time and leave clean edges.
next, cut the strips to length. this will vary depending on what your specific needs are, and you can change this easily. for my trains, the length of the strips is 1-1/4 inches.
lay the strip out on the bench and use a hobby knife to cut them. make sure that the ends are square. you can also use a scissors, but again take your time.
cut as many strips as you need for your wooden train cars. each car takes one strip, which is permanently fastened to one end. i recommend keeping a few extra in case you end up needing a replacement somewhere down the line.
next, 