PAC-PEN MICRO CUTTERS
Simply investing money in a premium tool isn’t enough.
If you want the best results, you’ll also need to invest some time as well.
Even if you’re a professional at working with clay, please take a few minutes to read this manual before using your PAC-PEN. It will save you time and money in the long run.
I’m a full-time miniature artist and I sell the tools I’ve created for myself on the side. This business thrives on the support of art community on social media. It helps me continue to create and share these tools with others.
I never promote my latest products solely on my own accounts. I believe in customer recommendation only.
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Unlocking the Potential of PAC-PEN Micro Cutters
My husband and I invented resin micro cutters and these cutters have the smallest details and thinnest cutting edge on the market. We use a combination of different type of engineering resins, to make a premium quality tool for professionals.
These cutters won’t break if you follow my instructions. Please note that while I am unable to offer free replacements for broken micro cutters, I am more than happy to share my knowledge on how to use the tool effectively to achieve the best results and ensure a long lifetime for your cutters.
Cleaning - Try to avoid sharp metal things like needles. If the clay gets stucked in the cutter, you can wash it out with alcohol or soapy water and interdental brushes. Here is a video, how I clean my micro cutters.
Storage - Avoid storing them near sharp metal objects or exposing them to direct sunlight for extended periods of time (months or years), it may result in a reduction in flexibility.
Tool for professionals - I strongly recommend our resin cutters for those who have experience with clay - especially the expert cutters with three red stars on their photos. These cutters were optimized for miniature making and miniaturists work with thinner clay than polymer clay artists from other fields. While most of our cutters can handle clay up to 3mm thick, the expert cutters work with clay that is no more than 1mm thick.
Using the micro cutter nozzles without pen - These cutters come with less than 0.2mm cutting edges. The pen provides a safer and more secure grip on the nozzle, allowing for more precise pressure control and ensuring that the nozzle is held at the correct angle. This not only extends the lifetime of your nozzle but also results in cleaner and more precise cuts. The difference between pieces cut with and without the pen is noticeable - using the pen makes it much easier to achieve nice, clean cuts.
Please note: If you didn’t buy the pen for these cutters, you will not be able to enjoy the full benefits of these micro cutters and I will not accept any complaints, or be able to give any quality guarantee.
Mark on the clay - It’s a simple matter of physics - anything harder than the clay itself will leave a mark on it. However, there are some tricks you can use to avoid leaving marks from the rod on your work. It may take some experimentation to find the right thickness and consistency of clay (I recommend using clay that is no more than 1-3mm thick and adding cornstarch to softer clay). If you find that the rod needs to apply a lot of pressure to push the clay out of the cutter, it may be a sign that the clay is too thick or too soft and is sticking inside the cutter. When used correctly, a gentle push from the rod should be enough to release the clay from the cutter. ​
Scaled miniatures with PAC-PEN - When it's possible, I use photos of real objects as reference to design the shapes and I calculate the scale myself. In the category '1:12 scale' you can find scaled miniature shapes were made specifically for miniature making, like fluted biscuits or veggie leaves and shapes that are fit for 1:12 scale food making (gingerbread shapes) or tile making (tesselation).
Difficulty level: expert - Expert cutters shouldn't be the first one what you use from our range.
The expert cutters are not recommended for beginners. They are designed to work best with clay that is no more than 1mm thick. When using an expert cutter, make sure that the clay is ready to fall out of the cutter on its own (you can achieve this by using thin clay and adding cornstarch). A gentle and slow press from the rod should be enough to release the clay - if necessary, you can also use your fingers or place cling film on the clay to help. While these cutters are intended for professionals, I also recommend them to those who have successfully used the intermediate shapes from our micro cutters without any problems. You can find videos on how to use our expert cutters on my social media accounts and blog.
Clay - The clay is never stuck in my cutters, because...
- I use all of my cutters with very thin clay (I use mostly CERNIT, scarcely FIMO or SCULPEY), up to 1mm. Not only the expert cutters, but all of them. AND...
- I use cornstarch on the clay OR
- put soft, sticky clay in the fridge before cutting (when powder is not an option).
One more thing: be careful with those Fimo Effect/Premo Accents stone-like clays. They contain tiny sand-like elements, that can be challenging for your micro stamps or micro cutters. It's possible to use them together, but pay extra attension when you do.
I hope that this manual has provided valuable guidance on the use of your micro cutters.
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Happy claying and have fun creating your masterpieces!
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Best wishes,
Agnes Horvath