NWSL Chopper

[Chris333]

I have an original NWSL Chopper for about 20-25 years now and the hard board is wore out and plated over with a thin sheet of aluminium. Since I already have it and the hardware is still working. What would be a better material to replace the base with? Something that wouldn't wear out as quick. Not really feeling the self healing pad as a base, but I've never had a pad like that.

[Lemosteam]

Get some vyco self healing drafting board cover.  The one they use in the chopper is very dense, hard by comparison.  The vyco brand is very pliable.  I have used it for cutting materials for architectural models many times.

[peteski]

Get some vyco self healing drafting board cover.  The one they use in the chopper is very dense, hard by comparison.  The vyco brand is very pliable.  I have used it for cutting materials for architectural models many times.

So it is soft, but not soft enough to deflect when it is supporting 1/4" strip of styrene being cut by the blade pressing against the material?

[Chris333]

I was thinking something very hard. Harder and more durable than the hard board they used. But still something I could drill out to mount everything.

[rodsup9000]

What about some sort of engineered plastic that meat cutters use??? I have no idea where to get it though.

[Mark W]

What about some sort of engineered plastic that meat cutters use??? I have no idea where to get it though.

Oh, that's great idea!  High Density PolyEthlyene HDPE  Here's an Amazon link.

https://www.amazon.com/Polyethylene-Off-White-Standard-Tolerance-D4976-245/dp/B00CPRDN3W

Or, just buy a plastic cutting board. 

[peteski]

I was thinking something very hard. Harder and more durable than the hard board they used. But still something I could drill out to mount everything.

A scrap piece of Corian  from a kitchen remodeling business?  Good enough for a kitchen counter - good enough for the CHOPPA!

[wazzou]

Not really feeling the self healing pad as a base, but I've never had a pad like that.

When I built my workbench some 20+ years ago, I routed out a depression in the desktop to flushly mount a large self healing mat. 
I just replaced it this year, mostly due to the helpful printed grid disappearing from its most helpful locations and a few spots that I'd had to scrape some misplaced CA cement.
I have not regretted the cutting surface at all and I love the Chopper I have that has that base, which includes a similar grid that is great to help achieve 90* cuts.
My problem with the original one I have with the Masonite base is the blade has over time created a deep and too wide void where the blade snaps through whatever you're cutting.
This has made it less accurate, so I really only use it now for cutting larger pieces not big enough to use a Zona Saw and a mitre box.
I just know I'll need to do a little finish filing to square the end.
If you're cutting piling, posts or large beams, it's simple to do this by just cutting slightly longer.

[wazzou]

Oh, that's great idea!  High Density PolyEthlyene HDPE  Here's an Amazon link.

https://www.amazon.com/Polyethylene-Off-White-Standard-Tolerance-D4976-245/dp/B00CPRDN3W

Or, just buy a plastic cutting board.

Check out UHMW.  Better product, more slippery.

[Chris333]

I think we have some of that white cutting board stuff at work. I'll have to take a look 

Are those cutting mats hard or soft? I just assume they are soft and don't see how they'd support anything for cutting.

[peteski]

I think we have some of that white cutting board stuff at work. I'll have to take a look 

Are those cutting mats hard or soft? I just assume they are soft and don't see how they'd support anything for cutting.

The hobby cutting mats are fairly hard.  They are the same material that NWSL uses for a cutting surface in their deluxe diecast chopper (which I own).

But I remember that older hobby cutting mats used to be made from softer material. They had a white hard plastic core which was laminated between 2 softer green surfaces (vinyl maybe)?  Today, most hobby mats seem quite a bit harder.

[wazzou]

They're pretty hard, but really, they're perfect for what they're designed for...cutting.
And for this, they are quite durable, even when used as a modeling surface.

[peteski]

They're pretty hard, but really, they're perfect for what they're designed for...cutting.
And for this, they are quite durable, even when used as a modeling surface.

Agreed. They are good as a chopper's cutting surface, and hobby work surface.

[DKS]

What would be a better material to replace the base with? Something that wouldn't wear out as quick. Not really feeling the self healing pad as a base, but I've never had a pad like that.

The term "self-healing" is misleading. The mats are made from a hard rubberized plastic, which allows a knife point to penetrate without leaving a wide gouge. The material closes up behind the cut, but it doesn't really "heal"; it merely flexes back to its original shape, more or less. After a while, the surface will become shredded and useless. I've gone through several. IMO, tempered Masonite is probably the best choice of material for a Chopper surface owing to it being much harder and, more importantly, inflexible (thus offering more precision) than a cutting mat--just be prepared to replace it once in a while.

Well, it maximizes their profit margin.

That is not the reason.

 

[Lemosteam]

So it is soft, but not soft enough to deflect when it is supporting 1/4" strip of styrene being cut by the blade pressing against the material?

Vyco is not the same as the hobby mats those are more dense and as DKS points out, they will shred over time.  Vyco does to but it takes much longer to destroy.  It only deflects at the sharp edge of something and "re-heals" (deflects back to its original position.  It's not squishy like foam and no the part would not deflect the surface under cutting compression.