Rounded corners and tweezers

Blaze

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DWPetros said:
I bought one of those Oregon clippers, but didn't like it. Took a long time to arrange for one 'clip'. I'm fairly impatient and quickly went back to the toenail clipper.
I like it better because you can clip closer to the corner if you're careful and you can clip a lot of counters pretty quickly.

PS: My Oregon clipper sits in a drawer waiting to be sold :)
Click to expand...
The all metal one? That thing is a nightmare to clip counters uniformally. If you're slow and careful it's OK.

The mostly plastic one is a machine of uniformity. Not to mention on average you can clip 500 counters an hour perfectly. It's also troop proof and a brain dead process. All you need to pay attention to is having the counter right side up. After that it's all muscle memory.

Back in BC, I used to use nail clippers. It was tedious and inconsistent.

Cheers
 
Gordon

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What this thread needs is some proof. Let's see what the counters clipped by the various methods look like. Put up or shut up. ;)

Here's a platoon of my red-blooded, all American Joes, clipped using the Oregon heavy-duty 2mm (I believe) clipper. Unmodified, this unit has clipped 2 full sets of AH/MMP modules, all the AH/MMP historical modules plus a large number of 3rd party modules and is still going strong.
 

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pensatl1962

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DWPetros said:
I bought one of those Oregon clippers, but didn't like it. Took a long time to arrange for one 'clip'. I'm fairly impatient and quickly went back to the toenail clipper.
I like it better because you can clip closer to the corner if you're careful and you can clip a lot of counters pretty quickly.

PS: My Oregon clipper sits in a drawer waiting to be sold :)
Click to expand...
I quickly learned that you get into a rhythm with the Oregon clipper. You need coordination with the second hand to feed and spin the counter - almost like a cam action. And then you can be a counter clipping automaton. Do it while watching sports on TV to help pass the time. You can develop soreness in the clipper hand, so you may want to use your non-dominant hand for that. Otherwise picking up a fork or pen may be a chore for a while.
 
Hutch

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Takes about 5 seconds per counter. Clip and turn 5 corners with second thumb, the 5th one is a insurance of the first clip, as sometimes the first corner doesn't properly seat.
Prep: Separating counters from trees with knife, scalpel, etc. Do NOT pull. Then separation of individual counters, again cut, do not pull apart. (Prevents reverse side tearing)
1/2" Sheet 280 counters, 23 minutes.
5/8" Sheet 176 counters, 15 minutes.
plus prep time.
I've also found, frequently shifting the grip on the handles reduces the soreness.
 
Blaze

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von Marwitz said:
View attachment 31337

Everyone, take due note of the die @Hutch has applied to the handle of the clipper.

This is a very important modification to enhance the durability / survivability of the clipper.
Personally, I used an eraser taped to the handle for the same purpose.

This modification will greatly limit the strain on the plastic part close to the joint around which the clipper rotates. Experience has shown that this "weak spot" might otherwise break. With the addition of a "buffer", the plastic part within will be shielded from constant high pressure when compressing the handles.

I can only recommend and encourage anyone using this type of counter clipper to fix some type of "buffer" in place to increase its survivability.

von Marwitz
Click to expand...
Wait a minute... that is not a Precision Die glued to the handle. Now the corner clips will not be... uhh.. perfect...
 
Yuri0352

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Hutch said:
Takes about 5 seconds per counter. Clip and turn 5 corners with second thumb, the 5th one is a insurance of the first clip, as sometimes the first corner doesn't properly seat.
Prep: Separating counters from trees with knife, scalpel, etc. Do NOT pull. Then separation of individual counters, again cut, do not pull apart. (Prevents reverse side tearing)
1/2" Sheet 280 counters, 23 minutes.
5/8" Sheet 176 counters, 15 minutes.
plus prep time.
I've also found, frequently shifting the grip on the handles reduces the soreness.
Click to expand...
Yes!
Exactly the method I've used for years. I would add the recommendation to rest the cutter on a table top while using it. This seems to reduce the possibility of of fatigue and seems to allow the process to go relatively quickly. I do the clipping on the top of a model builder's cutting board, which also makes for a quick and easy sweeping up of the clipping debris.
 
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