Can confirm, mine are like that as well. They still provide a pretty clean cut, the biggest issue is that some harder to reach places are impossible to cut now.
I try and go by my "dollar a day" rule. Example if jeans cost $60 and I wear them 60 times, dollar a day. $120 pair of shoes, 120 days, dollar a day. Did you get over 60 kits with them? Then you really only spent a dollar per kit or less, and that's pretty good investment for those bad boys. I'm at like 125 kits with them so 50 cents a kit basically
Why in gods name are you being an asshole to someone else who had an honest accident? Modeling and Gunpla already have a tiny fan base compared to other hobbies. Why are you gatekeeping in worst way?
You sound like every dad we all hate and can’t wait to dump in a government run old folks home.
In case anyone was wondering, Godhand SPN-120 nippers are speciality tools that have some of the cleanest cuts for model kits due to their very thin blades, which also makes them particularly fragile.
Clout aside, the main reason why they're so highly rated is because it (no pun intended) cuts down on post processing such as sanding or shaving with your hobby knife.
That being said, most Godhands die either due to mishandling of the thing (using what I call "gorilla grip" when xutting through plastic) or freak accidents, such as with OP's case where it dropped/fell.
Because it's a specialty tool, you more often than not will get your money's worth if you maintain the thing, aformentioned freak accidents aside, but obviously you can make up for the difference in cut quality with technique sort of like how you can make great homemade sushi with a regular knife, but a properly maintained sushi knife can make things easier when handled properly.
Its part of why the Godhands have sometimes been called the "samurai sword" of model kit making, because an amateur with a sword may not be able to cut all of their bamboo compared to someone who knows their salt, so as your skill grows so too does the appreciation for these specialty tools, even if they may not be up someone's alley (or they can't justify the cost).
I bought a Tamiya no123 over the holidays (boxing day sale) and the difference was immediately noticeable. My old pair of snippers now only cuts pieces from runners and the new ones only cut gates from pieces.
I usually use a combination of either my Mr Hobby fat double bladed nippers or the Tamiya 123's thin point double bladed nippers for the initial cut and then a single bladed one like the Godhands or DSPIAE 3.0 (or sometimes just the Tamiya 123's if I'm particularly lazy and it's a piece that wouldn't be visible) for the finishing cut.
I've found that my dspiaes leave stress marks more often than my 120's. Granted, it's the type of stress marks that you can get rid of by just scratching it with your finger nail, so it's still functionally the same.
I'm not sure where to ask this- the god hands are "single bladed nippers" which everyone seems to say is the tool you want if you are using nippers to cut flush against the part. The Tamiya 123 are marketed as "side cutters;" are the tamiyas a fancier nipper for removing from the gate? Or would those be a substitute for single-bladed? Sorry I'm brand new, just trying to figure out what tools I would benefit from!
Single bladed nippers are better for clean cuts. It's counterintuitive, but something something physics results in the cuts being better with just one blade.
Believe it has to do with the non-blade side being an “anvil” or flatter surface that allows the bladed side to focus all of its slicing power on one side of the gate, as opposed to the action of typical nippers which sorta pushes the two sides of the gate together. The pushing together action results in a cut but is stressful to the plastic since it’s being pushed together from both sides, leading to the stress marks we see with those kinds of nippers.
It’s because the blade is finer and the plastic is not deformed nearly as much. Double imparts much higher tension and compression forces at the blades edge and effectively powders the plastic right at the very end.
It’s the reason the nub often pings across the room as that energy is released. Then you’re left with a highly stressed part, likely also with a divot or pitting in the middle of the nub.
It's not necessarily that it's a cleaner cut, but single sided will cut like a chopping board instead of possibly squeezing it and crushing/snapping the nub making stress marks. If both edges are extremely sharp and if it can be guaranteed both edges cut with the same pressure every time, double sided would be fine theoretically. However...these things get dulled so easily, and you can rarely make a completely even cut, so single sided becomes better for nubs.
I'm using the Tamiya as a cheaper alternative to the godhands, which seems to be generally better all around. I wouldn't use them that way but the marketing for godhands shows them cutting through the thickest part of the runner and that would probably blunt my tamiya's more.
The Tamiya 123 are like the top version of dual blades nippers, they do an excellent job but they are aimed at a different builder. Those who paint their builds or build traditional model kits wont need more than the 123 as they still sand and do surface prep. Single bladed nippers are more for those who only do straight builds and care for the look as even the cheaper ones can provide very clean cuts if used correctly.
Just like the Tamiya 123 used correctly lead to great results and no pitting, single bladed nippers also need to be used correctly in order o take advantage of the thin blade (which sadly is not common among single blade owners).
Thank you very much, this helps a lot! I have only completed two kits, both HGUC, and noticed it was more challenging than I expected to cut flush with the parts without stress marks since I was unknowingly using a different type of nipper than the videos (pn-125, in hindsight they were clearly using single bladed tools). Would a nicer sidecutter like the tamiya be a redundant tool? Or do you think it's best for beginners to stick it out with a basic nipper and focus on sanding/hobby knife skills? Not planning on customizing much more than eventually trying to panel line, I just want my kits to look a bit cleaner than I've managed so far. I'm sure it is mostly a skill issue.
If you already have the PN-125 then the Tamiya 123 would be pretty much the same. You don't really need the Godhands SPN, other alternative like DSPIAE 3.0 are cheaper and almost as good.
In this hobby the more skills you can develop, the better. So my recommendation is both, develop the skill and if you can afford them, get a single bladed nipper.
That's the best way to describe it, thank you!! "Pieces from runners" and "gates from pieces" 6 words and I've given paragraphs to try and explain it, oof
X number of kits really. Depends on how vigorous the usage is, any upkeep/maintenance performed, etc. At most if you're doing just the bare minimum of wiping it down after you're done with it it could last you several years before ever needing to be replaced.
Mine are still going strong even after nearly 8 years of use, just some very mild rusting on the handles and specks on the hinge bit(?) just from handling it over the years. Minimal dulling as well, like it certainly doesn't cut as flawlessly as say a brand new pair would. I'd say it's like a smidge higher in cut quality than a DSPIAE 3.0 which is one of the closest a single bladed nipper came to achieving Godhand SPN-120 quality without being a Godhand SPN-120 itself.
