GW tools a good investment?

[lizcam]

I\'m thinking of picking up a set of GW tools. I hear good thinkgs about their pin vice and saws. Are the rest worth getting or should I just pick up those? I\'m dealing with various things I picked up at the hardware store right now.

Oh, and whats the best value for the money when it comes to dremal style tools?

 

[Shawn R. L.]

From what I\'ve heard here, GW stuff isnt exactly the best quality and is very overly priced. I have used a number of different pin vises, some cheepo\'s and some really fine \'instruments\' and they all seem to work fine.

Depending on what you\'re getting for a Dremel tool I would think most any stuff you get would work well. I have, again, some cheap stuff that works fine and one bit I paid more for because I wanted a really tough, sharp bit.....it was carbide or tungsten.

Unless a company specializes in making quality tools or is known to carry name brands I would shy away from the GW stuff.

 

[airhead]

Liz, I\'ve never seen a tool from GW that I could not find a better quality for half the price.
Razor saws = Xacto
Pin vises = look on ebay or discount tools
bow saws = again, try ebay for a jewler\'s saw.

Micro mark, Harbor Freight Tools, ebay are great sources and resources.

****

Dremels:
The name brand has lots of attachments that the \"other\" guys cannot use. But how many of us need a drill press or router base for a dremel?
I use a Black & Decker imitation that has good speed control and came with a lot of different bits - a few of which I can actually use on minis.

These style of bits will eat anything:

 

[Avelorn]

The new tools are nice and good quality. But not very cheap no. I\'ve heard good things about the new hobby drill as well. Tried the plastic cutters and they are really nice, but just for plastic. I will probably pick up a pair of Xuron track cutters when my old gw cutter gives up.

I have to say it\'s often convenient to pick up the GW versions. Sure they are a bit overpriced but they are generally very well suited for the purposes.

 

[jahminis]

i got the whole gw tool set when they came out...i got it for 25% off, with no sales tax or shippin\'...at a discount, it\'s a good deal...at full retail, it\'s pricey...

the pin drill is my new favorite...
the knife has the best handle yet...
the files rock...
the plastic clippers are great if ya collect plastics...
the sculptin\' tool is nice, but i don\'t use it much...
the razor saw and vise look cool, but i haven\'t had any need for \'em yet...
the case that they all come in is good, as i can always use another case....the tools only use up 2 of the 3 layers...so ya get a spare layer for carryin\' minis or paints...

all in all, a good deal if ya get a discount...
there are a lot of online stores that give a good deal on gw product...
if ya buy it at a so cal store at full retail with sales tax, you\'ll feel like ya got robbed...
if ya decide to go for it, try the warstore.com, or chaosorc.com...

if you\'re only lookin\' for a few specific tool, i suggest the pin drill, and the files...

cheers
jah

 

[Roger Bunting]

The razor saw may be actually an x-acto blade, as the knife blades are.

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by airhead
Liz, I\'ve never seen a tool from GW that I could not find a better quality for half the price.

That\'s basically what I\'ve found to be true too. The last time I bought a pin vice retail I was in a local GW stockist not long after and their equivalent was about double the price; the one I had looked to be superior although hard to tell for sure without handling the GW version.

Liz, just plugged WidgetSupply.com in another thread but in case you don\'t see it they\'re a great source for various tools.

Einion

 

[Queenoftheunifrogs]

i havent tried the GW tools apart from the files, pin vice and the sculpting tool....the pin vice is pretty good but i wouldnt recommend the sculpting tool. the metal it is made of is too soft and it bends easily.
for only £4 more i got a full set of far better stainless steel sculpting tools from Heresy miniatures as well as the drillbits and diamond needle files (which i am in love with...though they can be a little too harsh sometimes if you are only wanting to take off tiny amounts)the files arent too bad saying that. the only one ive tried so far that i definately wouldnt get again is the sculpting tool.

 

[Helga]

Orginal gepostet von lizcam
......
Oh, and whats the best value for the money when it comes to dremal style tools?

Try PROXXON for substitute for DREMEL. Proxxon is very precise and for miniatures you do not have to worry about heavy duty grinding. The scale is like take Black-and-Decker as subsitute for Hilti. You want the very best, buy Hilti - but if You are very sure You will not ever want to drill core-holes in concrete, buy a Back-and-Decker and be happy for less than half price.
The Proxxon range of tools is as far spread as the Dremel\'s, the only down side is availabilty. If You have a hardware shop in your neighborhood that carries Proxxon all is well, they will always have or get by order whatever bit You want.

 

[Aliengod3]

I like GW\'s pin vice, it works well. What I do not like is that it comes with a couple extra heads but they are all the same size! I had to buy different size drill bits because I did not realize they were all the same for $9 more! That made me mad.

I also pre ordered the spray gun they are coming out with. It is sort of like an airbrush and I think it will be great for painting larger srufaces like those on tanks and whatnot. Plus the spray size can be adjusted and some interesting effects can be made on larger models with it.

If I had to actually rate GW tools I would give them a 8/10 quality, and 6/10 for price. I think some of their tools are way over priced, such as the clippers. They are $15 and that it crazy since the same clippers can be bought at a hardware store for like $4.

 

[evil tendencies]

Gale Force 9 (? I think that\'s it) has some good stuff. My favorite is the pin vice with a big wooden knob at one end.

