After a lot of experimentation on how to cut sheet solder, I finally
settled on a pair of inexpensive pruning shears ($7.00 from my local
home improvement store). I cut the sheet into strips about 8 mm wide
and then make a series of 12 mm cuts about 1.5 to 2 mm apart,
parallel to the length of the strip, creating a sort of fringe.
Then I hold the strip over a plastic pan about 8" x10" x 2" deep. I
snip across the “fringe” and the pallions drop into the box. Then I
can transfer them to a storage box or onto my soldering surface as
needed.
These shears were suggested to me by Betty Helen Longhi and they
make great snips for all sorts of thin metal sheet – say 22 Ga. and
under. They’re comfortable to use and have a handy self-lock which
secures the blades in the closed position between usage. I
especially like them because they don’t seem to displace or deform
the fringe as I’m cutting it and give me nice, square, clean
pallions.
Walk in Beauty,
Susannah Ravenswing
Jewels of the Spirit
Winston-Salem NC - where baby hurricane “Alex” gave us quite a frog
strangler last night…