Hand Tools for the Model Builder

Bob Comet made this presentation at the April 2005 HRSMS meeting. There is an addendum at the end listing various suggestions made at our monthly meetings that are not substantial enough on their own to merit a separate Shop Note.

Sources

• Micro Mart
• Model Expo
• Bluejacket
• Harbor Freight Co.
• Craft Shops (Paul's, Michael's, Ben Franklin, etc.)
• Hardware Stores, Lowe's, Home Depot

The Nautical Research Guild Web site has many web sites listed in addition to the ones cited. Shop around, look for sales. Hardware type stores are generally less expensive than hobby or model suppliers. The beading section in craft stores often has very good prices (relatively) for brass and silver-plated wire. Harbor Freight often has good buys for drills, craft knife sets and machinist tools. Radio Shack has some good soldering supplies, alligator and other electrical clips and small hand tools. Ask Jack Bobbitt , John Cheevers, Bill Altice or other experienced modelers who their favorite sources are.

Tools you must have, even for good kit models

• Craft knife sets with a minimum of #ll blades
• Sanding Blocks, make them yourself and have one each for 100, 150, and 220 grit sandpaper
• Sand paper -get garnet or aluminum oxide, not flint. You can use wet and dry paper found in auto supply stores. Hardware stores are much better sources than model supply houses.
• Razor saw (Zona or similar) and a miter box with 45 and 90 degree slots. Easy to make yourself.
• Small Pliers - round nosed for making eyelets, eye pins and rings: needle nosed, flat nosed.
• Flush cutters for cutting brass and soft steel wire. Xuron High precision shears are very good. You can use toenail cutters if you don't want to spend the money for the Xuron. Most inexpensive side cutters do not cut flush.
• Tweezers to suit your preference
• Steel ruler, 6" or 12" with both millimeter and inch scales down to 1/32" divisions
• Small drills #60 through #80, and 1/16", 3/32" and 1/8"
• Pin vise to suit yourself and the drills you will have
• Small center punch
• Scriber or scratch awl (small)
• Small hammer (2 oz or 4 oz), jeweler's or tack hammer
• Pencils
• Large scissors (regular household type)
• Small crochet or manicure scissors
• Small plane (don't get the kind that uses a razor blade)
• Large Beauty salon nail/callus emery boards that are 8" to 10" long and have 100 grit on one side and 150 grit on other
• Set of needle files
• Small bench vise
• Good quality stick pins, about 20
• Clamps - Depending what you will be gluing or clamping, you will need small C clamps (you can make your own), clothes pins, small alligator clamps, other electrical clips, bull dog clamps, plastic covered wire tie-ties, rubber bands, miniature bar clamps
• Soldering equipment for fabricating small fittings from brass - small electric soldering iron or butane torch; small diameter silver bearing, no lead solder; liquid or paste flux
• Glues - White glue or yellow carpenters glue, Cyano Acrilate of the gel type, 5 minute epoxy
• Wood filler, not plastic wood or wood dough
• Assortment of small paint brushes; flats, round, and small 00 for touch up and painting small items
• Masking tape. The kind in auto paint stores is very good.

Nice to have and useful

• Small square 3" or smaller
• Small angle measurer
• Bow compass
• Dividers, as found in mechanical drawing sets
• Protractor
• Small tape measure
• Drill gauges - 60 to 80, 0 -60, 1/64" increment to ½"
• Micrometer or accurate caliper
• Inside caliper
• Illuminated adjustable magnifier. Lowes has a nice one for about $20.
• Spatula or similar home made spreader for wood filler ( small, ¼" or less)
• Planking vise (home made)
• Small riffler files, fine and coarse
• 8" files, half round and flat, medium cut and fine
• Hones. I have two small diamond ones that I like, plus a leather hone.
• Hand vises
• Small anvil or machined steel piece for riveting and flattening metal
• Assorted black annealed wire, brass wire and silver-plated. Diameters from .010" to .050".
• Small carving tool set.
• Treenail making tools - parallel jaw pliers, draw plate (home made).
• Small calculator
• Eraser
• Small tap and die set
• Brass straight pins
• Assorted needles
• Tooth picks
• Card stock for making patterns (note or file cards will do)
• Band aids. (Don't get blood on your wood work!)

The following items were not listed in Bob's hand-out but were mentioned by him during the presentation

• hand-held vises
• Pin vise to fit drill press

Addendum

The following are suggestions made by various members in the years since Bob's presentation.

• Rhinestone picker pencils. These wax pencils often marketed for bead crafts and fingernail art are useful for picking up very small items, many of which a pair of tweezers might launch across the room.