MintGum

This class of tool is called a "brad pusher". Searching for the term "brad pusher" will bring up numerous tools from various manufacturers. These tools are made to push wire brads into picture frames, moldings and finish woodwork. The various tools have different shaped handles that make them more or less comfortable and (more or less) easy to use depending on what you are doing with them. Some suggestions: 1.) Try the Occre pin pusher tool. It is shorter and has a round bulb on the end which might make it easier to use. 2.) If your planks are breaking they are too dry. Soak them for 20 minutes then dry them with a kitchen towel. 3.) Search the internet for a brad pusher that is comfortable for you to use. 4.) Get a small hammer and nail set punch. After starting the pin (either with the hammer or brad pusher) use the hammer to pound it in further and the nail set punch to set it below the surface of the plank. 5.) Using brad pusher tools with such small pins does have a knack to it as the pin will wobble a bit until it gets started and is pushed further into the plank and frame. The tool bore is too large and the pin initially sticks out too far enabling this wobble. This is most probably driven by having to account for the pin head size in the bore. 6.) Amati makes "ultra fine" pins - 0.5 mm diameter that are smaller in diameter than Occre and AL 0.7mm diameter. They might be easier for you to push in. 7.) Try the pin pliers as previously mentioned above. 8.) Finding a brad pusher that allows the pin to stick out less (initially) and has a smaller diameter bore to hold the pin tighter would help. I'm not aware of any but perhaps those reading this know of one. Again, the head size of the pin must be accounted for. 9.) Try another planking method. Tick Strips or Spiling are two of the other methods and tend to produce a smoothly planked hull. Tick strips will work with the planks in the kit whereas spiling normally requires purchasing additional materials. 10.) Predrilling a hole - requires the right size wire drill bit... this can be a bit touch and go as the tiny drill bit might also snap and their is a knack at using the jewelers or push drill to make the hole. I've found this to be unnecessary with sharp, well placed pins (not too close to the edges of the plank, etc...) I have successfully used pins and their respective pushers though it does require developing a knack for their use and then following with a hammer and nail set to drive the pin below the surface. An alternative is to cut the pin off at the surface and drive the remaining wire below the surface of the plank.

Version 1.4.0.0 is live and can be downloaded from the link in the first post. 1/21/2026 Updated DXF export for compatibility with a greater number of applications. Fixed field tab order. Updated documentation. Comments: Feedback is always welcome.

Version 1.3.0.0 is live and can be downloaded from the link in the first post. 1/18/2026 Added support for exporting CSV files - exports both metric and standard - calculated tick strip widths for each frame Added support for exporting DXF files - exports a DXF file of the plank for use in CAD/CAM software and CNC/Laser milling operations Updated documentation. Comments: You'll find the export buttons on the print preview screen at the top: Feedback is always welcome.

I'm surprised Ultimation doesn't publish limits or at least guidelines for both soft and hard woods. They do have videos showing the slicing of fairly thick what appears to be a softer wood using the squaring technique.

Agreed, though the KG50 doesn't appear to be available in the US. Do you use a circular saw (chop or table) for thicker materials? Which model? Not sure if the Ultimation Slicer would be capable of square ends in thicker hardwoods. Haven't seen any evidence confirming or denying it. Any members willing to try their slicer on thicker (1/8 in - 1/4 in +) hardwood (pear, boxwood, rosewood, etc...)?

This is also a nice setup. The crescent shape would need to be custom machined or just cut a brass disc in half. Brass rod of the appropriate diameter for the soldering iron would be enough. Riveting the two together... would need to machine an end onto the brass rod and drill an offset hole in the crescent. Very doable for those with a mill. Might even be able to do this with hand tools. Machine shops are expensive though, need to get myself a mill... 😁

Definitely a viable option. Thank you for pointing this out.

It doesn't have to be 100W. I was using that figure as it is what the soldering iron that comes with the ebay bender/shovel was advertised at.

After communicating with several of the various Ebay sellers of this bender, the included soldering iron is a 220V model with a China electrical plug. What that means is that when it is operated @ 220V it will output 100W but when plugged into a US outlet (with an adapater if necessary) @ 110V it will only output 25W. If it's the 60W model it will only operate @ 15W in the US. The suggestion was that the bender and mini shovel be purchased separate and that the US buyer obtain a soldering iron with 100W output on US 110V. Has anyone purchased this bender/shovel and/or successfully found a compatible soldering iron that outputs @ 100W on US 110V?

For those who own the mini chop saws, does the hump in the clamp affect what or how you cut? It seems that it would work well for solid pieces but if cutting a stack of thin planks it would allow them to flex - especially when nearing the end of the stack. Also, the work piece would be susceptible to wobbling. It appears that even the high end Proxxon KG50 is designed this way. Though the KG50 doesn't appear to be available in the US. The higher end Proxxon KGS80 doesn't have the "hump" but instead it has a bowl shape underneath the blade. Not sure why these aren't designed with a simple slot in the table for the blade to pass through with the vice clamp level with the table... maybe it adds more cost.

Will do. Stop back anytime! Good luck and Happy New Year!

#28 is where you commented on cutting 1/32" planks. Thanks! Was the saw kerf an issue in efficiently utilizing the material provided in the kit? IOW, were you able to get reasonably close to 5 - 80mm planks from a 400mm?

You are correct, I started a thread asking for OEM and experience concerning the various choppers and slicers on the market. I interpreted the various question mark symbols (?) in your response as being questions that I responded to. OEM? Who cares? I care about OEM's as their design and manufacturing tend to be original and superior than those of non-licensed after market manufacturers. Do you use your mini chop/cut-off saw to cut deck planking? Have you used it on the thin planks of Occre or Artesania Latina kits? How did it perform?

OEM's generally produce higher quality products at an increased cost. Find the OEM and quality/cost comparisons are possible vs the plethora of copies.

While outside the realm of this thread, these machines all look like copies of each other, rebranded and marketed under different names. As is often the question, what was the OEM(s)? Amazon, Vevor, Harbor Freight, Micro Mark, etc... all appear to be copies of which OEM?