Cutting boning

[mrspinkdaffodil]

So I've looked through the past entries on cutting boning but it doesn't really seem like there's any sort of consensus on favorite tools. I've used cheapy bolt cutters and do think a nicer pair with longer handles for more leverage would work better but I've the added complication of spinal damage and have the approximate hand strength of half a

Comments

[faerieloch]

I have had much success with 14" long bolt cutters. They don't immediately cut through the boning; you do have to flex the bone back and forth to get it to snap off. I find the bolt cutters don't take much strength but flexing the bone does take hand strength if you're cutting off a tiny piece.

[rabid_bookwyrm]

Vice grips would help with the flexing of tiny bone lengths. They're like pliers that clamp on to whatever they're put on, and they're super handy for everything.

[unclrashid]

I have big bolt cutters myself, and sometimes have to sit on the handle to get them to cut all the way through. I find the dremel moto-tool (mini hand held grinder) with a cutting wheel requires less work. But you gotta wear goggles since it can throw off shards. On another forum I have heard good things about a kind of cutter (with levers in it) call "aviation snips". And one other piece of good advice... if you are going to buy them at the hardware store, bring some boning with you and test them before you buy.

[esseesee]

I have aviation (compound action) snips; they're considerably easier for my small, elderly, arthritic hands to use than are ordinary tin snips, but most certainly not effortless.

The ones on general sale aren't made to cut hardened steel; they do a decent occasional job but it's possible to buy them with hardened heat-treated blades, which would last longer, but I've no idea if they'd cut easier. Best go to a shop with some samples of your boning, and try different cutters and snips out for yourself.

I've got a mini-grinder-thingie (Dremel knock-off from a German discounter) set up in a semi-permanent mount; using it with a cutting wheel is almost effortless and certainly not a strain on the hands in any way once I've got the correct blade in place, but I only do that if I'm cutting lots of bones. Normally it's set up with the grindstone to smooth edges and take off corners, and I use aviation snips for cutting the odd few bones.

Good luck finding something suitable!

[spinninglotus]

I have had this problem before and I just bought bone cutters from corsetsupplies.com. They cut through bones like butter haha. Here's a link
http://corsetmaking.com/corset-making-tools/CMS-THI-BC.html