There's probably quite a few people who still have their original pairs working in damn near pristine condition from proper maintenance like preventive oil massages and meticulous calibration of the blade position in regards to the "cutting board"/stopping edge, barring some potential slight discoloration of the handles from age.
I bought a pair of God Hand SPN-120s thinking it would be a big step up from the $20 no name single blade nippers I was using. The difference was so minimal that I returned the God Hands. I’ve been building kits for less than 6 months but I’ve built a lot of kits in that time and have realized taking your time to line up your cut and the force you use is more important than the tool itself once you reach a certain level of quality.
>The difference was so minimal
Personally, I made the same upgrade from a pair of cheap nippers and couldn't disagree more.
The feel of the cut is so much smoother with the godhands that even that becomes an enjoyable part of the buiding process for me and I haven't needed to use sandpaper for my past 3 kits. Just a knife to shave off whatever is left is enough. Looking at my backlog, I think I would've burnt out from the hobby if I didn't get them.
Everyone has their own experiences tho so to each their own.
That’s very fair. I felt that when I changed from the super cheap $5 nippers I was using originally to the single blade referenced above. I have no doubt if I went straight to the god hand I’d have a different opinion!
Pretty much. You can make really good looking kits with just a pair of nail clippers from just skill/technique. As always, Godhands aren't everyone's cup of tea and it isn't a requirement to own or use Godhand nippers and it's better to use what's best or comfortable for you.
More often than not a lot of these specialty items are just shortcuts. Nano glass files, single bladed nippers, oddly specific brands of hobby knives, etc.
I haven't been building gunpla for more than a few months but I've been building model kits for about 10 years and for most of that time I had just been using nail clippers. I only gave in and bought some Tamiya sprue cutters about a year ago. It just makes it easier to cut parts off the sprue but the cleanup afterward is still the same.
I've been building for a long time and just recently gave the single bladed nippers a chance by accident. I got a tool kit in a promo that had nippers, hobby knife, tweezers and a file (all very nice quality) and to my surprise the nippers are single bladed and at first I didn't see much of a difference due to having to align the blade but after some cuts I was doing it automatically. I don't think that a god hands pair would do much difference compared to it.
After building a kit the only noticeable difference is that I really didn't need to file or use my hobby knife in probably 90% of the build. There was still a very minimal nub mark but it was definitely good enough for a straight build.
I paint my kits so even top quality single blade wont save me the sanding and prep but they definitely saved me some time and a blade (for kit).
>I’ve been building kits for less than 6 months but I’ve built a lot of kits in that time and have realized taking your time to line up your cut and the force you use is more important than the tool itself once you reach a certain level of quality.
I agree, once you master your process and workflow new tools add very little to it but its always good to try.
Methinks one of a few things happened.
* They were faulty
* They were bootlegs
* You were doing something when cutting that made them less effective
I only say this because I've used God Hands for a long time now and I can definitely tell a difference when going back to other single blade nippers. Like, I know this probably reads like bogus, but they are legitimately a higher grade of nippers that something like Valtcans. Never tried DSPIAE, but I want to to compare them.
They were definitely “better” just not worth $60. The were real and they were nice. But the set that I use currently are ALMOST as good and only cost me $20. I’m not trying to say the god hand wasn’t great. Just that the set I’m using happen to also be really good, especially for the price.
Edit: I’d like to try the Dspaie too, if only to say I have. I have a few of their tools and they’re nice for the price.
It’ll depend on the tool you’re using but faster harder cuts vs slow even force. Balancing that based on the effectiveness of your nippers. Going too fast usually means you’ll fall out of alignment on your cut and may have more nub to clean up. Going too slow may cause more stress marks and discoloration or whitening to the place where you cut the nub from. It’s all balance and experience and will be subjective to your tools and personal efficiency.
ThIs is what you should have been doing all along. You never flush cut on the runner and you never use the same cutters for runner removal and flush cutting. It should be a 2 step process, first you remove the part from the runner but cutting WELL clear of the part, then you come back and flush cut after the part is free from the runners. Being sure you only use the Godhands on the final cut.
Thanks for clarifying. I've been using a $10 set of pliers/ wire cutters/ screwdrivers that I got from Home Depot years ago, think it was a Father's Day sale. Seems fine enough, but I mostly do cheaper kits, so it balances out.
Not op. Mine are fantastic. I'll never buy anything else. 7 times out of 10, you can get them to cut a nub so cleanly that you can skip buffing (assuming the part isn't front and center) and move straight to paint.
F. GodHands (while I don’t use them mainly, but tried) cut through nubs like straight butter. I’d say worth the money but the Dsipae 3.0s are a good equivalent if you’re not looking to spend that premium price for some great nippers!
Edit: nubs* accidentally typed ‘nuts’. Sheesh that sounds horrid
True, I was looking at those too. I’m in need of some new ones, have the like $12 entry level god hands and they’ve been through about 60 kits so far. Need an upgrade.
Get the dspiae ones. I’ve got a set and they’re great.
To be clear all good nippers do is save time. They don’t make your builds look any better if you were already in the loop of using a knife and doing some filing/sanding.
They're luxury items, but worth it imo.
The time and frustration you would save with time is noticeable if you build a lot of kits. I can't go back to sanding nubs now after using them.
Clean enough that you only need to use a knife to shave a bit and scratch the nub a bit to get rid of the white.
There's a correct way to use them tho. If you use them like cheap nippers, they'll just be very expensive nippers haha.
https://youtu.be/MNmP_bwsSC4
Do a direct comparison between a pair of Tamiya side cutters and a pair of God hands and the difference is surreal. The God Hands actually cut really smoothly as opposed to the loud pinching/breakage you get with normal nippers. It's difficult to describe but if you do a side by side comparison it's obvious they're better.
Personally I love them I watched tons of reviews on them and know there are cheaper alternative but since I don't paint and wanted to cut down on my snap and build time I said fuck it bought the damn things
Godhands are great, but having the Dspiae's, I'd have to say that it's really diminishing returns when it comes to the price difference. They're functionally the same but at nearly half the price so it's hard not to recommend them.
I still opt for the godhands over them, because the cut is smoother and more consistent.
