Hi All,

Being a chemist, and no spring chicken, I use a tool at work every now and then that is ideal for cutting the popper bodies from balsa.

The tool is the cork borer. They are available in power models, ones that look like a tiny hand driven drill press, and in hand models.

They borer part is typically brass, or nickle plated brass. You can buy a cork borer sharpener that is made specifically to sharpen them.

The brass is still relatively soft, but is much harder than copper.

An old set that runs from 1/8th inch to 1/2 inch (and several sizes in between) can be bought for $20 or so.

Go to Ebay and type in "cork borer."

Regards,

Gandolf