I came across an interesting little problem the other day while working on a project for my daughter. I was making a model stable, and wanted to have the cool barn doors that were split in half. They are actually called “Dutch Doors“. Also I wanted the back of the doors to have the angled brace showing, just like in real barn doors.

To get the look I wanted, popsicle sticks ( or Paddle Pop sticks, as we call them in Australia) were the material of choice.

However as soon as I started, I had problem. I wasn’t sure what tool to use to cut them.

How to Cut Popsicle Sticks

First I tried a sharp knife. But had to run the knife a few times to get a clean cut all the way through. This method was going to take forever.

Next I thought I would try using a hacksaw. That was a waste of time.

Then I grabbed my trusty Carpenter’s Pincers. From then on it was smooth sailing.

They were quick, and they were accurate. The barn doors pieces were cut up and ready for gluing in no time.

Here’s a shot of the completed model barn door. I’ll show a lot more detail in my article on the making of the model horse stable, soon.

Here’s a link showing a range of different Carpenters Pincers available on Amazon.