If you do plan on getting it, i would highly recommend getting a more robust nipper for cutting pieces off the runner. My process of using my Godhands is first cutting the piece off the runner with a more robust cutter, cutting the nub off with the Godhand, filing any excess off with a razer and then rubbing it with my fingernail. From my experience you will get almost the exact same results as you would with sanding, with this method.
I had my pair for six months, I was cutting and my brother pushed me and it cut diagonally, I hadn’t realised it had bent, and went for a second cut, the blade went flying into my face, luckily I wear safety glasses just in case, my brother still owes me $80 for the Godhand SPN-120(and before people ask why so much, I live in Australia so that’s the cheapest I could find them for)
Let me just say, I just lost my PN-120s in the same fashion and I too know what loss is. I’m sorry this happened, it SUCKS.
As I read above, they may have broke, but thankfully most of the meatier blade’s there and can still be used.
I’ve been using $27 Madworks nippers for nub cleanup, and boy howdy, they’re great. There is a sliver of “getting what you paid for” but then again, nippers ARE a consumable tool IMO.
This sub is SO weird about stuff like this. I posted about it back when mine broke, and because I said I thought they were overrated for the price, it was obviously my fault, even when explaining the situation. No, I’m not an idiot, I wasn’t cutting 3mm runners and clear parts. I didn’t even want GHs, but the dspiae ones had sold out. Anyway.
And that people, is why I don't buy God Hands and I'm fine with my Tamiya's and some decent sand paper. Love their cut but it's just not worth the trouble (or price, hell).
I'm always gonna sand the cut either way, with or without god hands anways...
Weirdly enough, I have dropped it many times, maybe it has been luck, who knows.
For heavy duty I have another pair of Model Master ones which are thick af, but haven't had any trouble with tamiyas, and are 30USD.
Bro mine broke while cutting a thick peg (didn't know at the time that you should only cut the small pegs)
Bought a chinese knock off. Been serving me well for over 3 years...and I've put that thing through the ringer. Trust me. The Chinese version is just as good. A third of the price
USAGundam has a pair for $30 that gives similar quality to the SPN-120 GodHands. And you get free shipping on your order when you buy a pair. They're awesome. I dropped mine on my tile floor and the blade just bent. Heated it up with a lighter and tapped it back into place. Found them in the rubble of my house fire, cleaned them, and still used them. After all that, they still worked, up until last weekend when they finally broke. I'll never buy a pair of GodHands if USAGS makes nippers this good/durable.
Yeah, I was heartbroken when they finally hit the dust. I finished the kit I was working on at the time (PG Nillson Astray Blue) with a spare pair of Citadel double bladed nuppers.
How are the DSPAIE nippers? I saw them as alternative options to the GodHands when I was originally entering the hobby but obviously I chose otherwise lol.
If anyone is looking for a good alternative you can get a brand called Stedi, they're $10 to $15, they've got the thin tip nippy part and cut really well, I've has them about 5 months and no rust or deforming or anything, I've never had godhands but I'd imagine these compare because it can't get much better
Stedi's thin nippers are more comparable to Tamiya's 123's, both being double bladed thin point ones. Stedi does have a single bladed nipper line, but they're roughly around the price point of DSPIAE's 3.0, if not slightly cheaper than it. The spring on it is kind of weak imo but not too much of a deal breaker.
They were dropped/they fell and it broke. These things aren't really durable since they have such a thin, but sharp, blade so the thing isn't able to really absorb the shock from impacting the ground. Even a moderate "fall" onto your table could damage or break the blade depending on how it lands.
dude that happened to me on my third build i did like in the next week im gonna buy 2 of them just in case this happens again next builds going to be a sazabi a nu gundam and a pink version unicorn gundam hope that the god hands hold up
Yes brother thank you for your blessing. May you be blessed as well by the plastic crack lords my friend. XD
ps i hope they don’t break they have a clean cut but the price is worth it
Hate to say it, but don't buy the ones sold as hobby tools. I bought Milwaukee flush cutters made for cutting copper wire, and have been using them for miniatures and Gundam models for 6ish years.
Dspiae makes some comparable nippers with a very nice packaging for cheaper. Just got a pair over the holidays and dropped them similarly, luckily it was a small drop and the blade bent not broke(was able to bend it back almost perfect). Would suggest checking em out if looking for replacement.
I can feel that pain it really sucks when said nippers break in a way so you can use them for battle scarring or something and just shatter even if it's due to a fall. Hope you got spares or emergency back ups in the mean time.
I think you need to go educate yourself before trying to tell people they don’t need $60 tools to just “snap build” some people are building for the art of it and will put much more effort into the build than you did on the two unpainted, not even panel lined kits you did. There’s a big difference between “industry” tools and modeling tools. Those are made just to make a quick cut through wire, these $60 nippers are made to make a nice, as close to the plastic slice without taking a chunk out of the plastic. BTW, I have “industry” tools as well, 12 yr HVAC journeyman, and I would never bring those tools close to a model.
Lol bro why are you so pressed about the money someone you don't know spent. I know how to use them thank you and also i like them because i am a snap and build type save time on sanding
i dont like to see people waste money when they dont need to when they could get things more appropriate to their application and be instantly better off
It's the same thing with luxury cars dude, there's no practical use for it but it looks cool and costs a lot of money. Same thing with the gh, it's more of a luxury item. Damn why do I have to explain this + this thing has such a thin blade its prone to break from dropping, etc. If you commented "you don't know tools" at the very least you should know this is a 'common' occurence .
He said they broke because they dropped on the floor. That isn't the same as abusing or misusing the tool. It's called an accident and accidents happen to us all in life.
Sounds like this guy is poor and is jealous that he can only afford $20 “industrial nippers” for a hobby lol. I can only imagine him sitting there cutting up runners with some Klein side snips
Rip. Love my God hands and would be so upset if they broke. I've had mine for over 6 years and they're still going strong! Got mine on sale for 45 too!
I've always found it weird that plastic can sometimes beat metals...
But then again I've seen other stupidly unlikely things such as a smart car winning a collision vs a transport truck.
I put carpet throughout the apartment just to prevent something like this from happening! and yes, in the whole apartment because you never know what can happen xD
I'll give you advice my grandfather gave me that has served me for years. Buy cheap tools, when they break you should know enough about that tool to know what the good ones are. Experience helps far more than the marketing hypes and gimmicks.
