Old Glory | 18 Apr 2020 8:54 a.m. PST |
Is there anyone in this hobby that actually lives without the following: 1. Dremel drill 2. Finger nail clippers --used primarily to clip of the small metal vent lines from bayonets, spears, etc. 3.Pin vise hand drill 4. Belt sander --to clean the bottom of bases -- I find it actually fun to do this? 5. Set of small files. I do not think I would do this hobby without these handy tools? Russ Dunaway |
KSmyth | 18 Apr 2020 9:01 a.m. PST |
No belt sander. I don't have room for one. Tweezers, for all sorts of purposes. Never thought of finger nail clippers, but will have to give those a try. |
79thPA | 18 Apr 2020 9:14 a.m. PST |
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7th Va Cavalry | 18 Apr 2020 9:16 a.m. PST |
I purchased an old bench grinder at a yard sale for $5. USD Can't tell you the countless hours it has saved me with smoothing base bottoms over the years. |
Bellbottom | 18 Apr 2020 9:34 a.m. PST |
No belt sander for me either, I don't need it for 15mm or less, and I find nail clippers too imprecise. However in addition to the first posters list, I wouldn't be without:- 1. Assorted scalpels (No's 3 and 4) and blades (primarily blades 11 and 26) 2. Assorted suture clamps 3. Blue tack, for holding components while glue sets 4. Watchmakers eyeglass 5. Assorted sanding sticks, plastic, for tight corners 6. Assorted tweezers 7. Thin piano wire, for joining heads to bodies 8. Assorted pliers and wire cutters 9. Assorted glues, cements and fillers 10. Painting notebook 11. Small surform plane, for chamfering edges of MDF 12. A decent sized cutting mat Oh, and an excellent waitress, to keep me in hot and cold drinks (my patient wife) |
Prince Rupert of the Rhine | 18 Apr 2020 9:50 a.m. PST |
Well I have 3 and 5. I have lots of craft knives and side cutter clippers. I also have a hot wire cutter, a chef's blow torch, electric hair clippers (for teddy bear fur) and assorted DIY power tools for terrain making. but the one tool I can't live without are paint brushes. |
John Armatys | 18 Apr 2020 9:51 a.m. PST |
I don't have a Dremel or a belt sander (I put a big flat engineering file flat on my modelling table and rub the figures' bases on it), and I use a pair of modelling clippers instead of nail clippers and have a cheap magnifying visor. The oldest tool acquired for modelling is a bit pair of tin ships – brilliant for cutting bases. |
Editor in Chief Bill | 18 Apr 2020 9:52 a.m. PST |
If I wasn't a minis gamer, I would still have been a plastic modeler, so I would still have all the same tools. |
Oberlindes Sol LIC | 18 Apr 2020 10:58 a.m. PST |
I don't use any power tools for this hobby. |
Old Glory | 18 Apr 2020 11:12 a.m. PST |
The belt sander can clean off !000s of bases in little time --no more scraped fingers or tedious hours and the bases are beautiful. I have become so good with the belt sander through the years I can now even clean up some mold lines and it also works great on the bottom of 15mm bases cleaning the "gate line" also --that's the end of most of the "these figures are to big" or "these figures are to small" from the goldilocks crowd as a person can very easily slightly alter the overall height of the figures. Finger nail clippers are a must for me and if you are careful they are very precise. I did fail to mention the obvious like scalpels, etc --because --well -- they are obvious ---I would think --perhaps --HMMM? Russ Dunaway |
Rdfraf | 18 Apr 2020 11:15 a.m. PST |
I never thought of using a belt sander! Brilliant idea! |
14Bore | 18 Apr 2020 11:18 a.m. PST |
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Timmo uk | 18 Apr 2020 12:39 p.m. PST |
No belt sander but I like the idea. I'll add: • Air compressor and air brush • Razor saw • Small metal set-square • Noch puffer bottle for static grass • Stainless lab spatulas • Hot melt glue gun (small) • Spray mask • Soldering iron • Various small pliers • Xuron cutters • Jewellers hammer • Bench vice/anvil I'd like:
• Lab quality shaker • Hold and fold tool • Drill stand for Minicraft drill |
Wargamer Blue | 18 Apr 2020 5:31 p.m. PST |
A belt sander sounds posh. I just use a hand file. |
79thPA | 18 Apr 2020 6:14 p.m. PST |
I had "flash" on the bottom of some 25mm minifigs that was so extensive and thick that I had to cut it off with a band saw! |
Old Glory | 18 Apr 2020 9:26 p.m. PST |
79thPA -- a belt sander would have taken care of that in seconds. Russ Dunaway |
Old Glory | 18 Apr 2020 9:28 p.m. PST |
Wargamer Blue -- thats alot of "blood, sweat, and tears." |
Master Caster | 19 Apr 2020 7:57 a.m. PST |
I have used the yellow sanding disks that pop on and off a mandrel on my Dremel. Get different sizes and grades from Contenti in Rhode Island who is a main supplier to the jewelry trade. And bandaids! Don't forget the bandaids. |
witteridderludo | 20 Apr 2020 2:45 a.m. PST |
A UV nail curing station… great for curing small scale resin prints |
CeruLucifus | 20 Apr 2020 10:46 p.m. PST |
Have all of the above. Was like John Armatys with the file, then switched to predominately plastic miniatures. Never thought of taking a metal mini to the belt sander but will try it next time. |
SHaT1984 | 19 May 2020 8:07 p.m. PST |
Purely manual, (well I have an Arlec drill that hardly sees service). Swiss files set (from 1970s) Xacto blades – wide/ narrow; pencil and bulk handles 50 year old tiny screwdriver 6th screwdriver set (cheap) Cheap coarse files for bases, clawing work etc. Scraper brushes- steel/ brass/ plastic Use recycled tooth brushes; recycle worn out paintbrushes fr stirring and mixing/ palette Paint palette also 40 yrs old. Contains all the mixes of every paint type I've used bar Humbrols! Paint tray (various food trays); paper wipes and facial tissues for cleaning brushes every use. 1970's vaseline jar- its seen way too many paint brushes to be safe for anything medical! Nail scissors (flags/ decorations etc.) N Scale stainless rule- just becoz Scalpel (real medical ones w removeable blades have ultra-sharpness) Assorted hobby tools- G clamps; steel and plastic grips; and a bunch of home made frames, templates and squareness doodads! Happy days are here again…… davew |
Sgt Slag | 20 May 2020 11:13 a.m. PST |
Cut-off disks, Mr Dunaway! Cut-off Disks! I love my cut-off disks… These are what I use for flattening bases. Never thought of using a belt sander… Drat! LOL! Cheers! |