Tamiya sprue cutters, 123 or 035 type

[AltcarBoB]

I have some spare birthday money and I fancy a nice pair of sprue cutters. I have been using a pair of circuit board side cutters but the blades can be a bit too chunky for tiny parts and they are starting to stretch the plastic leaving white stress marks.

 

I like Tamiya tools but I can't decide between the 74123 or 74035 cutters. What's the difference apart from about £12. Also are they single cutting blade or twin cutting blade.

 

Anything else you know in the same price range with similar quality might attract me.

 

 

[tank152]

I'd go with the 74035 all day long.

Another option would be a pair of these.

I've had mine a couple of years now and they're still working fine.

I also use a JLC Razor saw for removing delicate parts from the sprue, in fact I probably use that more than the cutters.

[franky boy]

Another shout for Dspiae single blade nippers. They’re expensive but wait until you use them. 
 

Let us know which ones you go for. 
 

James

[AltcarBoB]

Dspiae look nice but only available from China. I had troubles with AliExpress trying to get a warranty on a broken part and whilst I know people who have never had trouble I swore I would never buy from a non EU trader again.

 

If anyone knows of a trader with stock in the EU I will have a look

[cmatthewbacon]

Not super helpful, I know, but there's definitely a stockist in the UK... there was a stand at Telford in 2018 with a whole range of DSPIAE products. Unfortunately I can't remember what else they had to try and pin down who they were...

best,

M.

[square]

You can get Dspiae here

https://brevecomodelling.nl/#

[nheather]

I treated myself to some DSPIAE 2.0 for Christmas.  Seemed expensive at first but when I got them - wow.

 

Can’t forget the first time we tried them, it felt like there was no force, just a slight click and there was the cleanest cut ever.

 

Cheers,

 

Nigel

[tank152]

They are also re branded as Meng.

E models have them in stock.

https://www.emodels.co.uk/meng-model-advanced-single-edged-hobby-side-cutter-mts-026.html

I can't remember what I paid for mine but those seem pretty expensive.

HM Hobbies sell them.

https://www.hmhobbies.co.uk/st-a-20-single-edged-fine-modelling-cutters-for-plastic-dspiae.html

At a much better price although at the moment they're out of stock.

 

[AltcarBoB]

Anyone got any answers or opinions on the two Tamiya nippers. I really would prefer to buy Tamiya even though the Dispae ones do look nice

[bmwh548]

I think one of them (the 74123) has longer jaws so you can slide it better for certain cuts. Never really had them in hand, I'm just comparing online photos.

[AltcarBoB]

I have had a good nosey round the web and all the stockists of fancy sprue cutters are out of stock. A few web shops are a bit naughty saying they have stock till you read the fine print which says something like ordered direct from the manufacturer. Silly me I thought that instock meant you could put your greasy paws on it, apparently not.

[square]

I buy a lot of tools and kits from this shop:

 

https://www.super-hobby.co.uk/

 

https://www.super-hobby.co.uk/products/Szczypce-boczne-do-plastiku-waskie.html

 

https://www.super-hobby.co.uk/products/Sharp-Pointed-Side-Cutter.html

[AltcarBoB]

2 hours ago, square said:

I buy a lot of tools and kits from this shop:

 

https://www.super-hobby.co.uk/

 

https://www.super-hobby.co.uk/products/Szczypce-boczne-do-plastiku-waskie.html

 

https://www.super-hobby.co.uk/products/Sharp-Pointed-Side-Cutter.html

Thanks @square I have ordered the 123 nippers. A bit more than I initially wanted to pay but I am sure they will be worth it. I will look at superhobby again looks a good shop

[s.e.charles]

6 hours ago, AltcarBoB said:

Anyone got any answers or opinions on the two Tamiya nippers. I really would prefer to buy Tamiya even though the Dispae ones do look nice

I've binned two pair of Tamiya nippers. the box joint hits fingers when it's operated. these were around 30$ US, so not cheap to me. I have another pair now 13$ that have gone dull in about 3 months only cutting styrene. best ones are from Xuron in my opinion for about 15$ and last a couple of years. all of these were dedicated styrene cutters; I have wire & rod dedicated cutting tools. I would like to try some single blade nippers at some point. Godhand ??? I think is the brand the wargamers use.

