Cutting a regular SIM down to Micro-SIM

[Idiosyncratic]

Hi folks,

Is it wise to cut down a regular SIM down to Micro-SIM? As in, could I potentially decrease the "quality" of the SIM?

Thanks

 

[Sinbad]

You could destroy it. But if you don't it will be 100%

All or nothing really.

 

[Neoprod]

Nope...the actual circuitry is well inside the "shape".

I cut the same one down from regular to micro to nano...all good still.

 

[MickZA]

I cut one down using instructions from the net and it's working fine but if you don't have the correct tools (a sharp Stanley knife is essential) I believe that cellphone repair shops have a punch that does the job and they don't charge a fortune.

 

[LazyLion]

Never had much success with doing this. I find it is too easy to bend the sim and damage it or accidentally cut into the circuitry.
Therefore I do not advise it. Far easier just to migrate the sim.

 

[LazyLion]

Never had much success with doing this. I find it is too easy to bend the sim and damage it or accidentally cut into the circuitry.
Therefore I do not advise it. Far easier just to migrate the sim.

 

[Idiosyncratic]

Yeah, but last time I checked, some providers ask as much as R130 for a micro-sim... And I have 2

 

[bwana]

I cut one down using instructions from the net and it's working fine but if you don't have the correct tools (a sharp Stanley knife is essential) I believe that cellphone repair shops have a punch that does the job and they don't charge a fortune.

I always use scissors.

 

[Neoprod]

I always use scissors.

yeah...sharp, heavy duty ones. easier than the stanley knife to hold a line.

 

[biometrics]

I've done it twice, the first time badly and they worked fine. The IC is less than 1 x 1 mm in the centre.

 

[Idiosyncratic]

You could destroy it. But if you don't it will be 100%

All or nothing really.

That's interesting... So if I failed to do it properly, and ended up cutting the circuitry, then there'll be no "half-functional" SIM. I think I'll take the risk

 

[Idiosyncratic]

http://www.thechinacellphone.com/micro_sim_template.pdf

Seems like this will do the trick

 

[bwana]

Print out one of the many guides available. Score the lines with a pin or something similar and cut. Pretty simple really.

 

[MickZA]

yeah...sharp, heavy duty ones. easier than the stanley knife to hold a line.

Yep, dress making shears would do the job.

I used a wood block, straight edge and a mini G-clamp to hold it steady when using the Stanley knife but, tbh, the punch idea seems the way to go if it's as cheap as I've heard.

 

[agentrfr]

Done it twice with scissors - works fine. If you are fairly confident and have a steady hand, use a template and it'll work just fine. Otherwise go to a phone shop and have them punch it out for you

 

[Exaelea]

Punch is cheap, bought one back in the day for R90 from Orange when the Service providers used to charge R100-R150 for a cut/sim swap.

 

[Dylan_G]

Printed the template from the internet, stuck the sim down using clear tape, extrapolated the lines from the page over the sim using a pencil and used my mother's "sewing" scissors (they're very sharp) to cut in three long straight cuts. Worked well on the two occasions I've tried it.

 

[RVQ]

I just took the kitchen scissor and cut mine down to the tray size...

 

[Balchuck]

Or just file it down till it fits.

 

[BradleyKZN]

Done many of these and never had a problem. Cutting down to nano is a mission, but to micro its very easy