I use score and snap method while working with ABS plastic sheets and never realized it could work for PCB material. Thanks for sharing this great video.

For cutting large clad boards or anything in high volume I would recommend a decent benchtop shear. They're essentially heavy-duty paper guillotines, and can be a little pricey but always give a perfect clean cut with minimal effort. Great for sheet metal too.

Nice video shot, thanks for sharing it :)

I really liked the wooden clamp idea so I made a small version to go in my toolbox. It comprises two ~15cm lengths of 15mm square section mild steel bar. The bars were clamped tightly together to be drilled through at each end. Then I drilled one for tight M6 clearance and tapped the other to M6. The two bars then bolt together with a close, parallel fit at the mating edges on each side. The tool will stand up to a lifetime of close shaves with the box cutter knife. Use normal machine screws, wing nuts or custom made big knurled screws to taste.

I use a benchtop bandsaw with a fine pitched blade dedicated to cutting PCB material. Not only cuts quickly but also allows for irregular shapes when needed. This is the method that has worked best for me and it spares my real woodworking tools from all the abrasive dust.

The wood clamp idea is absolutely awesome. It will keep a lot of people safe. Knives are bad.

I've also found that a large paper cutter works pretty well, really fast too...

Very nice video. I always use my dremel with a cutoff wheel. It is super easy, and fast. Just don't breathe in the dust!

I couple ideas I'd not seen before, thanks for sharing.

I used to use a band saw with a really fine blade, it works well but the dust get everywhere. I now use a sheet metal shear, it works incredibly well and leaves a really nice finish on the edge.

Excellent video! Another important issue that needs to be discussed is how to clean up and safely dispose of the fiberglass dust generated when cutting or drilling PCBs.

Very useful video. I bought my first ever copper clad board a few days ago and had a terrible time cutting it ( I used a hacksaw). I have a vice and will try your scoring method - that looked the easiest.

I like the score method. No dust and straight lines. Thanks!

I just used a band-saw last time, but it's nice to be aware of more DIY + more precise methods

I have a small metal shear from Harbor Freight that I use. It works very well for this purpose and makes very square cuts.

Alan, very good video, I've always struggled to cut CB's.

Yeah, I like the paper cutter/shear idea too - I don't have one of those...

Just busted out my tin snips. Worked great!

terrific video - thanks for taking the time to make and post this

I used the knife score'n'snap method. However, I found that a Tungsten Carbide tile scorer works a lot faster than a knife and stays sharp.

Always interesting, clear and inspiring. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

I use the table top jibsaw when making PCB's. My wife uses the Cricut system to make handmade greeting cards. She is interested in a paper shear. I don't think we would need a heavy duty one maybe something in the middle. Thanks for the tips on other ways a cutting PCB's to size Alan!

Great presentation...thank you for taking your time to put it together.

Hi Alan, Thanks for the tip with the tin snips, they work great, would never have thought to use them for cutting pcbs! 73 Kevin GW4WOV

i use knife honing stone with medium grit and water to finish up the edges. They become so smooth that they look like glass:)

Nice tips. I like to use tile sample swatches from the hardware store. I cut and use the swatches for art projects. Every time I shop, I pick up a couple more to expand my supply and selection.The swatches are made of the same stuff circuit boards are made of only thinner. I have had the same problem with dulling saw blades. Perhaps these scoring or nibbling methods will work better.

Thank you for that tutorial. I never thought of scoring it. Brilliant.

A cheap electric tile cutter works very well and is quick and relatively safe since no sharp blades. Spinning wheel variety.

Very detail, amazing 🙏🙏🙏

Tin Snips! thanks man, i found this to be the best solution. You can find these with longer strighter blades like oversized sisors.The cut is clean and quick, unlike saws, or using blades to score and snap the boards. thanks again.

very helpful , hadnt thought of tin snips- thanks

I think jigsaw refers to the handheld version of the tool, that one you used there I'd call a scroll saw. We have a couple of them around here. They were real handy when I wanted to cut rectangular openings in a plastic box for powerpole mounts and volt/amp meters.

I just use a little porxxon table saw ks230, just because its easy and I also use the material to make casings out of it by soldering them together, with a table saw you get perfect edges and square edges

Good ideas 👍

Some nice tis in this video.. Some methods i havent even considered before

thanks! i'm new at PCBs. this helps understand the basics

nice video sir, me still using old school hacksaw :D

Angle Iron, Steel angle with a nut/bolt on each end works to ...simulate to the wooden clamp but in steel ..

Excellent. Thanks!

A shear is by far the best way. The Shop Fox 12 inch shear from Harbor Freight is ideal and costs less than $300. (shipping will add significantly to that!)

nice very informative

I use a oscillating tool with a round blade. And a dust respirator mask on.

