I shouldn't have done it, but I did...
The Oregon Deluxe Counter Clipper (2mm) that I have ordered arrived today.
I have clipped my first counter:
An orange 1-4-9 Hero counter from my retired kit.
The Hero somehow felt to be the right choice looking what is lying ahead of me with a couple of 10,000 counters yet to go. There were three of the orange 1-4-9 Hero counters. The next type up was 'MPh Abandoned D5.4'. Equally fitting because I have been obivously abandoned by all reason and will hate me for having started this clipping business...
von Marwitz
Today, I have clipped the last counter of my normal kit:
A T-13 II(b) tank from the Axis Minors.
Phew, I am glad that I am done with it.
I have not counted the number of counters overall. In large parts, this was a double OoB of most core modules and some counters of a few HASLs. The Korea module is not included because it is not WW2 - and probably because I have yet been too lazy to come up with a RAACO solution for Korea yet.
In the process, I broke one Oregon Deluxe Counter Clipper (2mm) after the first few weeks, getting a free replacement for it. The second one worked fine til the end. I came up with the idea to fix an eraser on the inside of the lower handle reducing significantly the strain on it after a clip as the eraser then bumps vs. the upper handle. I am pretty convinced, that the Orgeon Deluxe Counter Clipper in the 2mm variant ist the best tool for the job. The results look fine. And it works faster than any other clipper I'd say.
Now, theoretically, I could go on clipping various HASLs but as I will only punch them when I play them, there is not any need to do that at the moment.
The whole process took one year. Actually, I started 4. October 2018 and finished 1. October 2019. Since around Easter, though, only the Axis Minors and Allied Minors were missing completion. Rather than working on the project every day, I had a go at it in some sort of bouts: Say, a week or two with two to four A75 or A78 RAACO inserts a day. Then interruptions with no clipping action followed by another bout.
It might seem ridiculous, but it does make sense to experiment until you find the optimal hand posture to reduce strain. It does make a difference. When I started off, I wanted to get as much done as possible and had not found the best position how to hold and handle the clipper. I think I came close to tenosynovitis once and had to pause for a couple of days. After that, I looked after the best hand and arm posture more thoroughly and had no more troubles.
How many hours did it take altogether? I did not count the hours. But if you plan to engage in the venture of clipping your kit - believe me - you rather don't want to know...
Was it worth it?
Well, you ask someone that spent weeks devising the "perfect" RAACO storage, created labels for each slot in 230+ A78 / A75 RAACO inlays etc. So, no surprise, the answer is yes. Especially counters of the 2nd Editions of Core modules that come in better quality than those of most 1st Editions to start with. The coutners just look a lot better now.
von Marwitz