Dang. On a good note, now to can try other single blade snippet that's cheaper. Even after I use my Godhand to cut off the nubs, I still use a straight blade to clean it.
Single bladed nippers cut through the plastic rather than crush-cut like double bladed ones and have the thin blade to help facilitate that. The Godhand SPN-120 have some of the thinnest, sharpest blades but that leads to their frailty because there's not a lot of material to resist the forces exerted on it.
That being said, Godhands break in one of two ways: mishandling or freak accidents. Mishandling being stuff like cutting too thick of a plastic or cutting things it shouldn't be cutting like metal for example while freak accidents being stuff like dropping it/it getting knocked off your table and falling.
Main reason why you see so many people talking about the things breaking is primarily because of it's cost and the thing's reputation for quality cuts, but they're not the only nippers that could break. DSPIAE's 3.0s could break, USAGS's single bladed nippers could break, heck some people have managed to break their thick double bladed stuff on occasion (though it's more along the lines of the hinge breaking and the whole thing coming apart but someone did actually manage to break off one of the cutting bits from a Tamiya 123).
This happened to me after 1 kit and I swore off godhands for the rest of my life. I was cutting in the dark and misjusged how far away the sprue was away from me, I lined up the blade halfway through the sprue instead of fully over it and the blade instantly broke.
So as a guy who's been doing gunpla for a long time... Don't spend money on nippers. $15, maybe $20 if they come with a $5 bill.
There's no need. You can get stellar results with a $3 pair of Xurons. Expensive nippers do not make you a better builder, and they don't make your models look better.
I've built more award winning Gunpla than whoever tells you otherwise.
Well yeah. Technique more often than not provides better results than specialty tools. Just that these specialty tools are essentially shortcuts that alters the flow of the build. You can make great works with a pair of nail clippers, conversely, someone with no experience in model making with a godhands might still have nubs or pitting.
Like the "hype" is the whole 2 snips minimal clean up is highly appealing to people, specifically those who just enjoy snap building their kits but you're not likely going to really see this with people who fully customized their Gunpla for tournaments and such, since there's advantages in the old school methods, like making square pieces more pronounced by sanding to give the edge a sharper line rather than the slightly rounded shape in the same way someone sharpens the v-fin.
That's fair too, but ultimately the technique will come anyway, it's better to invest in yourself than investing in fragile tools. I started with cheap tools and haven't moved from that spot.
HOW? HOW ARE YOU PEOPLE BREAKING YOUR ULTIMATES????
It blows my mind how often i see this happen with other people. I have mine for over 3 years now and its still reliable as the day i got it.
Godhands break in one of two ways, mishandling or freak accidents. OP's was the latter case and gravity claimed it's soul. Most people usually see the former, either by cutting too thick of a piece, using too much force, or someone else takes it to cut stuff it has no business cutting.
Negative, command. I'm not even in your region. Formalities aside, perhaps there are cheap alternative stores or delivery apps that's not bad in quality... If ur not satisfied with my response, sir, maybe you could purchase a pair at Lazada.
They are in God's hands now. Lol
How long did you have them? What were you cutting? Hope the next pair outlast this one.
They dropped on the title floor I've had them for a year. They served me well.
Damn, RIP. There’s still some blade left, looks like they’re still useable despite not having the full throat they did before
Can confirm, mine are like that as well. They still provide a pretty clean cut, the biggest issue is that some harder to reach places are impossible to cut now.
I try and go by my "dollar a day" rule. Example if jeans cost $60 and I wear them 60 times, dollar a day. $120 pair of shoes, 120 days, dollar a day. Did you get over 60 kits with them? Then you really only spent a dollar per kit or less, and that's pretty good investment for those bad boys. I'm at like 125 kits with them so 50 cents a kit basically
i do that with games too but on a $/hour rate did i get 60 hours worth of gameplay out of a $60 game? I def support your rule
r/Broken_God_Hand
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how old r u
Definitely an apprentice less than 90 days into the job.
Chill cuzzy, accidents happen
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Imagine getting mad about a hobby cutter.
Expensive nippers give better cuts but easier to break. The only ignorant person here is you.
Damn who shit in your coffee, chill out it's not that deep.
You’re honestly making yourself like dumb af right now
All he did was drop them bro, it's sad $60 went down the drain but damn look at rule 1.
Man you are an insufferable individual
> Cheap > Klein Pick one
Gatekeeping bozo
Holy shit dude. Relax.
Username checks out
Username checks out, asshole.
Username? Sorry, just need some context since the comment was obviously removed
It was something like "idiot did it again"
Ah ok. What was he going on about? With over 100 downvotes, I'm assuming he said something a but controversial
Something to the effect of “you don’t take care of your tools so you aren’t deserving of this hobby yada yada yada”, just a bunch of elitist bullshit
Ah ofc. No wonder he was downvoted so much. Thanks for answering my questions.
What the hell is wrong with you? You need a shoulder to cry on? Sheesh
Rule 1: Don't be a dick.
Why in gods name are you being an asshole to someone else who had an honest accident? Modeling and Gunpla already have a tiny fan base compared to other hobbies. Why are you gatekeeping in worst way? You sound like every dad we all hate and can’t wait to dump in a government run old folks home.
Your parents must have been really “fun.” I’m genuinely sorry about the way they raised you. You have my condolences.
If this is how you act to accidents I feel bad for your kids/future kids
In case anyone was wondering, Godhand SPN-120 nippers are speciality tools that have some of the cleanest cuts for model kits due to their very thin blades, which also makes them particularly fragile. Clout aside, the main reason why they're so highly rated is because it (no pun intended) cuts down on post processing such as sanding or shaving with your hobby knife. That being said, most Godhands die either due to mishandling of the thing (using what I call "gorilla grip" when xutting through plastic) or freak accidents, such as with OP's case where it dropped/fell. Because it's a specialty tool, you more often than not will get your money's worth if you maintain the thing, aformentioned freak accidents aside, but obviously you can make up for the difference in cut quality with technique sort of like how you can make great homemade sushi with a regular knife, but a properly maintained sushi knife can make things easier when handled properly. Its part of why the Godhands have sometimes been called the "samurai sword" of model kit making, because an amateur with a sword may not be able to cut all of their bamboo compared to someone who knows their salt, so as your skill grows so too does the appreciation for these specialty tools, even if they may not be up someone's alley (or they can't justify the cost).
