# How to cut PCBs?

**URL:** <https://forum.midibox.org/t/how-to-cut-pcbs/3693>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous\
**Created:** [November 28, 2004, 11:11am UTC](https://forum.midibox.org/t/how-to-cut-pcbs/3693 "2004-11-28T11:11:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Screaming\_Rabbit](https://forum.midibox.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@Screaming\_Rabbit](https://forum.midibox.org/u/Screaming_Rabbit)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2004, 11:11am UTC](https://forum.midibox.org/t/how-to-cut-pcbs/3693/1 "2004-11-28T11:11:08Z")

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Hi

I never cut PCBs by myself. What’s the “right” way for pertinax and epoxy?

Can I use a high RPM circular saw like this one:

[http://www.selbst.de/fstart.php4?inhaltURL=/flexgrund.php4&links=http://www.selbst.de/8lexikon/heimwerker/lexikon.php4?id=900&rechts=/8lexikon/sucheheimwerker.php4](http://www.selbst.de/fstart.php4?inhaltURL=/flexgrund.php4&links=http://www.selbst.de/8lexikon/heimwerker/lexikon.php4?id=900&rechts=/8lexikon/sucheheimwerker.php4)

What are you using?

Greets, Roger

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**Author:** ![Rene](https://forum.midibox.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rene](https://forum.midibox.org/u/Rene)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2004, 2:43pm UTC](https://forum.midibox.org/t/how-to-cut-pcbs/3693/2 "2004-11-28T14:43:48Z")

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Well, because sawing gives a lot of dust I use a knife.

(Stanley or somelike)

It takes several strikes to cut, say it, halfway, and then you can break it, a little sandpaper to make the edges smooth.

René

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**Author:** ![Screaming\_Rabbit](https://forum.midibox.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@Screaming\_Rabbit](https://forum.midibox.org/u/Screaming_Rabbit)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 2:25am UTC](https://forum.midibox.org/t/how-to-cut-pcbs/3693/3 "2004-11-29T02:25:34Z")

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Well I have a vacuum cleaner attached to my saw.

But before I try to cut them with the saw, I wanna be shure, that there is no risk that the epoxy boards break in small peaces and them sticking in my face :-/

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**Author:** ![arumblack](https://forum.midibox.org/user_avatar/forum.midibox.org/arumblack/32/23_2.png) [@arumblack](https://forum.midibox.org/u/arumblack)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 1:50am UTC](https://forum.midibox.org/t/how-to-cut-pcbs/3693/4 "2004-12-03T01:50:57Z")

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I cut mine on a tile cutter…( a table saw sort of device with a diamond blade) but I don’t know how bad that is for the tile cutter…

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**Author:** ![Screaming\_Rabbit](https://forum.midibox.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@Screaming\_Rabbit](https://forum.midibox.org/u/Screaming_Rabbit)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 3:43am UTC](https://forum.midibox.org/t/how-to-cut-pcbs/3693/5 "2004-12-03T03:43:56Z")

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Thanks

> I cut mine on a tile cutter…

A tile cutter is not a high RPM saw right? And it has much finer teeth (if even) than my blade.

My plade is hardend steel. It’s o.k. for aluminum but for epoxy &nbsp;:-/???

I think I give it a try, while hiding my face behind a wall ;D

Greets, Roger

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**Author:** ![arumblack](https://forum.midibox.org/user_avatar/forum.midibox.org/arumblack/32/23_2.png) [@arumblack](https://forum.midibox.org/u/arumblack)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 4:51am UTC](https://forum.midibox.org/t/how-to-cut-pcbs/3693/6 "2004-12-03T04:51:12Z")

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That’s right, low rpm’s and the blade has no teeth, just some ridges, and diamond…I think also that tin snips worked ok too, but only on small pieces, and not nearly as neat.

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**Author:** ![doc](https://forum.midibox.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@doc](https://forum.midibox.org/u/doc)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 9:41am UTC](https://forum.midibox.org/t/how-to-cut-pcbs/3693/7 "2004-12-05T09:41:55Z")

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Hi,

I always use a plate shears for cutting PCBs. This is a real good way, because there’s no dust at all !

greets

Doc

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**Author:** ![Duggle](https://forum.midibox.org/user_avatar/forum.midibox.org/duggle/32/9_2.png) [@Duggle](https://forum.midibox.org/u/Duggle)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 10:27am UTC](https://forum.midibox.org/t/how-to-cut-pcbs/3693/8 "2004-12-05T10:27:36Z")

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Guillatine for cutting sheet materials works perfectly and no dust.
