Tamiya Sharp Pointed Side Cutter NO.123 (74123)

Every plastic modeler needs a nice pair of "nippers" or "sprue cutters". Some of us are lucky enough to have several cutters built for different purposes. The noted Japanese model company Tamiya has issued several high-quality modeling tools. Among these tools is a fine-blade sprue cutter, reviewed here. This cutter is a fine tool, sharp, and easy to use. There is always a downside in life and regarding this tool, the downsides are cost and sturdiness. Anything with the Tamiya name tends to cost more and these cutters are no exception. They are among the most expensive cutters available to modelers, but they ARE well made and have nice clean cutting action. These cutters have very fine, sharp blades which means that they are not necessarily your primary cutter. Using these on heavy plastic parts and thick connecting sprues may lead to the fine tips of the blades breaking off (that happened to my first pair of Tamiya cutters even with careful use). Use a pair of cheaper general purpose cutters for larger cuts. The Tamiya cutters are best for small sprues and for removing small parts from the "tree". NEVER use these cutters on anything other than plastic! There are cheaper cutters that are actually better for wire and metal parts. So, like many fine tools, the Tamiya cutters are really good at what they are designed to do, but misuse will lead to dulling and breakage. I am very glad I have these to back up my heavier cutters. A handy addition to a modeler's tool box.

These are great sprue snippers. Cut clean and are sharp 3 years later. Some have complained of the lack of durability, but I have not had that issue. I believe they are cutting plastic that is too thick or maybe wire. These are for cutting near the part being removed from the sprue. If I want to cut thicker plastic, I used my wire cutters. If you follow these rules, these nippers will last you a long time. I wouldn't hesitate to buy these again.

I bought these because I was looking to get into assembling small Warcraft miniatures. I'd tried an exacto knife and it wasn't precise enough. I ordered these because both of my friends who have that abominable hobby highly recommended them. They were right, these snips are sharp and perfect for snipping and trimming items. I found out Warhammer minis aren't my jam but these snips are great!

These cut through plastic frames like butter and leave a clean edge.I had been using cheap side cutters for several years, and they eventually lost their edge and started to chip, so I bought these on sale (like half off).They have a smaller rubber handle than my old ones, but still fit fine in the palm of my hand. If you have exceptionally large hands, they might be a bit small for you and you might want to try the Citadel ones or larger specialized ones.They're forged steel with a flat edge so you can cut relatively close to your model without leaving significant scarring, but I would still not cut them flush to harder plastic models. You're probably okay cutting pretty close to Bandai's plastics, as they're softer than those used by some other model companies, but it's still best to leave a little bit off the sprue left on the model so you can trim manually.They cut through GW, Parabellum and Bandai sprues with ease. I would not recommend using these on metal or 3d printed models (cast resin is usually softer than 3d printed UV resin, so that's ok to cut thin gates, not the thick ones though), and never use them on steel wire, they will likely chip or lose their edge way too fast. Not advised to cut through the frames themselves, just the gates, as I'm not sure what thickness they are designed for, but 4mm thick plastic might be a little much for them.

I've been using a couple pairs of nippers from my wife's jewelry making kit. These are a game changer. Super sharp and cuts clean. For me - little or no sanding needed afterwards!

If you have regular nipper just to cut the plastic and you want the next level, I highly recommend you this nipper. The materials are solid, easy to use, durable and when you cut the part is really good