---realy?? 0_0

[pantablo]

@thedarag77 -I didn't believe it until I tried it. Amazing. Modelers have been doing this for a long time. I just learned about this and made the video.

[5kcsqt]

wow. Thats all i have to say. This changes everything. 

[pantablo]

@5kcsqt -this should be considered just one of many tools for cutting plastic bodies, depending on the specific circumstance. I didn't make this up. guys that do static models have been doing this forever. I just thought a video was a better way to show it than photos, for believability.

[p3x197]

You might be able to use that to get out of jail! LOL

[littleseanx]

NEAT

[phrawgg2]

I've watched this a couple of times now and I still don't believe it.

[pantablo]

Me too. I only saw photos so when I did it I had to document it in video.

[TheLoyale]

I agree with the Dremel thing, work slowly and take off a little at a time - you can always take more off (Kinda hard to put back whats been takin) I used a Dremel to cut the side windows out on my Lexan FJ40 (Worked great)

Wow just never knew thread could do that! I have to so try this next time I need to cut something (Smoother then a Dremel cutoff disc)

A decent hacksaw works well for hard plastics (ABS, Styrene) awell :)

-Tom

[Morongotongo123]

this is a great video .. but .. i wonder how to trim the fenders ?

[pantablo]

That's best done with a dremel with a sanding drum attachment. Then just take a little bit off at a time, always go slowly with a dremel. Its easy for it to walk away from your intended line so take far less than you think initially, then work up to where you want to be.

[doggydoo72]

or..... you COULD USE SCISSORS. GAY

[pantablo]

This is NOT lexan. You can not cut with scissors.

[skl1cent]

what thickness is that plastic, can do you that to a .60 piece of styrene?

[pantablo]

thats the standard tamiya thickness, not sure what exactly it is. should work fine on 060 thick stuff but you'll have to be carefull not to cut too fast or too much as you'll risk the string breaking. feed more through often.

[skl1cent]

ah ok thanks! :)

[axialviper]

couldn't really say anything other then wow, never would have thought of that.

I'm going to try it thanks.

[pantablo]

I can't take credit for it. its an old modelers trick I picked up on rccrawlerDOTcom.

[Japboy1]

what do you use to glue back the body?

[pantablo]

Tenax 7R or Plastruct Bondene. I back any seams with another layer of styrene to give it strength. This truck has been beat on hard and its held up great.

[masterivey]

hey is that a clodbuster body

[pantablo]

its actually an original Blackfoot body. The finished crew cab, done in a US Forestry theme, shows up in lots of my later videos. Check it out.

[ThePhilT]

why you dont use a blade?? cool cut!!:)

[pantablo]

In this case it would have been easy to use a blade. string takes less material away (the cut is the width of the thread, not a blade, but usually there will be areas I cut out in shapes around things, etc and I can do that easier with string. for example, cutting out a hood, or cutting pajero bumpers off or cutting doors off.

[myhuxpo]

Sweet! Thanks for the tip! I'll probably make a video about it myself...

[pantablo]

your welcome! Hope it helps.

[garbage85]

sissors?

[pantablo]

thats hard plastic not lexan commonly found on RC trucks. Scissors wont do a thing. You need a dremel to cut this.

[garbage85]

ahh I see, very good diy!

[biggzyboys]

do have a vid were ur putting the trucks body together

[pantablo]

No, sorry. I have only photographs. If you go to rccrawler(dot)com and search my username same as here you'l find the threads to all my builds. I've completed 2 more since this and am working on a third. Search my name and "ford crew cab" to find a ton of in-progress photos.

[rcking24]

why the fuk would u do that??

[pantablo]

in order to make a crew cab pick up from two standard pick ups...you should see my other, more recent videos, specifically one called "Ford Crew Cab Build Shakedown run" to see what I made with that black body.

[rcking24]

oh dude i had no idea

[tuacker90]

Thanks for sharing!

[eben81]

wow i was so surprised when i ruined my body with a piece of thread

[pantablo]

must have been user error.

[choiboy69]

wow thats really cool, and also the forms for socalrcrc is all locked!!!!!!!???????, i cant do anything. need help!1!

[crpyrob]

amazing . its much quicker than i was expecting too.

[pantablo]

surprising for sure. I was shocked when I cut the body the first time. This video is only the second time I used this method. Its remarkable.

[angrygreek1985]

wow that's insane.