JoeAirPort

My Feedback: (41)

Anybody have a trick for cutting a perfect 1/2" diameter circle in Ultra coat? I'm not good enough with an exacto to do this. I end up fraying the edges. I thought maybe a cut off piece of brass tubing would do it but that's a weak idea IMO. Any help from the covering gurus would be much appreciated.

Why do I want to do this? It's to double up the covering that goes around the recessed holes that my canopy bolts and bonded sealing washers go through. I'd like to cut 1" squares with 1/2" dia holes in the center.

Thanks

Scar

My Feedback: (3)

For 3/8" or 1/4", I sandwich the mylar between two sheets of posterboard and use a paper punch. If you can find a half-inch paper punch or hole punch, you could do the same.

Good luck,
Dave Olson

mclina

I don't think the brass tubing is a bad idea. As long as you can get a good, sharp edge on it, it should cut pretty cleanly.

I made this 'tool' out of a piece of 1/2" conduit, to cut holes in ribs for routing servo wires.

If you have a sharp edge and cut the material on a hard surface, I think it will come out fine.

Good luck

DavidAgar

My Feedback: (108)

Find someone with a Cricket Cutter. They are from the scrap booking world, but they have endless possibilities for RC. What the wife don't know, won't hurt her. Good Luck, Dave

Charlie P.

Depending on your hole you could melt it with a soldering pencil. That's what I use for things like wing bolt and aileron lead holes. Easy and "seam" sealed. Works in any situation where there is clearance under the covering.

JoeAirPort

My Feedback: (41)

You mean just apply the covering, after that go back with the solder pencil? I could actually do some trial runs on this method. Usually it's not a nice clean edge. I always use that method for removing covering where it's not visible.

ChuckW

Ihave a set of gasket punches. They are basically sharp, tubular punches used for making holes in gasket material. I've never used them for covering but I have made holes in balsa sheet with them and it works fairly well. Just make sure they are sharp and you have a good backing behind whatever you are cutting.

I've seen the punch sets at places like Harbor Freight tools.

They are similar to these: http://www.plumbersurplus.com/Prod/G...utm_source=gan

basman

If you heated the 1/2 " copper up then placed it on the film that would work , it would mean you could do it insitu ( on the plane )
Pretty much as Charlie P suggested but the hole would be the perfect size, you could also vary the sizes by the size of the copper ..............Brian

carrellh

You can get this for six bucks http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXHEA0&P=7
Cuts Circles from 10mm (.39") to 150mm (5.9")

Edwin

My Feedback: (2)

Old fashioned plastic drafting circle template and a sharp #11.
Edwin

JoeAirPort

My Feedback: (41)

Thanks for all great ideas guys. Forums are great.

JollyPopper

My Feedback: (6)

I use spent firearms shells to punch holes. Simply sharpen the business end a little bit and a slight tap will cut perfect holes. I have several calibers including 22, 270, 30, 38 and 45. I suppose you could go to a local gun shop and pick up some used 50 caliber brass. If you get a nick in the edge, just throw it away and fire another shell.