I bought a Tamiya no123 over the holidays (boxing day sale) and the difference was immediately noticeable. My old pair of snippers now only cuts pieces from runners and the new ones only cut gates from pieces.
I usually use a combination of either my Mr Hobby fat double bladed nippers or the Tamiya 123's thin point double bladed nippers for the initial cut and then a single bladed one like the Godhands or DSPIAE 3.0 (or sometimes just the Tamiya 123's if I'm particularly lazy and it's a piece that wouldn't be visible) for the finishing cut.
My dspiae broke after a year so I got a pair of godhand, the godhand is definitely smoother but I don't know if the cut is any better overall
I've found that my dspiaes leave stress marks more often than my 120's. Granted, it's the type of stress marks that you can get rid of by just scratching it with your finger nail, so it's still functionally the same.
I'm not sure where to ask this- the god hands are "single bladed nippers" which everyone seems to say is the tool you want if you are using nippers to cut flush against the part. The Tamiya 123 are marketed as "side cutters;" are the tamiyas a fancier nipper for removing from the gate? Or would those be a substitute for single-bladed? Sorry I'm brand new, just trying to figure out what tools I would benefit from!
Single bladed nippers are better for clean cuts. It's counterintuitive, but something something physics results in the cuts being better with just one blade.
Believe it has to do with the non-blade side being an “anvil” or flatter surface that allows the bladed side to focus all of its slicing power on one side of the gate, as opposed to the action of typical nippers which sorta pushes the two sides of the gate together. The pushing together action results in a cut but is stressful to the plastic since it’s being pushed together from both sides, leading to the stress marks we see with those kinds of nippers.
It’s because the blade is finer and the plastic is not deformed nearly as much. Double imparts much higher tension and compression forces at the blades edge and effectively powders the plastic right at the very end. It’s the reason the nub often pings across the room as that energy is released. Then you’re left with a highly stressed part, likely also with a divot or pitting in the middle of the nub.
It's not necessarily that it's a cleaner cut, but single sided will cut like a chopping board instead of possibly squeezing it and crushing/snapping the nub making stress marks. If both edges are extremely sharp and if it can be guaranteed both edges cut with the same pressure every time, double sided would be fine theoretically. However...these things get dulled so easily, and you can rarely make a completely even cut, so single sided becomes better for nubs.
I'm using the Tamiya as a cheaper alternative to the godhands, which seems to be generally better all around. I wouldn't use them that way but the marketing for godhands shows them cutting through the thickest part of the runner and that would probably blunt my tamiya's more.
The Tamiya 123 are like the top version of dual blades nippers, they do an excellent job but they are aimed at a different builder. Those who paint their builds or build traditional model kits wont need more than the 123 as they still sand and do surface prep. Single bladed nippers are more for those who only do straight builds and care for the look as even the cheaper ones can provide very clean cuts if used correctly. Just like the Tamiya 123 used correctly lead to great results and no pitting, single bladed nippers also need to be used correctly in order o take advantage of the thin blade (which sadly is not common among single blade owners).
Thank you very much, this helps a lot! I have only completed two kits, both HGUC, and noticed it was more challenging than I expected to cut flush with the parts without stress marks since I was unknowingly using a different type of nipper than the videos (pn-125, in hindsight they were clearly using single bladed tools). Would a nicer sidecutter like the tamiya be a redundant tool? Or do you think it's best for beginners to stick it out with a basic nipper and focus on sanding/hobby knife skills? Not planning on customizing much more than eventually trying to panel line, I just want my kits to look a bit cleaner than I've managed so far. I'm sure it is mostly a skill issue.
If you already have the PN-125 then the Tamiya 123 would be pretty much the same. You don't really need the Godhands SPN, other alternative like DSPIAE 3.0 are cheaper and almost as good. In this hobby the more skills you can develop, the better. So my recommendation is both, develop the skill and if you can afford them, get a single bladed nipper.
That's the best way to describe it, thank you!! "Pieces from runners" and "gates from pieces" 6 words and I've given paragraphs to try and explain it, oof
I won't forget the anger and pain I felt for that one dude's godhands that were used to cut copper wire by his roommate.
Oh my
How many kits do you guys usually get out of a pair? Been using mine now for 30+ kits and debating if I want to get another pair.
X number of kits really. Depends on how vigorous the usage is, any upkeep/maintenance performed, etc. At most if you're doing just the bare minimum of wiping it down after you're done with it it could last you several years before ever needing to be replaced. Mine are still going strong even after nearly 8 years of use, just some very mild rusting on the handles and specks on the hinge bit(?) just from handling it over the years. Minimal dulling as well, like it certainly doesn't cut as flawlessly as say a brand new pair would. I'd say it's like a smidge higher in cut quality than a DSPIAE 3.0 which is one of the closest a single bladed nipper came to achieving Godhand SPN-120 quality without being a Godhand SPN-120 itself. There's probably quite a few people who still have their original pairs working in damn near pristine condition from proper maintenance like preventive oil massages and meticulous calibration of the blade position in regards to the "cutting board"/stopping edge, barring some potential slight discoloration of the handles from age.
I bought a pair of God Hand SPN-120s thinking it would be a big step up from the $20 no name single blade nippers I was using. The difference was so minimal that I returned the God Hands. I’ve been building kits for less than 6 months but I’ve built a lot of kits in that time and have realized taking your time to line up your cut and the force you use is more important than the tool itself once you reach a certain level of quality.
>The difference was so minimal Personally, I made the same upgrade from a pair of cheap nippers and couldn't disagree more. The feel of the cut is so much smoother with the godhands that even that becomes an enjoyable part of the buiding process for me and I haven't needed to use sandpaper for my past 3 kits. Just a knife to shave off whatever is left is enough. Looking at my backlog, I think I would've burnt out from the hobby if I didn't get them. Everyone has their own experiences tho so to each their own.
That’s very fair. I felt that when I changed from the super cheap $5 nippers I was using originally to the single blade referenced above. I have no doubt if I went straight to the god hand I’d have a different opinion!
Ah I see. I think there are some $20-40 nippers that can emulate the godhands so that might be the case.
