Tools of the trade

[kathrynloch]

Who has just an x-acto, a sculpting tool, some green stuff, a couple of brushes and some paint and can knock out some great looking minis?

Me, I collect the tools as much as the minis. I got sanding stuff, a boatload of Green Stuff, P3, Apoxie Sculpt, Fix it Sculpt, Apoxie clay. I've got riffler files, sculpting tools, brushes of all shapes and sizes. I'm always looking for something new that makes the prep job or painting job or sealing job just a bit easier or nicer.

I've got tons of paint, pigments, pastels...my table is so full, I barely have room to work. I try new primer just for fun. Yes, I'm happy with the stuff I have, but I want to see if something works better...or worse.

It's actually pretty crazy not only the collection of horses and minis but the tools and other stuff. And I really do use most of my stuff....I'm constantly telling people, it may not work for this job, but I know down the road it will be useful for another.

In other words, yes, I am the definition of a pack-rat. :tongue:

 

[TrystanGST]

Haha well currently I have GS, milliput standard, half a dozen GOOD brushes, almost as many crap ones, about 15 sculpting tools, probably 12 files, 2 exactos, a dremel, 2 cutting boards, various drill bits, wire, wire cutters, corks, paints, a tin can and lamp for curing GS faster, 2 lights for painting under, and more crap that I can't think of right now. And I didn't have any of it a few months ago lol.

 

[kathrynloch]

Oh one thing I just thought about - what's the most unique item that's in your toolbox?

I've never heard this one mentioned in the miniature hobby but I have a carbide scraper. After stumbling over it a couple of years ago, I wonder how I ever got along without it.

View attachment 6159

With hand tremors, a Xacto can be quite hazardous to not only me but my model as well. The scraper removes seams, carves detail, scrapes off epoxy, you name it and even the knife tip doesn't gouge when my hands completely rebel. It does all sorts of stuff with resin, plastic and soft metal.

So what's the most unique/unusual tools other folks have that might not be considered part of the mini artist's toolbox? Is it made by a company? Something you've made yourself or something you've conscripted into action?

 

[armornv]

Who has just an x-acto, a sculpting tool, some green stuff, a couple of brushes and some paint and can knock out some great looking minis?

I'm actually more of the opposite to that. I have crap tons of tools, and turn out crap lol, as far as minis are concerned. I think my armor models turn out pretty well but I've put lots of time and effort into those. Just a few things.....3 pair of blue handled Xuron shears in different stages of disrepair, an orange handled pair. Ba-zillllions of drill bits from #80 up to #40 something, pliers, tweezers, carved toothpicks, toothpicks with stuff glued to the end. green stuff, milliput superfine, magic sculpt, super glues, accelerator, misc. diameter wire, soldering stuff, 3 airbrushes.....blah blah blah you get the idea :tongue:

I once trimmed down a tootpick and glued an almost microscopic piece of sandpaper to it just for one little annoyiing spot.....

 

[PegaZus]

Hmm.. most unique tool I've got is probably a USB microscope. The intention was to make extremely tiny fish. Never got around to doing much other than buying the scope!

 

[In Chigh P.I.]

Not so long ago my toolkit was almost entirely made up from things pinched from my ex-gf's (a biology student) disection kit and my mothers old sewing kit.

Also, i recently found 2 cool looking mini 'trowel-like' things in a 2nd hand shop. About 2cm long metal blades, roughly triangular shaped, one flat and the other one curved sideways i thought 'these would be useful for modelling' despite the fact the wooden handles were a bit grubby. Mrs Inchigh was with me at the time and informed me that they were infact from an old pedicure kit.

We didnt buy them.

 

[Einion]

Who has just an x-acto, a sculpting tool, some green stuff, a couple of brushes and some paint and can knock out some great looking minis?

You could even do it without the brushes :cute:

I try not to buy anything I'm not pretty sure in advance would be useful, so I won't generally get things completely on spec. I also don't usually duplicate stuff already in my inventory, the exceptions being getting multiples where more than one of something is useful (like X-Acto handles, to have various blades available simultaneously) and abrasives, to build up a stock.

I'm at the point now where I know I no longer need any standard abrasives so except for Micromesh or something like that I'm set for at least the next ten years.

The majority of my tools are recorded in this thread I started on pF with the same title, here. A little more in this later thread, Homemade Tools of the Trade.

Oh one thing I just thought about - what's the most unique item that's in your toolbox?

