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tool for gripping PE
phil2015
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Illinois, United States
Member Since: July 27, 2015
entire network: 502 Posts
KitMaker Network: 21 Posts
Posted: Saturday, August 22, 2020 - 09:18 AM UTC

Tiny PE I should probably have said. I need help holding onto PE white I file off the nubs. I don't seem to have a tool that is both small enough and has enough grip to hold a tiny part stably enough for me to sand off the nubs. Anyone have something to recommend?

Vicious
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Queensland, Australia
Member Since: September 04, 2015
entire network: 1,517 Posts
KitMaker Network: 309 Posts
Posted: Saturday, August 22, 2020 - 09:50 AM UTC
I have these Meng and i am very happy, they are exactly like the Xuron...i have the feeling they are made from the same manufacturer

https://www.bnamodelworld.com/hobby-tools-supplies-side-cutters-pliers-meng-models-meng-mts029?zenid=755564864dc6de39b6588d49fa00bb27

Sometime i use a pair like these...
https://www.plazajapan.com/4573211373264/?setCurrencyId=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhIP6BRCMARIsALu9LfnxBYIVcsdxwTMUbz-LJIgXda2BLxa9vmzAKno8plC9TVVagaGcWNoaAiVuEALw_wcB
Kevlar06
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Washington, United States
Member Since: March 15, 2009
entire network: 3,670 Posts
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Posted: Saturday, August 22, 2020 - 12:12 PM UTC
Some items I use are a set of smooth jawed forceps (sometimes called Hemostats—they have no teeth to damage delicate PE) You can usually find them at Micro-Mark, or at electronics supply stores. They will lock so you won’t be dropping the part accidentally. The other tools I use is are a Crescent smooth jawed electronics plier that comes in a set of 2 electrical tools from Home Depot (Lowe’s might have them too). They are inexpensive, and are partnered with a wire cutter that looks and behaves exactly Like a Xuron sprue cutter. I think I paid about $8 on sale for both tools packaged together. The final items I use are a pair of miniature smooth-jawed square jewelers pliers, and a smooth jawed needle nose plier I got in a set of miniature pliers from HD several years ago. All these tools are perfect for holding small flat parts while filing or sanding off metal “nubs”.

Here’s the Electronics set from HD, although they’ve gone up a bit in price:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Crescent-4-in-Shear-Cutter-Plier-Set-2-Piece-S2KS5NN/310771484

If you go to the Micro-Mark on line catalog, and type in “Smooth Jaw” a bunch of pliers and tools suitable for gripping PE will come up.

VR, Russ
smorko
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Serbia & Montenegro
Member Since: March 11, 2013
entire network: 94 Posts
KitMaker Network: 5 Posts
Posted: Wednesday, September 16, 2020 - 08:24 AM UTC
I can highly recommend these:
https://www.amazon.com/Hasegawa-Etching-Pliers-Tt26/dp/B001AIUNQC
quality made, and have been serving me well for years. Better than any tweezers.
Biggles2
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Quebec, Canada
Member Since: January 01, 2004
entire network: 7,600 Posts
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Posted: Friday, September 18, 2020 - 11:03 AM UTC
If you dip the jaws of a forceps into liquid latex, several times to form a thick layer (and let dry), they will grip thin pieces more securely, and at the same time provide a cushion effect to protect the piece.
Vicious
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Queensland, Australia
Member Since: September 04, 2015
entire network: 1,517 Posts
KitMaker Network: 309 Posts
Posted: Friday, September 18, 2020 - 11:37 AM UTC

Quoted Text

If you dip the jaws of a forceps into liquid latex, several times to form a thick layer (and let dry), they will grip thin pieces more securely, and at the same time provide a cushion effect to protect the piece.



i do the same with heat shrink tubing
18Bravo
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Colorado, United States
Member Since: January 20, 2005
entire network: 7,219 Posts
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Posted: Wednesday, October 07, 2020 - 08:02 AM UTC
Hmmmm...
I place the PE piece in my PE folder and clamp it down. It secures the part without damaging it, and also makes a nice edge parallel with the piece to insure aggressive filing doesn't cut into the actual piece.
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