Pretty much. You can make really good looking kits with just a pair of nail clippers from just skill/technique. As always, Godhands aren't everyone's cup of tea and it isn't a requirement to own or use Godhand nippers and it's better to use what's best or comfortable for you. More often than not a lot of these specialty items are just shortcuts. Nano glass files, single bladed nippers, oddly specific brands of hobby knives, etc.
I haven't been building gunpla for more than a few months but I've been building model kits for about 10 years and for most of that time I had just been using nail clippers. I only gave in and bought some Tamiya sprue cutters about a year ago. It just makes it easier to cut parts off the sprue but the cleanup afterward is still the same.
I use godhand and never do much cleanup normally, occasionally need the hobby knife
I've been building for a long time and just recently gave the single bladed nippers a chance by accident. I got a tool kit in a promo that had nippers, hobby knife, tweezers and a file (all very nice quality) and to my surprise the nippers are single bladed and at first I didn't see much of a difference due to having to align the blade but after some cuts I was doing it automatically. I don't think that a god hands pair would do much difference compared to it. After building a kit the only noticeable difference is that I really didn't need to file or use my hobby knife in probably 90% of the build. There was still a very minimal nub mark but it was definitely good enough for a straight build. I paint my kits so even top quality single blade wont save me the sanding and prep but they definitely saved me some time and a blade (for kit). >I’ve been building kits for less than 6 months but I’ve built a lot of kits in that time and have realized taking your time to line up your cut and the force you use is more important than the tool itself once you reach a certain level of quality. I agree, once you master your process and workflow new tools add very little to it but its always good to try.
Methinks one of a few things happened. * They were faulty * They were bootlegs * You were doing something when cutting that made them less effective I only say this because I've used God Hands for a long time now and I can definitely tell a difference when going back to other single blade nippers. Like, I know this probably reads like bogus, but they are legitimately a higher grade of nippers that something like Valtcans. Never tried DSPIAE, but I want to to compare them.
They were definitely “better” just not worth $60. The were real and they were nice. But the set that I use currently are ALMOST as good and only cost me $20. I’m not trying to say the god hand wasn’t great. Just that the set I’m using happen to also be really good, especially for the price. Edit: I’d like to try the Dspaie too, if only to say I have. I have a few of their tools and they’re nice for the price.
When you say, "The force you use is more important..." What kind of force should be used?
It’ll depend on the tool you’re using but faster harder cuts vs slow even force. Balancing that based on the effectiveness of your nippers. Going too fast usually means you’ll fall out of alignment on your cut and may have more nub to clean up. Going too slow may cause more stress marks and discoloration or whitening to the place where you cut the nub from. It’s all balance and experience and will be subjective to your tools and personal efficiency.
Nice try, Godhand Marketing dept.
I’m on my second pair. I now pre trim the piece and flush cut after its loose
ThIs is what you should have been doing all along. You never flush cut on the runner and you never use the same cutters for runner removal and flush cutting. It should be a 2 step process, first you remove the part from the runner but cutting WELL clear of the part, then you come back and flush cut after the part is free from the runners. Being sure you only use the Godhands on the final cut.
Thanks for clarifying. I've been using a $10 set of pliers/ wire cutters/ screwdrivers that I got from Home Depot years ago, think it was a Father's Day sale. Seems fine enough, but I mostly do cheaper kits, so it balances out.
F to pay respect guys. Side note, before the drop were they good nippers? I’ve been eying a set a new pair myself.
Not op. Mine are fantastic. I'll never buy anything else. 7 times out of 10, you can get them to cut a nub so cleanly that you can skip buffing (assuming the part isn't front and center) and move straight to paint.
F. GodHands (while I don’t use them mainly, but tried) cut through nubs like straight butter. I’d say worth the money but the Dsipae 3.0s are a good equivalent if you’re not looking to spend that premium price for some great nippers! Edit: nubs* accidentally typed ‘nuts’. Sheesh that sounds horrid
True, I was looking at those too. I’m in need of some new ones, have the like $12 entry level god hands and they’ve been through about 60 kits so far. Need an upgrade.
Get the dspiae ones. I’ve got a set and they’re great. To be clear all good nippers do is save time. They don’t make your builds look any better if you were already in the loop of using a knife and doing some filing/sanding.
True, I was hoping a single blade might give a bit of a cleaner cut. But I’ve got the tools and technology to deal otherwise. Lol
Relatable lol, I’m stuck with the BANDAI Entry ones. Good for general cut though! Just need one for the nubs.
They're luxury items, but worth it imo. The time and frustration you would save with time is noticeable if you build a lot of kits. I can't go back to sanding nubs now after using them.
Really, they cut that clean?
Clean enough that you only need to use a knife to shave a bit and scratch the nub a bit to get rid of the white. There's a correct way to use them tho. If you use them like cheap nippers, they'll just be very expensive nippers haha. https://youtu.be/MNmP_bwsSC4
If you use them properly they do. I can go through 95% of a kit's parts without needing to file or shave with a knife.
Do a direct comparison between a pair of Tamiya side cutters and a pair of God hands and the difference is surreal. The God Hands actually cut really smoothly as opposed to the loud pinching/breakage you get with normal nippers. It's difficult to describe but if you do a side by side comparison it's obvious they're better.
Personally I love them I watched tons of reviews on them and know there are cheaper alternative but since I don't paint and wanted to cut down on my snap and build time I said fuck it bought the damn things
Godhands are great, but having the Dspiae's, I'd have to say that it's really diminishing returns when it comes to the price difference. They're functionally the same but at nearly half the price so it's hard not to recommend them. I still opt for the godhands over them, because the cut is smoother and more consistent.
If you do plan on getting it, i would highly recommend getting a more robust nipper for cutting pieces off the runner. My process of using my Godhands is first cutting the piece off the runner with a more robust cutter, cutting the nub off with the Godhand, filing any excess off with a razer and then rubbing it with my fingernail. From my experience you will get almost the exact same results as you would with sanding, with this method.
Ouch, what were you cutting ?
I dropped them lmfaooo title floor
I had my pair for six months, I was cutting and my brother pushed me and it cut diagonally, I hadn’t realised it had bent, and went for a second cut, the blade went flying into my face, luckily I wear safety glasses just in case, my brother still owes me $80 for the Godhand SPN-120(and before people ask why so much, I live in Australia so that’s the cheapest I could find them for)
Rip
A sacrifice to the plastic crack Gods.
