Helpful or useful tools!

[FoldedWings]

Helpful tools!


Here i posted a topic about modeling tools:
There are some things you see online and think is that any good?
Some others hidden away in a box and leads you to relay on illustrations!
So here members can post their experiences in good or bad tools and share them with us!


I'll start of by telling you about the Tamyia paint stirrer!
Well it's a basic pice of metal and doesn't corrode!
But its more than say a tooth pic one side has a very helpful paddle but the othes side is the best part!
There you have a spoon which to lift the paint!
And Out of the bottle lifting BIG drops in to the airbrush is easy! 8)
But when the paint is thinned then it's as expected worthless!
Over all a great tool and highly recomended to everyone!
Very good To handle those tricky Tamyia paint bottles!

 

[Jdog71]

Brushpicks....Google them. They are toothpicks with a plastic 'brush' at one end, perfect for grabbing little bits of glue or paint with capillary action. They clean off very easily, so they can be reusable.

If you're like me, you want to find tools locally instead of ordering online (shipping costs can be ridiculous for small items). I started out with Home Depot and Lowes, but they are way too expensive and they don't have much. Then I discovered Harbor Freight tool stores...I got the following for about $30:
diamond file set
pick set
misc clamps
magnifying headband

I'm not plugging Harbor Freight here...just saying that there are alternatives to paying out the nose for supplies if you know where to look.

 

[Jeep]

The dremel motor tool, and accouterments!

How is this not listed first? The motor tool works by speed not torque like a conventional drill does, however the motor tools high speed is adjustable to suit, often on the tool itself or using a rheostat power cable. Capable of a large number of specialist tools that can be spun by the drill motor, attachments include not just bits but flex shaft wants, presses, saws, sanders and a bewildering variety of cutters, disks and bits.

 

[Grendels]

I am going to add in frisket film. I bought some on a whim at a big box hobby shop in the air brush supplies. I didn't think that it would be all that good, but it wasn't that expensive, and I had read it was used on the studio model of the Enterprise for the first movie.

My current model build required a lot of taping up. I tried blue painters tape, no good. It was too thick, and the details on the model too soft to see through the tape to trim it up correctly. I started to look through my stash of tools and found the frisket film. Gave it a try, and was very surprised at how well it worked. It is clear, so you can see through it, cuts pretty easily, so you do not need a lot of pressure with your knife to cut it. Great on resin which is a very soft material. It conforms to the contours of you model very well. and if you have a painting mask template, you can print on one side of the film, cut it out and then apply it to your model.

On the down side, it won't take rough handling. It will just start peeling up on the corners. But this will be my preferred method on all canopies from here out.

 

[FoldedWings]

The dremel motor tool, and accouterments!

How is this not listed first? The motor tool works by speed not torque like a conventional drill does, however the motor tools high speed is adjustable to suit, often on the tool itself or using a rheostat power cable. Capable of a large number of specialist tools that can be spun by the drill motor, attachments include not just bits but flex shaft wants, presses, saws, sanders and a bewildering variety of cutters, disks and bits.

Yes a helpful tool but the reason why its not first is that i don't own one an there for cudn't comment on it! 8)

 

[Sandy0Ross]

Even I have use Frisk film for my current model..it is a transparent and even compatible with all surfaces.It is also easy to peel off.It also has removable adhesive so most of the people start using it rather than blue painters tape. Even it doesn't leave residue...

It's a very helpful tool.........

 

[Splashcoat]

Pounce wheels.

The set I use is made by Grifhold. With a couple of these, you can simulate recessed rivets on aircraft skins in no time.

 

[Pantherman]

Found this old thread and thought I would add to it.

I just got this lot for under £5 on a well known foreign site. Didn't expect any of it to be much good but got a nice surprise, it's all good.

Nice little drill, light, and just powerful enough for drilling plastic with the smallest of bits.

Box of 50 pin vice bits, all of which seem surprisingly sharp.

And my absolute favourite is the silicone tiped tweezers. Hangs onto PE like velcro. I have ordered another couple. Pantherman

 

[BarleyBop]

Well, glad you found this thread!
I've been chomping at the bit to post about and read about tools as well!
Recently got these collets to use with my small rechargeable 'drill'.

Nice brass collection of sizes to accommodate different shaft diameters securely without too much tightening.

My newest grinding bits are marketed as dental tools, but seem to work really well on 2 part putty and Tamiya plastic filler; they were too small for the metal collet that came with my rotary tool.

