Large Scale Central

Extending the Chopper

Tools and Tips
#1

The Chopper II from NWSL is a neat tool…for HO. Hehe…well, it’s also nice for large scale, but if you have to cut pieces over 2 1/2" long, you’re out of luck. A couple of years ago, Jack Thompson had posted a design on some other board to extend this. I had vowed to build something similar, but it remained one of my many unfulfilled ideas until tonight. I’ve been building my boxcars and had tired of cutting 5 inch pieces. I looked around the workroom. Hmm…an extra piece of acrylic from my current building project, and a bar left over from my turntable. I’m set. A couple of swipes on the table saw, some drilling, then tapping, and voila! I can now cut longer pieces!

#2

I think that just might come in handy. :smiley:

Thanks

#3

Back when I worked for NWSL we had a tool called the chopper 3. Was 18" long and had 3 blade positions (left, middle, right). Maybe I will stop by soon and check this one out.

#4

Bruce you are right chopper II is a good tool can you post that article if you still have it so i can get get the sizes to cut thanks

#5

Ok…how bout showing us how it works? I got some kinda idea, but wanna make sure!

#6

John,
It’s basically just a long strip of 1/4" acrylic I had. On the left I made a support bracket and tapped it for a 6-32 screw. I also drilled into the chopper base, so that the screw goes through the support bracket and into the base. Helps to hold it in place.

I cut off 2 other pieces, about 1" long to make the supports for the 1/4" bar. The bar also holds the STOP. The stop has a hole drilled and tapped for a 6-32 screw to act as a set and travels along the bar.

So, when I want to use this, I just slide the stop to the desired position and screw in the set screw to hold it in place.

Of course the first time I tried this, I realized I had made the support pieces about 1/16" too tall - they interfered with the piece being cut. So, out came the little belt sander! :wink:

Now, if you’re asking about the Chopper itself, Bart, the handle holds a razor blade and moves up and down on a pivot. It’s very nice for cutting styrene.

#7

Bruce ,
May I thoroughly recommend your design . The chopper is a damn good tool in the fist place , and thus worthi taking a step further . I extended my one , but used a different method . The main thing is the end result is the same — makes the chopper even more useful .

Neat job too , by the way .
And it’s soooo useful when you admit to and explain a mistake in construction , all these little things help us all to learn .

Mike

#8

Bart, Here’s a better picture showing how it works. I’ve adjusted the acrylic stop to the right length and the board goes up against that and a straight edge along the back of the chopper. Once in place, the handle is pressed down, cutting my strip wood to the right length.

#9

Ahhhhhhhh, no wonder you build such neat lookin stuff, look at all the help ya get…the secrets out…:wink:

#10

Heheheh Okie dokie…thats exactly how I thought it should work. I’v ehad a Chopper II for liek…since ever I think…Here I was using the power chop saw for all that cutting…

#11

Doesn’t that blade crush the wood as it chops through, leaving the end deformed? One would think it would.

SteveF

#12

Steve ,
They usually house a razor blade , which do not seem to deform the wood . They will deform fingers though .
The geometry makes the blade come down at a slight angle , so it starts cutting on the corner .
Mike

#13

Shouldn’t they be using that Chopper to cut a nice slice of Wensleydale?