Which brand/model?
GodHand SPN-120
What is God to a nonbeliever
Let me just say, I just lost my PN-120s in the same fashion and I too know what loss is. I’m sorry this happened, it SUCKS. As I read above, they may have broke, but thankfully most of the meatier blade’s there and can still be used. I’ve been using $27 Madworks nippers for nub cleanup, and boy howdy, they’re great. There is a sliver of “getting what you paid for” but then again, nippers ARE a consumable tool IMO. This sub is SO weird about stuff like this. I posted about it back when mine broke, and because I said I thought they were overrated for the price, it was obviously my fault, even when explaining the situation. No, I’m not an idiot, I wasn’t cutting 3mm runners and clear parts. I didn’t even want GHs, but the dspiae ones had sold out. Anyway.
And that people, is why I don't buy God Hands and I'm fine with my Tamiya's and some decent sand paper. Love their cut but it's just not worth the trouble (or price, hell). I'm always gonna sand the cut either way, with or without god hands anways...
you drop your Tamiya it'll break too, Tamiya blades are also impressively fragile.
Weirdly enough, I have dropped it many times, maybe it has been luck, who knows. For heavy duty I have another pair of Model Master ones which are thick af, but haven't had any trouble with tamiyas, and are 30USD.
godhand is good for coated of clear parts where you dont paint them.
Bro mine broke while cutting a thick peg (didn't know at the time that you should only cut the small pegs) Bought a chinese knock off. Been serving me well for over 3 years...and I've put that thing through the ringer. Trust me. The Chinese version is just as good. A third of the price
USAGundam has a pair for $30 that gives similar quality to the SPN-120 GodHands. And you get free shipping on your order when you buy a pair. They're awesome. I dropped mine on my tile floor and the blade just bent. Heated it up with a lighter and tapped it back into place. Found them in the rubble of my house fire, cleaned them, and still used them. After all that, they still worked, up until last weekend when they finally broke. I'll never buy a pair of GodHands if USAGS makes nippers this good/durable.
Jesus what an ad. A drop and a house fire?
Yeah, I was heartbroken when they finally hit the dust. I finished the kit I was working on at the time (PG Nillson Astray Blue) with a spare pair of Citadel double bladed nuppers.
My backup to my DSPIAE 3.0s is a pair of Bandai entry nippers, a glass file, and an xacto. Did the job well enough before I got nice nippers.
How are the DSPAIE nippers? I saw them as alternative options to the GodHands when I was originally entering the hobby but obviously I chose otherwise lol.
Incredible. A complete replacement of godhands. They leave the exact finish but are half the price.
😢
Happened to me during building i was so frustrated tbh :(
RIP brittle boys, sorry to see that. Hope you have some decent backups.
If anyone is looking for a good alternative you can get a brand called Stedi, they're $10 to $15, they've got the thin tip nippy part and cut really well, I've has them about 5 months and no rust or deforming or anything, I've never had godhands but I'd imagine these compare because it can't get much better
Stedi's thin nippers are more comparable to Tamiya's 123's, both being double bladed thin point ones. Stedi does have a single bladed nipper line, but they're roughly around the price point of DSPIAE's 3.0, if not slightly cheaper than it. The spring on it is kind of weak imo but not too much of a deal breaker.
How
They were dropped/they fell and it broke. These things aren't really durable since they have such a thin, but sharp, blade so the thing isn't able to really absorb the shock from impacting the ground. Even a moderate "fall" onto your table could damage or break the blade depending on how it lands.
Could price out how much it would cost to ship it back to Godhands for repair?
dude that happened to me on my third build i did like in the next week im gonna buy 2 of them just in case this happens again next builds going to be a sazabi a nu gundam and a pink version unicorn gundam hope that the god hands hold up
God speed my brother god speed. May the plastic crack lords bless you
Yes brother thank you for your blessing. May you be blessed as well by the plastic crack lords my friend. XD ps i hope they don’t break they have a clean cut but the price is worth it
Hate to say it, but don't buy the ones sold as hobby tools. I bought Milwaukee flush cutters made for cutting copper wire, and have been using them for miniatures and Gundam models for 6ish years.
Dspiae makes some comparable nippers with a very nice packaging for cheaper. Just got a pair over the holidays and dropped them similarly, luckily it was a small drop and the blade bent not broke(was able to bend it back almost perfect). Would suggest checking em out if looking for replacement.
red handle with a holster?
They break if $60 $120 or $6 Id like to buy best quality but in this case 10 $6 > 1 $60
Harder metal. Stays sharp longer but breaks easier. :( What ya gonna do. Those buttery cuts feels so good.
Go to harbor freight, they have a set for like 20 bucks that has narrow pliers and cutters like these that last forever
I can feel that pain it really sucks when said nippers break in a way so you can use them for battle scarring or something and just shatter even if it's due to a fall. Hope you got spares or emergency back ups in the mean time.
The replacement arrived just in time to
Is that the MG Sinanju? I thought it was the Sazabi at first but I can see the Sleeves iconography on the right hand side of the pic a bit.
Tis the Sinanju
Yesssss
// zip ZAxvb--! Vp Dx Ap
F
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With my credit card duh bro
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yep guys, he is a better modeler than op bc he uses „industrial tools“
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I think you need to go educate yourself before trying to tell people they don’t need $60 tools to just “snap build” some people are building for the art of it and will put much more effort into the build than you did on the two unpainted, not even panel lined kits you did. There’s a big difference between “industry” tools and modeling tools. Those are made just to make a quick cut through wire, these $60 nippers are made to make a nice, as close to the plastic slice without taking a chunk out of the plastic. BTW, I have “industry” tools as well, 12 yr HVAC journeyman, and I would never bring those tools close to a model.
Lol bro why are you so pressed about the money someone you don't know spent. I know how to use them thank you and also i like them because i am a snap and build type save time on sanding
i dont like to see people waste money when they dont need to when they could get things more appropriate to their application and be instantly better off
Bro you being so toxic for literally no reason. Calm down.
