trimming shells
 

I've normally used a single edge razor stuck in a dowel to trim shells. Over on another forum it was suggested to use what plumbers use to cut plastic pipe to cut shells. It's made of plastic like a pliers with a cutting blade. Cost at HD was under 10$. I scratch a line on the shell, insert a dowel to keep the shell from deforming, and squeeze the handle a little and rotate squeezing again. If I squeeze too hard the dowel gets marked up quite a bit, but it seems easier especially if you're cutting shells down to 2" or so. Just thought I'd throw a idea out there. Paul

Use a harder dowel, like oak or aluminum.

I use a radial arm saw with a fine blade and a homemade jig.

Ron, that looks ideal. When I'm not too lazy, and have a number of shells to cut, I go out to the shop and cut them on a bandsaw. Bill, you got me thinking, maybe a nylon dowel.

Do you guys thin (skiver) the hull walls after you trim them?

I don't and I've never used the BPI brass crimp starter. The plastic Mec one works just fine.

Edger did a right fine job making his version of a trimmer.

Same here on both counts .

I don't have all those power tools. I clamp a sharp kitchen knife, edge barely exposed, in my Parker 107 vise and roll the shells, with a hard aluminum dowel inside, over the knife, no power tools needed. All I need is a kitchen knife, a dowel for eights and one for tens, and a 132 pound vise.