Fibre Glass Pens?

[PhoenixFire]

I\'ve tried to search the forum for this but not had any success - I apologise if there is a thread with this question in....

So, I\'m looking at different ways to clean my metal models. I\'ve been reading up on the subject as previously I had only filed them and removed flash... that was the extent of my prep work.

I was looking online for a cheap rotary tool (with variable speed) so that I can make a DIY buffer which I found an example of on a website for cleaning metal models.

I\'ve stumbled across reference for glass fibre pens and wondered if anyone has tried using them with miniatures and if they have had any success?

I did get some fine wet/dry sand paper as mentioned in this forum but I can\'t for the life of me get on with it very well, and I seem to be unable to get it to glue onto a cocktail stick either.

Any info would be great, also any info for a good place to buy said rotary tool... from what I can tell Maplin seems to be the best place in the UK for a selection of prices and speeds.

Thanks

 

[Rastl]

I believe the term is also \"polishing pins\".

Rio Grande has them.

There used to be (and might still be) an eBay seller who had them as well but my searches didn\'t pull up anything. I\'ll have to look through some old Reaper forum posts if you\'re interested in that.

 

[scottjames]

Danillo Cartacci (in his book) recommends a small brass brush for use on a dremmel/hand drill. They look good and I mean to get one.

Something I\'ve been using recently, that I found in B&Qs, is Oakley 180 (and finer) sanding pads. You\'ll find them near the sandpaper. They are like two-sided foam pads, with different very fine grades on each side. I have cut off a small square to use for buffing the meant-to-be-smooth surfaces on my minis after I\'ve removed flash etc. They really make the surface shine! I also scrub in hot soapy water with a hardcore nailbrush now too - sounds funny but it works. My metal minis now really shine when I come to prime them and things like shoulder pads and sword blades and cloaks etc. are much smoother to paint - now I just need my painting to improve.

hth.

 

[Dragonsreach]

Originally posted by PhoenixFire
II\'ve stumbled across reference for glass fibre pens and wondered if anyone has tried using them with miniatures and if they have had any success?
Hi Sam;
Yes I\'ve used a Fibre Glass pen with mixed success.
On some figures, Metal Space marines for example, on the Shoulder pad it worked pretty well to help burnish the mouldline away. On very thin flash lines it was ok to help break the remains away, but I\'m not as happy with it on Fine details.
It can scratch quite badly items like faces .
Also on softer metals mixes it can be a trifle rough.
One thing I don\'t like is the fracture rate of the bristles so that they don\'t remain equal length, That gets annoying.
Burnishing can also be done using a Darning needle on the side close to the point.

I did get some fine wet/dry sand paper as mentioned in this forum but I can\'t for the life of me get on with it very well, and I seem to be unable to get it to glue onto a cocktail stick either.
Try a length of brass tube flattened at one end. You can cut the flat end to differring shapes, round, points and the wet & dry hold better to it.
Or try sections of plasticard/sprue, flexible yet with some strength.

Any info would be great, also any info for a good place to buy said rotary tool... from what I can tell Maplin seems to be the best place in the UK for a selection of prices and speeds.

Thanks

 

[PhoenixFire]

Thanks for your input everyone I really appreciate it.

I think I\'ll be going on another trip to B&Q this weekend. Perhaps I might splash out on a dremmel (well the cheaper versions). It\'s just that I\'ve spent loads of money recently for the hobby... new daylight lamp, a light tent for photography... why do I keep finding things to buy!?!?

Again, thanks for the advice and info... happy painting! :beer:

Sam

 

[Overdose]

If you want to find fibreglass pens, look in electronic component shops/suppliers.

Try Farnell,RS and Maplin etc.

The pens are designed to removed deposits on electrical contacts and components.

Be very carefull with powered rotary abrasives on lead and similar alloys, as it is much softer and will be easily scratched. A brass brush in a dremmel for example can ruin any detail in an instant if not careful.

Dragonsreach\'s idea of burnishing and scraping is probably the best as the miniatures alloy is so soft.

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by PhoenixFire
I\'ve stumbled across reference for glass fibre pens and wondered if anyone has tried using them with miniatures and if they have had any success?

Used one for years. I now use \'em mostly for certain kinds of smoothing of hardened putty (especially in hard-to-reach recesses) though, but you can use them on white metal. The only thing is I would recommend these only for cleaning the surface - making it bright and shiny; basically removing oxidation to help ensure a good primer bond - not for any kinds of major removal of material.

If you get one be careful of the dust/flakes. It\'s not something you want to inhale and it can be irritating as hell on the skin. Some people suggest using fibreglass erasers underwater for safety!

Originally posted by PhoenixFire
I did get some fine wet/dry sand paper as mentioned in this forum but I can\'t for the life of me get on with it very well, and I seem to be unable to get it to glue onto a cocktail stick either.

What glue? Presume the wet \'n\' dry is the standard type, with a paper backing?

Einion