 

note;  http://armorama.kitmaker.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=SquawkBox&file=index&req=viewtopic&topic_id=265666

[dogsbody]

I use the tools below. The red handled one is, I believe, an inexpensive wire cutter, origin unknown. The black handled one is a cheap, no-name nipper I think I bought in a hobby shop or maybe in a hardware store, as I'm 450km. ( 300 mi. ) from the closest hobby shop. The silver one I bought at the drugstore, in the nail section. They're toenail cutters! These all work well enough in various situations. I mostly use the black one. If there's not much room to use the nippers or it's a small part, I use the other tool. It's a broken CMK razor saw set into a pin vise. It works great. All of these together probably cost less than one set of purpose made, hobby use only cutters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chris

[AltcarBoB]

I have several pairs of cutters and have used a pair of £5 cutters for the last couple of years but these were a birthday money purchase. I don't think my sister's who gave me the money would be happy if I bought a pair of toe nail clippers with it 🤪😂

[Duncan B]

22 hours ago, tank152 said:

I'd go with the 74035 all day long.

Another option would be a pair of these.

I've had mine a couple of years now and they're still working fine.

I also use a JLC Razor saw for removing delicate parts from the sprue, in fact I probably use that more than the cutters.

I can second both of your suggestions. I have the Tamiya ones which are great for general nipping but I also have a Meng boxed set of the DSPIAE single sided cutters and can honestly say they are well worth the money. I am currently building a Wingnut Wings kit and wouldn't have been able to get a lot of the tiny cockpit parts off the sprues without damage if I didn't have the DSPIAE/Meng set. I use the Tamiya ones for cutting through the bigger sprue runners and the single cut ones for cutting through the actual sprue gates to the parts. With a little practice in getting the angle correct you can cut and virtually eliminate the need to sand any left over plastic from the kit parts, very impressive.

 

Duncan B

[AltcarBoB]

The Tamiys 123 nippers arrived today (excellent service from super-hobby) and they are brilliant I have been working on an Airfix 1/72 Swordfish not a single part couldnt be easily parted from the sprue the nose of the cutters is so long and fine. Very sharp as well and feel real quality in the hand I am going to enjoy using these.

[Walter]

I was looking to find out what the difference is between these 2 tamiya cutters is there a definitive answer?

 

By the way does Tamiya have a single blade cutter?

[louiex2]

Sorry I’m late to the party.  To answer your original question, Tamiya 74123 side cutters are thinner, have a longer taper and have a bit more curve than the 74035.  I have a a Xuron sprue cutter that I like for general use but as so many of the new kits have a lot more small parts on the spruce I will probably get a 74123 for the more delicate work.

 

Lou in California

[Bertie McBoatface]

ANSWER TO THE ORIGINAL QUESTION

 

I use both of the Tamiya cutters every day. I only use them for cutting parts from sprues, nothing else. I remember how impressed I was when I bought them and still think they are marvelous tools to use.

 

They come in two jaw profiles, the 123 model has a cutting edge 11mm long with a thinner blades. The 035 has the same handles, a 10mm length of blade but slightly thicker blades.

 

. 

 

 

 

I have had a pair of each for six years and they are now beginning to lose their sharpness and act like 'normal' cutters so I'm looking around to find the cheapest supplier in time to treat myself for Christmas. In use they are sharp enough that they don't tear the plastic but cut cleanly, leaving little or no further clean up required. I smile every time I use them. I will cry when I have to pay for my next pair!

 

I will only replace my 123 as the 035 doesn't offer any particular advantage to me, I find the longer and thinner jaws of the 123 are better for reaching into sprues packed with small parts.

 

A warning, these are high quality specialist tools. If you try to cut very thick plastic with the tips of the blades, they might well snap, as they are fairly thin and to judge from the way they hold their edge, they are probably hard and brittle steel. I have never had his problem because I use a cheap pair of side cutters for such heavy duty jobs. But any fine side cutters will snap if abused. The Tamiya ones are so expensive that I find it easy to refrain from using them for anything other than their intended purposes (except sometimes I cut a broken fingernail with them). You will notice that there are no nicks and dents on the edges even now.

 

I recommend these tools unreservedly even at the premium price of £35 a pair and would much rather have a pair on my bench than yet another kit in the loft.

 

Edit: In fact, now that I've been thinking about it, I've just ordered a new pair!

[roginoz]

Echoing the recommendation to reserve the use of these cutters for styrene, and not heavier plastic, may I add to the latter the plastic that holds clear parts.

It's much heavier than normal sprue plastic as I found to my cost, having used  new Godhand cutters to do just that, and was most put out to see the thinner of the two blades sitting on the cutting mat and separate from the body of the cutters.

 

Best part of A$100 down the drain !!   :o{