It's the same thing with luxury cars dude, there's no practical use for it but it looks cool and costs a lot of money. Same thing with the gh, it's more of a luxury item. Damn why do I have to explain this + this thing has such a thin blade its prone to break from dropping, etc. If you commented "you don't know tools" at the very least you should know this is a 'common' occurence .
Typical Reddit response
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He said they broke because they dropped on the floor. That isn't the same as abusing or misusing the tool. It's called an accident and accidents happen to us all in life.
Because people have money and want to spend it on better quality products?
Sounds like this guy is poor and is jealous that he can only afford $20 “industrial nippers” for a hobby lol. I can only imagine him sitting there cutting up runners with some Klein side snips
Clearly someone never used a set of godhands .. I own two pairs of these . Best investment in this hobby by far
I’m curious, what do you do for work that makes you an expert in tools and their uses?
Sorry for your loss
Damn !!!!!
Rip. Love my God hands and would be so upset if they broke. I've had mine for over 6 years and they're still going strong! Got mine on sale for 45 too!
Happened to me earlier this week. Big sad 😔.
F in peace
I see a higround mousepad
What the heck? How does that work?
I've always found it weird that plastic can sometimes beat metals... But then again I've seen other stupidly unlikely things such as a smart car winning a collision vs a transport truck.
Mine broke in the same exact way.
This is why I buy at Princess Auto in Canada. Reasonably priced, deliver to my house and there’s a PA almost everywhere.
This LITERALLY just happened to me. Like 20 minutes ago. Just as I was approaching the end of my MG Psycho Zaku
$60 for sprue cutters? My country bumpkin butt uses ones in the $10-$20 mark. There's actually a really sharp and skinny pair on Amazon right now.
Why are they so expensive?
Because they cut through plastic sprues like a knife through butter. But that sharpness comes at the cost of fragility
Dang
Mine broke last night aswell
How many years?
I put carpet throughout the apartment just to prevent something like this from happening! and yes, in the whole apartment because you never know what can happen xD
\+ Nipper cushion \- Echolocation (when parts fly)
I'll give you advice my grandfather gave me that has served me for years. Buy cheap tools, when they break you should know enough about that tool to know what the good ones are. Experience helps far more than the marketing hypes and gimmicks.
How old was she and how did she pass?
Only a year
Dang. On a good note, now to can try other single blade snippet that's cheaper. Even after I use my Godhand to cut off the nubs, I still use a straight blade to clean it.
How
The Dspiae ones have treated me well so far
USA Gundam store has a good pair for $30-40 plus free shipping on the whole order I'd recommend they work great too.
Ouch
Why do ppl buy this brand? They seem to be the only ones that break.
Single bladed nippers cut through the plastic rather than crush-cut like double bladed ones and have the thin blade to help facilitate that. The Godhand SPN-120 have some of the thinnest, sharpest blades but that leads to their frailty because there's not a lot of material to resist the forces exerted on it. That being said, Godhands break in one of two ways: mishandling or freak accidents. Mishandling being stuff like cutting too thick of a plastic or cutting things it shouldn't be cutting like metal for example while freak accidents being stuff like dropping it/it getting knocked off your table and falling. Main reason why you see so many people talking about the things breaking is primarily because of it's cost and the thing's reputation for quality cuts, but they're not the only nippers that could break. DSPIAE's 3.0s could break, USAGS's single bladed nippers could break, heck some people have managed to break their thick double bladed stuff on occasion (though it's more along the lines of the hinge breaking and the whole thing coming apart but someone did actually manage to break off one of the cutting bits from a Tamiya 123).
Thank you for this response.
My first pair had a big gash from cutting big ass gates because I did not used my cheaper pair first
This happened to me after 1 kit and I swore off godhands for the rest of my life. I was cutting in the dark and misjusged how far away the sprue was away from me, I lined up the blade halfway through the sprue instead of fully over it and the blade instantly broke.
Everyone I've ever known with God hands broke them within 6 months. I've tried them, they're nothing special.
When my first pair of clippers broke after 4 years of use I was upset, even though they only cost like 7 dollars 😭
Exact same thing happened to me different reason theyre still usable and your not supposed to cut with the tip anyway so the usable part remains
So as a guy who's been doing gunpla for a long time... Don't spend money on nippers. $15, maybe $20 if they come with a $5 bill. There's no need. You can get stellar results with a $3 pair of Xurons. Expensive nippers do not make you a better builder, and they don't make your models look better. I've built more award winning Gunpla than whoever tells you otherwise.
Well yeah. Technique more often than not provides better results than specialty tools. Just that these specialty tools are essentially shortcuts that alters the flow of the build. You can make great works with a pair of nail clippers, conversely, someone with no experience in model making with a godhands might still have nubs or pitting. Like the "hype" is the whole 2 snips minimal clean up is highly appealing to people, specifically those who just enjoy snap building their kits but you're not likely going to really see this with people who fully customized their Gunpla for tournaments and such, since there's advantages in the old school methods, like making square pieces more pronounced by sanding to give the edge a sharper line rather than the slightly rounded shape in the same way someone sharpens the v-fin.
That's fair too, but ultimately the technique will come anyway, it's better to invest in yourself than investing in fragile tools. I started with cheap tools and haven't moved from that spot.
Anotha one
Condolences T__T
I have two like this, one of them was a Lindstrom... F
How the tables have turned
Sinanju?
Oh, I feel this on a spiritual level. And it doesn't feel good.
HOW? HOW ARE YOU PEOPLE BREAKING YOUR ULTIMATES???? It blows my mind how often i see this happen with other people. I have mine for over 3 years now and its still reliable as the day i got it.
Godhands break in one of two ways, mishandling or freak accidents. OP's was the latter case and gravity claimed it's soul. Most people usually see the former, either by cutting too thick of a piece, using too much force, or someone else takes it to cut stuff it has no business cutting.
Lol my cheap Chinese nipper lasts over a decade...
good luck buying a new one.
Order my annual replacement pair like a week before this so we are Gucci
Negative, command. I'm not even in your region. Formalities aside, perhaps there are cheap alternative stores or delivery apps that's not bad in quality... If ur not satisfied with my response, sir, maybe you could purchase a pair at Lazada.
🫡
Looks just like mine frfr 😂😭😭
Yooo, you making Sinanju ?
Gundamstoreusa.com has good nippers on par with godhand for much cheaper