Cutting Round those door handles.

[Peter Normington]

when trimming round petrol caps, doors, and wheel arches, or anything with an”edge”I use a scalpel with a new blade. the trick is to always slightly angle the blade away from the surface of the paint otherwise you will remove a layer of that as well as the vinyl. Try to do as much as possible in one movement, to avoid jaggy ends. If cutting directly from a panel, it is more difficult but can be done, only use the weight of the scalpel. it takes a bit off practice to do it without breaking the surface of the paint. I use a swan morten metal scalpel holder, with replaceable blades. normally use 10a for general purpose but they also do various shapes and sizes.
A good way to practice is to use pickle jar lids, or similar painted lids from jars, they make excellent petrol cap covers.
Peter

[Roy Roberts]

😀 Thanks for that peter, 😀

If possible can you tell me where I can get the Scalpel and blades. (?)

:lol1: Will start emptying the wife’s jars in the cupboard tomorrow. :lol1:

Thanks again mate

Roy.

[Peter Normington]

graphityp, cherwell, or your local craft shop
Dont eat the content of the jars all at once!
Ps get the retractable type, otherwise you forget, put it in your pocket and pierce important bits!

[Roy Roberts]

:thumbup2:

[juddr]

my method is to angle the blade slightly back so that the blunt back end of the blade guides along the paint, the sharp end is slightly raised above the paintwork.. hard to explain..

[Andy Gorman]

As Peter says, it’s one of those things that needs a bit of practice. Always use a new blade and again, as Peter mentioned, only use the weight of the scalpel. I have seen people using a stanley knife to do this – very dodgy I think.

One good thing to keep in your toolbox is one of those little compass sets that have a blade instead of a pencil. Good for cutting perfect circles around keyholes. Shame they aint big enough to cut a petrol cap-sized hole. Cherwells sell these compasses.

[Nigel Fraser]

…talking about cutting round filler caps, I’ve found that you can use either an old CD or preferably a clear one which often come as part of the packaging on spindle packs. Covers about the correct radius for most caps and if you adjust the position a little as you cut round then you can vary the size a little one way or the other too. Just one of those useless things I’ve picked up and put in my tool box over the years 😉
Nigel

[Roy Roberts]

😀 Thank you all for the advice & tips. 😀

Nigel, l like the idea of using a CD, will keep one in van in future.

Roy

[Paul Goodwin]

Just bought one of those cumpases from my local art shop BigG only 3.99 very good it is too , thanks for that 🙂

[Bill Dewison]

quote Peter Normington:

Ps get the retractable type, otherwise you forget, put it in your pocket and pierce important bits!

I put a knife in my pocket and pierced my important bits! 😮 Had to buy a new wallet but luckily none of the notes were damaged 😉

I’ve always trimmed round things by hand, so this thread is a real eye opener. Thank you to everyone for the tips and tricks 😀

Cheers, Dewi

[Peter Normington]

a few years ago i saw a hand held drag knife in a catalogue, or leaflet, in other words it was like a plotter knife that was hand held, at the time I thought I must get one of them!, but you know what its like, the brochure/leaflet got filed in the bin. I’ve searched ever since but cannot find who made or sold it, does anyone know what I am talking about? it really seemed to be the muts nuts, maybe I just dreamt the idea.
Peter

[Andy Gorman]

I had one of those Peter. Actually, I didn’t find it to be much use. Too awkward to control accurately. I can’t remember where I got it from.

Not much help, am I?

[Peter Normington]

great ‘elp if you say it wasnt much cop I can stop looking for What I thought I should have got!!
Peter

[Simon Clayton]

I used one of them a couple of time…then it went in the bin, not worth a go as big g has said… the “london graphic centre” do them or the used too
Try cutting free hand using your plotter blade & holder if it’s a drag knife, it will give you a feel for how it works

Simon