What's in a Modeler's Toolbox?

Hi

I'm just starting out it occurs to me that almost every tool I have is geared towards the full scale world - so a reasonable question would seem to be; What do I absolutely need, and what items should I get next. Having asked that - I want to try and scratch build, and it won't be sailing ships if that's relevant.

Regards Norseman

Hi Norseman

You Will need all your grown up tools and maybe some extra ones.

I assume from your letter that you are thinking in miniature. There aren't many small tools really needed except fine cutting and working tools. I rate the Stanley knife my best tool and keep the blade in mint condition. Now that I've learnt to keep my fingers well clear, it is a fantastic tool.

Also I love my sanding machines and can work plastic and wood to a superb finish. This can include a belt sander and a table disk sander. The Dremmel tool comes to mind but can be a pain on the vibration front, if it has flexible drive shaft.

Happy modelling

Ken

also a scalpel with different blades forsepts and verios mini pliers and snips are a must

definately my laithe.....couldn't be without it......use it for so many things.

Hi

Yes I have some of these tools already and others I'll pick up soon. I bought a second hand scroll saw today still shiny and boxed for only £25 - I'm collecting it Tuesday. I have a big problem with my right thumb so manualy sawing anything ends up quite painful. So for the same reason I also like the idea of (don't know the name) the round sander that runs like an inverted drill bit and sands edges to profile. Blades and scalpels are up next on my list plus a little vice with magnifier attached

A mini lathe sounds great too but I wouln't know what to use it for yet - I'll have to check out those tutorials on You tube.

I really appreciate the advice - as will other newbies looking in or searching. A toolbox talk is not a bad idea for a proper sticky at some time.

Regards Norseman

PS - do I still need 'elbow grease' if I buy lots of power tools?

Norseman wrote:

PS - do I still need 'elbow grease' if I buy lots of power tools?

definately....you have to lift 'em out the back of the car for a start..

If you invest in a lathe then i would suggest a watch makers lathe, around the £250 mark mines about 24" in length very useful as it does both wood and metal for item up to 18" in length which is more then enough for anything i model, if i do need things bigger then I normally get friends to make up parts of the old work one i learnt my skills on.

I would advice though not learning a lathe skill of youtube... lathes are notoriously dangerous in the wrong hands, if you set the rpm to high your asking for a trip to the emergency room guaranteed, there are many great books out there that can teach you basic skills on lathe work, or find people you know with one to show you how they work properly, i have seen ( and taken) more people to hospital with shards of metal in eyes & fingers, cutting bits impaled in cheek bones, and even one guy sticking his finger clean off thinking that fresh cut metal is not sharp its smooth... while its still running.. what a twat he was!

Gloves, safety glasses and coveralls are all needs when lathe working, i use a boiler suit and some welding gloves and my bright yellow safety goggles with side eye shields when working on mine, along with a bandanna to cover my mouth stop the partials going in, especially if i'm homing a bronze or beryllium prop for friends who want perfectly balanced props for there pocket rockets. (beryllium partials will kill you!)

But apart from the warnings on what's not to do... if you get it right you can make all sorts, i normally make up prop shafts, re cut threads on props of shafts for some use, you can make rollers, wheels for blocks, decorative items from turned brass or wood, (hand rails, stansions, boat stand brass fixings) Gears (i have a jig for micro bevelled spur gears from 10 teeth up to to 30 in range of sizes from 1mm up to 8mm but it takes a long time to do, new only tried it recently) and there just a few things i do regularly on it.

A band saw, I could not manage without it.

Ordered my lathe yesterday, another toy to play with. I know, I know Roadrunner, it isn't a toy.

Alan

Hi

Roadrunner threw 'glues' into the toolbox - got a feeling there's a fair bit to know about which glue when and where?

Norseman

Roadrunner wrote:

err ya glues....


Super glue (cyno) different thickness's available. thicker glue for more heavy duty applications, thin for lighter. good for many jobs white metal to white metal , plastic to metal, plastic to plastic, wood to plastics metals etc, not really good for sticking to GRP though since epoxy can do a better job.


RR

tell me chaps.......is there a viable alternative to cyano.

as i get older, i am increasingly more and more prone to bad attacks on the synusses, even when i use my expensive zap and rocket oderless superglues......the cold like cattarr symptems that used to last but a couple of days, now last weeks, including bad bronchial coughs if i merely have a sniff of them
i use full filter masks, and nothing seems to work......so am looking for an alternative...tried gorrila glue...great stuff but takes too long to set.
any ideas would be greatfully heard.
neil.

only thing i can suggest is to try a multi adhesive such as this one...

Sticks Like Sh*t

I see no reason why it can't do the job. Just watch how much you squirt out... you be using cocktail sticks me thinks.

cheers, mate........I'll try that.
neil.

My two-penneth worth;

A 1/4" socket set ...

The most important thing in my box these days is a magnifying lens and and a pair of 3.5X specs

Geoff

I think the most important thing in mine (not tool box)is my wife... without her i doubt i would have fingers left

they come in very handy for running you up to A & E, I can vouch for that,

The helping hand is a very usefull tool.

Hi

Looking at other builds, I think I need to get a soldering iron and as I have never done any soldering - is there any particular model that's best or are there things to look out for? Is it cheap and cheerful or a get what you pay for tool?

Ha - I was going through my grandads old tools and I found what looks like a soldering iron (heated by fire) but maybe it's a plumbers tool for lead. I haven't looked in that old box for twenty years, and it was nice to pick up his old tools again. Plus I found my great great grandfathers saw in there (it has his name on it). So I couldn't resist cutting a piece of scrapwood - the teeth need setting a little that's all. Not bad for about 150 years old.

Regards Norseman

A 25W a 50w and a blow torch are all i have ever needed, the 25w for normal soldering, the 50w for soldering brass with soft solder, the blowtorch for silver soldering.

Instead of taking all day to list contents of 3.6m x 2.4m shed I'll say all or most listed above lol and do a pictorial 360 degrees.

Taig micro lathe






















I have a thing about having the right tools for the job making them if I can't buy them

Cor blimey Damien, that place must get hot during one of your summers..

It gets a bit warm Barry but it's under the carport so it's not in direct sunlight until late afternoon I have a 23cm oscillating fan to stir the dust errr breeze It is still hot when ambient temp is above 30c though.

I've just added a new gadget to my 'toolbox'. This is ACTion's Servomaster for testing servos, checking Transmitter accuracy, running in motors etc. They cost £30 from ACTion and I never quite get round to justifying that amount. I spotted one on eBay last week - brand new and unused. I got it for £4.99 +postage - a real bargain I think
Like all ACTion units this required the box to be cut to suit, but the unit was pre-built. It's actualy fairly old being before Dave Milbourn took over ACTion. I believe they are only available in kit form now.

Barrie

Well they don't come any older than Dave!!