The collets also came with a mini chuck with which I can now easily use my HSS bits!

silicone tiped tweezers

I have some rubber tipped tweezers, good grip, but bulky and crude by comparison!

 

[Demolition]

Not a tool per se, but I use daily corrective vision contacts and the come in a little cup, I save them and they are great for mixing paint in, also I use the little vice a ton.

 

[Demolition]

I have some rubber tipped tweezers, good grip, but bulky and crude by comparison!

There is a product called plasti dip, you can dip tools in to get rubber tips and handles and what not. I've never used it but I've read good things about it on other forums.

 

[Jakko]

Sculpting/dental tools

Very useful for applying putty to models and for sculpting clothes, bedrolls, tarps etc. I only use a couple of these regularly (mainly the one at the top) but most of the others have come in handy at times, too, and since they cost very little (I bought most of these for something like two or three euros each) there's no harm in buying some shapes you turn out to never actually need.

Centre finder

Put anything round in the V of the thicker underside, draw a pencil line along the thin upper part, turn the thing through approximately 90° and draw a second line. Where they intersect is the centre. This is a fairly small one, that can handle objects up to about 4 cm diameter, because for modelling I don't think I'll generally need more than that, but they also exist in larger sizes.

Pick-up tool

A stylus-type of thing with a wax point (blue) on one side and a sharp point on the other, both of which you can use to pick small things up with.

Reamers

Not really a must-have tool, but I've found them handy for slightly enlarging holes so that locating pins will fit, for example.

Swivelling vice

A vice you can turn into any direction you want and tilt up or down by releasing the lever at the bottom. Much handier than a vice with a fixed orientation, as you can turn it to whatever position is most convenient or comfortable for the thing you're working on.

 

[Demolition]

I have some silicone brushes that are basically mini squeegees and they are awesome as applying putty and smoothing it out.

 

[BarleyBop]

Can't wait to try out this puppy... if it doesn't work out, @Jakko and I could always open a dental office!

 

[Pantherman]

Can't wait to try out this puppy... if it doesn't work out, @Jakko and I could always open a dental office!

View attachment 178240

Looks painful.... Pantherman

 

[Jakko]

One of us would need a remote-operated robot, though …

 

[Demolition]

Looks painful.... Pantherman

Just for a second.....

 

[Pantherman]

Just a few more bit's to help along the way. Pantherman

 

[Werner Voss]

I have had these 40 or 50 years.

 

[BarleyBop]

40 or 50 years

I bet they've appreciated in value more than real estate!

 

[Littlemarten]

There is a product called plasti dip, you can dip tools in to get rubber tips and handles and what not. I've never used it but I've read good things about it on other forums.

Plasti-Dip™ tends to cure to a glossy but non-slip surface. I've used a lot of it.

 

[Littlemarten]

I use the old style Dymo™ embossing label tape to scribe straight lines.

 

[BarleyBop]

Not the same as @Pantherman 's, but arrived today; ya, baby!

Looking at them now, there were so many times I could'a used 'em for brass and PE!

 

[Pantherman]

Not the same as @Pantherman 's, but arrived today; ya, baby!

View attachment 178619
Looking at them now, there were so many times I could'a used 'em for brass and PE!

All those hours of frustration and the answer was there all along. PM

 

[BarleyBop]

hours of frustration

Not quite that bad, but these are def deluxe!

 

[Ron2]

I picked this up a few weeks ago. Initially I wasn't happy because you have to hold the paint bottles in place while it shakes it. Eventually I'll make a holder as that rubber grommet (?) comes off and there is a brass fitting I could screw an attachment to. Anyway I really like this shaker now. It does a good job and is faster than me flailing my arm about! It was pricey tho.

 

[BarleyBop]

I really like this shaker

Awww, we'd a paid good cash money to see your arm a-flailing about!

 

[BarleyBop]

These are my 'reach over' cutters... sometimes you just can't cut at the sprue from the side with regular nippers, and it may also be awkward with a knife.
These can 'reach over' with the tool perpendicular to the sprue.
The tweezers are in two flavours: one has a flat face, and the other convex.

The pliers are rougher, which is good for saving the delicate edges of the other two.

And yes, I've used all three.

 

[BarleyBop]

Well, @Ron2 , followed your lead, and picked up an electric sharpener. Money well spent!

Guess which one was sharpened with my old, manual one?!

 

[Ron2]

Well, @Ron2 , followed your lead, and picked up an electric sharpener. Money well spent!

Guess which one was sharpened with my old, manual one?!

View attachment 179350

Hmmmm….