Pendraken Miniatures Forum

Wider Wargaming => Painting & Modelling => Topic started by: Heedless Horseman on 11 September 2019, 12:32:12 AM

Title: Plastic discs for Hatches etc
Post by: Heedless Horseman on 11 September 2019, 12:32:12 AM
Hmm. Could anyone advise me of an EASY way...(or supplier!!!)...of cutting small discs/circles of plastic card. Thinking 3-5mm diameter and .25mm or so thick. Thought about leather punch but discs will probably just stick in punch. Have tried slicing sprue but tends to fracture...cutting corners from a square can be a real pain and there is no way that edges can be filed when this small...and in quantities of dozens!  :o :'( ;D
Title: Re: Plastic discs for Hatches etc
Post by: FierceKitty on 11 September 2019, 12:49:51 AM
Print them to the right size, then glue the page to card. At least you'll be cutting out a printed outline. You might also consider finding a pro at a nail-maintenance beauty salon whose limited training has doubtless given her dexterity way beyond yours or mine in handling scissors. A polite word and a box of chocolates can work miracles.
Title: Re: Plastic discs for Hatches etc
Post by: Terry37 on 11 September 2019, 03:10:19 AM
Not sure if this will work for you, but when I need something like that I take an old cast spear/lance and slice it. Depending on the scale of the figure you take it from can give a variety of sizes.

Terry
Title: Re: Plastic discs for Hatches etc
Post by: Techno on 11 September 2019, 05:23:25 AM
A paper hole punch ?  :-\

That ought to cut thro' the really thin sheets of plasticard.

Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: Plastic discs for Hatches etc
Post by: OldenBUA on 11 September 2019, 10:39:13 AM
A leather hole punch will work fine. Yes, the discs will stick in the punch, but they can be pushed out easily. At least with mine, which has a revolving head with different hole sizes.
Title: Re: Plastic discs for Hatches etc
Post by: Heedless Horseman on 12 September 2019, 01:29:26 AM
Leather Punch does work, although fiddly...will only do one at a time...maybe blunt cutter.

FK...now that does sound good...however, a cold bath was required... :o ;)
Title: Re: Plastic discs for Hatches etc
Post by: Ithoriel on 12 September 2019, 10:09:53 AM
I use small discs of grey board to mark command values of BKC commanders and ship rating for ancient galleys. I cut a strip of 1mm grey board and feed it through a standard desk hole punch. Thin plastic shouldn't be much harder to work with.
Title: Re: Plastic discs for Hatches etc
Post by: Lord Kermit of Birkenhead on 12 September 2019, 11:28:32 AM
Should be no problem with plastic at all. Only problem is getting small enough punches.
Title: Re: Plastic discs for Hatches etc
Post by: Raider4 on 12 September 2019, 12:01:42 PM
The standard for your basic paper hole punch is a 6mm diameter hole (+/- 0.5,mm).
Title: Re: Plastic discs for Hatches etc
Post by: Heedless Horseman on 13 September 2019, 01:08:05 AM
'Normal' paper punches give bigger discs than what I am after...although I think I have seen a 'Christmas Cracker' single hole punch which may have made smaller holes...will look on ebay if can be bothered!  :o  Thanks for the advice, though, all of you!  :)

Have now ordered a single hole 'plier style' paper/ticket punch with 3mm option for under £5 on ebay...(Guess where from???  lol). Will have to try it and see!.
Title: Re: Plastic discs for Hatches etc
Post by: Aksu on 13 September 2019, 04:17:41 AM
I use a hollow punch set. Unlike the squeeze-like-pliers leather punches these are hit-with-hammer straight tubes. The plastic is easy-ish to push out with a stick.
A 3-12 mm set shouldn't cost too much.
Cheers,
Aksu