NWSL Tools

[garethashenden]

I'm considering the purchase of a Chopper, a Chopper II, and or a Duplicutter from Northwest Shortline. I'm interested in opinions about the differences between the Chopper and the Chopper II. Does it make a big difference which one I get? Are the any non-obvious advantages to one over the other? I can see how theoretically the replaceable mat is nice, but how long does it take for the Chopper I to get cut up?
And the Duplicutter, how useful is it? Nice to have or indispensable?
This is all for N scale modelling.

[nickelplate759]

I have a Chopper and a Chopper II.   The Chopper II is a better tool.  Not only is the matt replaceable, but it lasts longer than the Masonite base of the Chopper, and it has a metal base.

[wazzou]

I have a Chopper, got a Chopper II when it came out and now I rarely use the original.
Not only is the mat self healing, it is replaceable but more importantly it has a grid on it and it is far easier on blades for extended cutting life.

[Missaberoad]

The rubber handle on the original chopper/chopper 3 hits the Masonite and prevents the whole  razor blade from hitting the base, can be an issue when cutting wider straps.
Go with the chopper 2 for sure!

There was a company that made a similar cutter that used a parallelogram mechanism that blew the chopper out of the water. They are near impossible to find tho...

[garethashenden]

Sounds like the Chopper II is the one to get! Thanks for confirming that. Should I get a Duplicutter too? I'm less sure of its usefulness to me, but I want to hear from people who have them.

[peteski]

Yes, Chopped II is the way to go.  Very solidly built.  But when cutting thicker styrene (like 0.060" strips I was cutting yesterday), do not expect straight perpendicular cuts.  The thin blade will usually stray slightly.  Cut slightly larger, then sand the cut ends flat.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Forget the chopper. Get a micro table saw.

[davefoxx]

Forget the chopper. Get a micro table saw.

Get both!  I love my Chopper II.

DFF

[garethashenden]

I placed an order for a Chopper II and a Duplicutter last night. Table saws scare me.

[peteski]

Forget the chopper. Get a micro table saw.

I have both (along with a band saw and a mini cut-off saw). Each one has its uses, and they are all useful.

REMEMBER: The right tool for the job will make the job quick and easy!  Plus, there is no such thing as "too many tools". 

[dem34]

Have to join the choir, making a couple hundred Styrene ties with my proxon saw sounds like a nightmare, but its a pretty quick and bloodless process with a chopper and a jig in place. MrBuzz is reserved for DPM mangling.

[basementcalling]

Forget the chopper. Get a micro table saw.

Does any manufacturer offer that with an extra set of fingers?

[peteski]

Does any manufacturer offer that with an extra set of fingers?

No, but a finger guard is available. 

[Ed Kapuscinski]

No, but a finger guard is available. 

An extra floppy one, anyway.

I think I need to make a riving knife for it because kickbacks are kinda scary with it.

That said, I don't think you could FULLY remove a finger with it. Just most of one.

[Maletrain]

You can buy a sliding table from Micro Mark (whenever they are not sold-out) that makes the supporting surface move with the parts to be cut as it goes past the saw blade.  That really helps with hold-down and angle maintenance for cutting small pieces.  I am thinking about making a home-brew version with easily replaceable "table" surface, because the sliding table gets cut with the parts the first time it is used, and a change in blade angle (away from vertical) makes for a substantial gap in the slide table surface where it meets the blade.