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Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: How to cut circuit boards?

From: Russell Shaw <rjshaw@...>
Date: 2003-12-21

grantfair2001 wrote:
> I use tinsnips. They work extremely well and leave a cleanly cut edge.
> You use then like scissors. Tin snip jaws have flat faces which move
> face-to-face. You can snip, open, push snips ahead and keep part of
> the cut PCB edge aligned with one snip face, and get a straight cut.
>
> If you take a look at tin snips, they are really a shear with handles.
>
> I also use a shear which is part of a small sheet metal brake. But the
> snips work very well, and can be had for a modest sum. I saw a pair of
> decent looking Chinese made snips recently for $10 Can. I use a pair
> of US made snips about 30 years old, and have been cutting PCB with
> them for 20 years plus. I sharpen them occasionally by cutting up some
> sandpaper.
>
> If you have snips, its easy to try this.

Problem with snips is that they can warp the pcb (expecially thinner stuff),
making film-in-light-box methods difficult.