Great videos, thanks!

Great, thanks! What if you mounted two straight edges in the vice and then follow them while cutting, that will also prevent marking if the vise jaws is not smooth.

Don't spoil your nice wooden jaws :( Sandwich the pcb with some scrap aluminium angle lengths either side, and draw the blade along those!

The small vice problem -- I got around that with two steel rulers.

A wet tile saw works great!

Aviation snip is best since the long blades produce less bending.

I was wondering about converting an old TV into a basic audio oscilloscope to reclaim so utility of a set or two in the garage. I looked on youtube and there are several sappy videos playing music with no narration. I thought you may have some interest in this for one of your well done videos. The scope should have some rudimentary stable trigger system and need not be specific on calibration. Perhaps other Hams could find utility as a basic audio scope, transmit or RTTY monitor or as a basic tool for audio projects. Most hams probably have or have access to old TV sets ad this would be a fun project. There are some links under google as well. 73, Glenn WA4AOS

Thanks again Alan

If I had seen this video 7 years ago, my dovetail saw might still have some teeth left

Good job !

Hello, I would like to create three small copper islands for the transistor as shown in the video. What tool should I use to create roughly 1/8" or smaller copper circular islands on single side fr4? Dremmel with small diamond bit orI plexiglass cutter by "wobbly" hand . I can't find a 1/8" hole saw.

Cut the boards the same way that you cut sheetrock.Score one side then snap it, while folded cut the inside with your knife.

lol so basically the answer is "Anything. Just use anything to cut circuit boards"

thank you

Utica makes a special circuit board pliers. UTICA 470-5 PRINTED CIRCUIT PLIERS

thanks! very helpful.

thanks for sharing

Whats the best method to cut the PCB without bending it? I mean in micrometer range.

Any of the methods other than the scoring leads to very irritating particles. I used an N95 mask but still this stuff is worse than cutting metal or wood. I am planning on making a DIY tine little vacuum that is not as noisy as the regular shop-vacs in the market (even the smaller ones) or repurposing one of those small hanheld cleaners that are used for vehicles or pet hair. Did you ever consider doing anything about that? Thank you for the encyclopedic videos

I'd just suggest you make it even more clear that in addition to cutting the board material's epoxy plastic that you are literally cutting glass mat, and that doing so will VERY quickly dull either blades or drill bits.

Why would a PCB board use 4 multiple layers of grounds any reasons? It takes 280 C on my hot air gun to lift up SMD chips and use a SMTmax853 pre-warmer under the PCB board to warm the PCB board in order to lift up the SMD chips.

I like the jigsaw, but I need to buy one. Until then I have to use elbow grease. How do you cut just the copper of a PCB into squares or strips? Thanks for the video.

Dust mask with a saw. Not a good idea to breath the dust.

Aren't these boards made of fiberglass? If so, rubbing the edges with your fingers after cutting them in half is a bad idea because of the fine fiberglass particles that will then stick in your fingers possibly make their way into your lungs and eyes later on

🎯

*Set* of nibblers, eh? *Pair*?? Gaggle??? I've always just called it "a nibbler" :-) But...cute - set...

When you use the nibbler tool does it leave small cut squares of copper clad that can be used as glue on islands/pads for other projects? just a thought as Ive never used a nibbler. Phil

Where can I buy the clippers and the holding device (circular metal casted base)?

this. AvE this is how youtube video's should be. none of that overacted bullshit.

What is wrong with using a sliding mitre saw with a thin disk.? 73

Thanks for vid. Is it true Circuit boards contain lead. Contact with the dust or skin should be limited.

what about using glass cutter ?

Score!

Hello when you use the tooth blade machine , that's very dangerous because the fiber material is very small and you should sniff all this particles . what do you think am I sure ?

Thank you.

How do you cut just the copper to get square Islands on the PCB?

How about a diamond tip glass cutter (ebay)? will it work ?

Do you people who worry about dust put your nose about 10 mm away from the cut ? Then breathe in as hard as you can ? Stop worrying about what might happen and enjoy life . ☠️

what kind of education do I need to learn this kind of stuff?

How to make a circle?

I still prefer using PCB Guillotine shears a company which I have found that specialise in manufacturing high quality low cost shears are a UK based company called Fortex www.fortex.co.uk.

Desktop Metal Shear works better: www.micromark.com/mini-metal-shear-and-brake,9645.html

Boobie prize for anyone who can count how many times this guy says "UH" in the video. VERY distracting.

Great, thanks! What if you mounted two straight edges in the vice and then follow them while cutting, that will also prevent marking if the vise jaws is not smooth.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.