Filing Minis

[Naukhel]

Apologies from the new guy, if I\'m posting to the wrong place here. Hi, everyone, and \'Wow\' to many of the minis I\'ve looked at here. Now, to my point....

There\'s a lot of good tools out there for filing down minis to get rid of those little tags, or the seams where they stick out a little. This is more for people on a budget that are unable to buy the really good tools (like myself).

Emery boards. That\'s right. The cardboard nail-files. You can buy like 25 of them for $1 at a dollar store, and all you need to do is cut them to size with a razor knife (also available at dollar stores), so that you can file in those little tough-to-reach spots. They\'re made with a different grain on each flat side, and the edges are actually an even finer grain to really smooth it out.

Hope this helps some beginners not ready to do the major purchases, at least.

Looking forward to submitting some of my own work for commentary in the future (when I have a camera).

Cheers.
Naukhel (figurinepainter on Ebay)
No site yet.

 

[Ritual]

Welcome to the forums, and tips like these are always appreciated.

 

[airhead]

Naukhel, welcome to the boards. Now prepare to lose any resembelance of a life you had. The boards will become everything.lol lol

I bought a set of needle files a long time ago at Sears. They are great. The half rounded/flat one is my favorite followed closely by the round one.

But for those on a budget, just get another handle for your exacto. Keep a \"dull\" blade (they are still sharp even when too dull to use - be careful) in it and use it to scrape the mold lines. Hold the blade perpendicular to the surface and pull along the mold line.

 

[Modderrhu]

Originally posted by airhead
The half rounded/flat one is my favorite followed closely by the round one.

And that is the best reason for buying some needle files - rounds are the most useful shapes, especially the narrow edged ovals.

However, perhaps some of those emery boards will be able to cope with some devastating GW mould lines... I have a Dark Elf mounted Morathi with mould lines 0.5mm to 1mm deep.

 

[vincegamer]

round emory boards

they make them, but they are called something else. Any drug store nail care section will have them.
I haven\'t thought to use one on my minis (and I\'m not about to take my wife\'s for a try) but they might be a good thing. They would probably be finer than a file.

 

[Valander]

Welcome to the forums, Naukhel. Any remnants of sanity you had shall now begin to dissipate.

Emery boards work great! I\'ve used them in the past, and they do give a little finer finish than my steel files. I find they work particularly well on plastics (in fact, that\'s why I started using them--my father used to do model air planes, and he used them all the time).

I\'ve also seen some emery pads that are basically super-fine sandpaper glued to a thin sheet of flexible foam. These work great for getting larger areas, and areas that have some contours in them.

 

[Shawn R. L.]

I have found some fingernail files that are metal and have a very fine diamond dust as the abrasive. They are cheap, last long and with a bigger file you can taper the end to a fine point. There are also diamond pin files that are about 1-2 dollars that are real good. I like the diamond surface because you dont get that \'washboard\' effect that you can get with regular files.

 

[minimaker]

Sandpaper tip. You can glue some on the end of a sprue ot toothpick so you can get to those difficult to reach places.

 

[Naukhel]

Curse you, Airhead!

Ok, wait, that\'s wrong. Curse me.
No. Curse you, for being right.
I\'m hooked on the forums.
I haven\'t given up my entire life, yet, but in just a few days, I\'ve been reading... reading... reading... eating... reading.. reading... reading... sleeping (4 hours)... reading... reading... posting....

It isn\'t addictive. I can quit any time.
Just like smoking *puff puff puff*.
Just like booze *cracks open a beer*.
No problem at all.
I quit every twenty minutes.
It\'s never a problem. Really.

Huh? What? Oh. I\'m supposed to STAY quit? Well, that might be a bit harder.

Ummm... yeah.

Ok, I\'m hooked.
Hi, my name is Naukhel, and I\'m a forum-aholic. I\'ve come here today because I need help.

What do you mean the only way I get a group hug is to fly overseas? What kind of therapy is this?

Not therapy? Oh.

*and the insanity continues*

Naukhel
Figurinepainter on Ebay.

 

[Klute]

Sounds like we\'ve got you for good now.

Dum Dum Dum
another one bites the dust



Oh exacto every time and I have the scars to prove it.

 

[airhead]

Originally posted by Naukhel
Curse you Airhead
...No. Curse you, for being right.
I\'m hooked on the forums.
*and the insanity continues*

My job is done. The hook is set and the drag is screaming. Tight lines works here and in the fishing forum. lol

Dremel makes little rubber abrasive points that can do a sweet job of getting rid of mold lines.

 

[kmdl1066]

Originally posted by airhead


Dremel makes little rubber abrasive points that can do a sweet job of getting rid of mold lines.

And for those who can\'t afford a Dremel (i.e. me) a battery powered manicure kit from the personal care section in the local supermarket works nicely. It also has the advantage of being less powerful than a Dremel, which means that while it takes longer, if you\'re a kluts (me again!) you don\'t gouge a hole when you slip!

Sean

 

[Shadzar]

yup when i take the time to remove flash/mold lines i have use emry boards.

also the little pack of sandpaper from testors cut a stip and glue it to my finger (well i try to glue it to a corn dog stick, but somehow never succeed. ).

also a set of needle files.

and a diamond point set for my [insert name of rotarty tool here].

while i dont use my dremel i can just spin them in my hand to get into the smallest crevices to clean up the mini.

(no i do not work for www.homier.com but they got some good cheap alternative to name brand stuff. and they come around having truckload sales 3-4 times a year. but for those overseas you may want to check out the site for any odd things that might help with minis. if nothing more than ideas.)

also i found i have a tendancy to file harder with emry boards and cant see where i am working.