Maybe my scraperboard tools, don't know anyone else that uses them.

Other contenders: some chisels intended for carving Chinese seal blocks; a few sculpting tools I made tipped with backwards-curved needles for sculpting on the opposite side to my dominant hand.

I've never heard this one mentioned in the miniature hobby but I have a carbide scraper. After stumbling over it a couple of years ago, I wonder how I ever got along without it.

View attachment 6159

Thanks for the headsup on these :good: must pick up some for myself.

Einion

 

[kathrynloch]

I once trimmed down a tootpick and glued an almost microscopic piece of sandpaper to it just for one little annoyiing spot.....

lol! I got down to gluing sandpaper to the end of a paint brush and trying that then threw up my hands. That's when I found the sanding sticks.

Not so long ago my toolkit was almost entirely made up from things pinched from my ex-gf's (a biology student) disection kit and my mothers old sewing kit.

Also, i recently found 2 cool looking mini 'trowel-like' things in a 2nd hand shop. About 2cm long metal blades, roughly triangular shaped, one flat and the other one curved sideways i thought 'these would be useful for modelling' despite the fact the wooden handles were a bit grubby. Mrs Inchigh was with me at the time and informed me that they were infact from an old pedicure kit.

We didnt buy them.

You would love www.micromark.com and no it's not pedicure kits! lol Although you might have been able to sterilize the metal and replace the wooden handles.

You could even do it without the brushes :cute:

The majority of my tools are recorded in this thread I started on pF with the same title, here. A little more in this later thread, Homemade Tools of the Trade.

Cool! I'll definitely check out those threads.

Maybe my scraperboard tools, don't know anyone else that uses them.

I hope these are described in the other thread because I'm definitely curious now.

Other contenders: some chisels intended for carving Chinese seal blocks; a few sculpting tools I made tipped with backwards-curved needles for sculpting on the opposite side to my dominant hand.

Now these sound fantastic!

Thanks for the headsup on these :good: must pick up some for myself.

You're welcome! The only place I've found them is Rio Rondo (be prepared for horsie stuff...but scroll down the page and you'll find them.)

I got the set but for basic prepping I only use the #2 tip. However, now that I'm in the middle of stripping, ripping off nasty Apoxie Sculpt and CA with baking soda, on a resin I'm trying to fix, I've been using almost all of the set. So they definitely come in handy.

 

[dbiggied]

lol! I got down to gluing sandpaper to the end of a paint brush and trying that then threw up my hands. That's when I found the sanding sticks.

I bought a bag of 400 grit for use in rock tumblers off of Ebay (just the grit...looks like grey dust). I put some in a plastic container and then I take toothpicks, coffee stirrers, random bits of wood, or whatever, dip them in glue and stick them into the grit...wait to dry, brush off the excess, and voila...homemade sanding tools.

May seem like a lot of prep work, and they don't last too long, but once you get the materials, you can make 100 in about 10 minutes (plus drying time) in any shape and size you need. Just...don't...sneeze!!!

 

[kathrynloch]

I bought a bag of 400 grit for use in rock tumblers off of Ebay (just the grit...looks like grey dust). I put some in a plastic container and then I take toothpicks, coffee stirrers, random bits of wood, or whatever, dip them in glue and stick them into the grit...wait to dry, brush off the excess, and voila...homemade sanding tools.

May seem like a lot of prep work, and they don't last too long, but once you get the materials, you can make 100 in about 10 minutes (plus drying time) in any shape and size you need. Just...don't...sneeze!!!

That's a fantastic idea! Along with the sanding sticks, I got these little Flex Pads from Micromark. They're the basic "emery board" sanding things with various grits but they are cut at an unique angle and I love them! They are perfect for getting into tight spaces, especially around horse's ears which will break if I'm not careful. But I blew through them fast. I resorted to cutting sandpaper to fit the little flex stick and gluing it. But that makes them a shade too thick.

Maybe I could go the grit route...if my sinuses can handle it that is. lol!

 

[freakinacage]

i like to have as much of everything that i can! i am a hoarder. amazing the uses you can find for things - that's my excuse anyway!

 

[Einion]

You're welcome! The only place I've found them is Rio Rondo (be prepared for horsie stuff...but scroll down the page and you'll find them.)

Ta. I'll have a hunt around and if I find another source I'll post back to this thread.