 

[mattsterbenz]

The GW tools are a little pricey, but I use some of them. They are good quality. I would totally agree with Aliengod3\'s ratings: 8/10 for quality and 6/10 for price.

Here\'s my thoughts on some:

-Pin drill: I have the older one (all silver with a hexagon shaped head). Great quality. $15 wasn\'t a bad price for something that has lasted me so long. I don\'t like the new pin vices with the huge knob, it\'s uncomfortable to me.

-Sculpting Tool: Probably the best single sculpting tool you can find, and decently priced at $8. Two different shaped ends, and both are suitable for most generic sculpting. If you are only interested in doing a conversion or two, this tool and a needle will do all that you need. Anything more than that and it\'s worth getting the 12 tool set from GF9 (all the tools are double-ended and very nice quality. I think it was $40).

-Files: Good quality, but a little pricey at $12 or $15 (cant remember which) for 3 of them. I am fine having the limited selection, but if you want different shapes you may want to go to a hardware store.

-Plastic Cutters: These are great for plastics. One edge of the clippers is grinded flat, producing an extremely precise cut on one side. I have not found any clippers in a hardware store that do the same, those all have beveled blades. DO NOT use these on metal (especially paper clips) because they will dent the sharp blades. For metal, I have a couple sets of standard clippers from Home Depot.

I haven\'t tried the saw yet. The vice/clamp thing looks nice.


-Matt

 

[Jericho]

The ergonomics of the new tool set really blew me away. The knives and saws etc. are super comfy to use. The ones I have are all the standard cheapo aluminum with a bit of knurling for grips, and they get the job done.

Using my pin vise off Micro Mark I got some nasty blisters when doing some extremely repetitive drilling on pewter models recently... so I\'m tempted to try out something with less knurling and more rubbery goodness. I hate traditional vises with multiple tips though, the one I have never needs to be swapped no matter what drill size you are using. Shame it\'s not more comfy with prolonged use, because it\'s amazing on plastics and small jobs.

 

[Einion]

Since some of the prices have been posted above in all honestly 6/10 on price is being kind.

Take the pin vice. This type of thing is fairly bulletproof - I\'m not even sure how you\'d break one! - and $15 for one is steep. My oldest, cheapie, one is about 15 years old now and it maybe cost about a sixth of this. The last one I bought, much better quality, was about three quid, so well under half this price.

Sculpting tool for $8? You can get sets of five or six wax carvers in a couple of places online for this or less. Pretty common to be able to snap up sets of 12* on eBay for maybe double this (less if you snipe LOL). There\'s just no comparison. Like this four-piece for a fiver and a seven-piece for $6 and a set of 12 for $10 from WidgetSupply.

And here\'s a 12-piece file set for four bucks.

*These types of tools might be cheapies and need refining, but still, can\'t beat that kind of money for a set of tools that will last you your entire sculpting career.

Einion

 

[mattsterbenz]

@Einion:

Yeah I agree the $8 is a little steep. I just meant that that particular tool can be worth it based on the very useful shape (basically like 10 tools in one) and only assuming you want 1 tool for limited sculpting (gap filling).

I picked up the Gale Force 9 sculpting tool set (has like 12 tools in a nice case), hasn\'t let me down yet, only problem is it was about $40.

There are articles I have read about making your own tools (hammering a nail flat, then insert into a ballpoint pen handle, for example). Some of those could be very useful.

-Matt

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by mattsterbenz
@Einion:

Yeah I agree the $8 is a little steep. I just meant that that particular tool can be worth it based on the very useful shape (basically like 10 tools in one) and only assuming you want 1 tool for limited sculpting (gap filling).

Well for working with gaps on figures (and all my early sculpting) I mostly used superglue-coated cocktail sticks. What\'s that, two bits?

Those plus a couple of needles and a craft knife can do a lot, it\'s all some pros use in fact.

Einion

 

[jabbakahut]

Price is outrageous for GW. I love their mini\'s-but there are just too many better options for tools. Micromark has a great selection and really good prices.

 

[donga666]

No, had a look, OK but big bucks!

Go to ANY good railway modelling shop, failing that a model shop. Get it ALL alot cheaper.

They are aimed at kids that know no better. Sorry if there is an 18+ person bought them

 

[ktooloo]

Yet another vote for finding better gear for less money at the hardware store.

The clippers are great on plastic as has been said, and OK on thin metal, but are next to useless on medium to thick chunks o\' metal.

The saw\'s blade can not be replaced I\'ve been told by my lgs. If the blade goes dull, the entire thing needs to be replaced instead of just the blade like a jeweler\'s saw. Can anyone confirm or deny this claim? Did someone mention this already and I missed it? : )



:beer:

 

[mattsterbenz]

Originally posted by ktooloo

The saw\'s blade can not be replaced I\'ve been told by my lgs. If the blade goes dull, the entire thing needs to be replaced instead of just the blade like a jeweler\'s saw. Can anyone confirm or deny this claim? Did someone mention this already and I missed it? : )



:beer:

I don\'t believe you can replace the current saw blade. It\'s probably similar to a traditional hand saw, in that the blade is fixed to the handle.

GW used to have a jeweler\'s type saw, with a replaceable blade. The saw was in an upside-down U-shape, with a replaceable blade (but was very thin and broke easily). I\'m not sure if you can still get this one.

-Matt