I got the set but for basic prepping I only use the #2 tip. However, now that I'm in the middle of stripping, ripping off nasty Apoxie Sculpt and CA with baking soda, on a resin I'm trying to fix, I've been using almost all of the set. So they definitely come in handy.

Good to know. One of the great things about these is I'm sure they'll last indefinitely, even if used on metals, so even though they're expensive they'll pay for themselves in the long run.

I bought a bag of 400 grit for use in rock tumblers off of Ebay (just the grit...looks like grey dust). I put some in a plastic container and then I take toothpicks, coffee stirrers, random bits of wood, or whatever, dip them in glue and stick them into the grit...wait to dry, brush off the excess, and voila...homemade sanding tools.

Brilliant idea! What glue(s) have you used?

Einion

 

[kathrynloch]

Ta. I'll have a hunt around and if I find another source I'll post back to this thread.

Cool! I've searched and searched but came up with only Rio Rondo but they're a good shop.

Good to know. One of the great things about these is I'm sure they'll last indefinitely, even if used on metals, so even though they're expensive they'll pay for themselves in the long run.

Absolutely! And I've heard that if you get them from Rio Rondo and they go dull, Gary will sharpen them - I think for free - but I need to double check that.

 

[Mr.S.Marbo]

Hmm.. most unique tool I've got is probably a USB microscope. The intention was to make extremely tiny fish. Never got around to doing much other than buying the scope!

That sounds so crazy it just might work! One small question though what were the tiny fish for??? Not that I am doubting the genius of the project, I would seriously love to see extremely tiny fish posted on coolminiornot.com where it's best to view them through a microscope.

 

[PegaZus]

That sounds so crazy it just might work! One small question though what were the tiny fish for??? Not that I am doubting the genius of the project, I would seriously love to see extremely tiny fish posted on coolminiornot.com where it's best to view them through a microscope.

They were an end to their own means... or something like that. I really didn't have any specific base in mind, just the thought of having a pic of 'em next to a coin. Love the mini-minis.

 

[dbiggied]

Brilliant idea! What glue(s) have you used?
Einion

Super glue was too brittle and white glue tended to heat up and soften too much while sanding...I think what I like best is yellow carpenter's glue.

 

[mckeansa]

Wow, that sounds like an awesome tool! I am teaching my 6 and 9 year olds to paint and i would feel much better about them using that than a hobby knife. Where did you get it and who makes it? I did a quick search on MicroMark's site but didnt find anything like you pictured here.

Oh one thing I just thought about - what's the most unique item that's in your toolbox?

I've never heard this one mentioned in the miniature hobby but I have a carbide scraper. After stumbling over it a couple of years ago, I wonder how I ever got along without it.

View attachment 6159

With hand tremors, a Xacto can be quite hazardous to not only me but my model as well. The scraper removes seams, carves detail, scrapes off epoxy, you name it and even the knife tip doesn't gouge when my hands completely rebel. It does all sorts of stuff with resin, plastic and soft metal.

So what's the most unique/unusual tools other folks have that might not be considered part of the mini artist's toolbox? Is it made by a company? Something you've made yourself or something you've conscripted into action?

 

[kathrynloch]

Wow, that sounds like an awesome tool! I am teaching my 6 and 9 year olds to paint and i would feel much better about them using that than a hobby knife. Where did you get it and who makes it? I did a quick search on MicroMark's site but didnt find anything like you pictured here.

Rio Rondo Gary makes them for the horse crowd but they work wonderfully for just about any hobby dealing with resin, plastic or soft metal. They are made of carbide steel and I've had mine for a number of years now. But Rio Rondo is the only place I've found them thus far.

 

[finn17]

i like to have as much of everything that i can! i am a hoarder. amazing the uses you can find for things - that's my excuse anyway!

What he said...I just like shiny things and will buy them even when I'm almost certain they're going to be useless

Thanks to this thread, I've just added a carbide scraper to the list of things I absolutely must have...

 

[Einion]

Okay, I've looked around and there are similar products made for deburring in machine shops and foundries. Not all of them are made of carbide; the ones that are tend to be expensive ($20 per tool for example), so although the scrapers available on Rio Rondo are pricey they're not bad value compared to some.

But here's the cheapest set I could find - four scrapers (steel blades, but tough enough for use on metals) each with its own handle, for $11 at time of writing. UK source here, £9.30 currently.

They're made by Noga, who seem to be one of the big names in this area in case you want to ask around locally.

Einion