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DIY grabit-stix?

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11 replies
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mgh
  • Member since
    May 2011
  • From: Utah County, Utah
Posted by mgh on Friday, January 11, 2013 1:01 PM

I have had really great luck using a toothpick, though I got some of the glue dots to use.  Same thing happens that sometimes the part wants to stay on the stick, and I have found that I have to dirty up the glue dot, get some lint and stuff on it to lessen the bond.

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Friday, January 11, 2013 9:18 AM

I still stick by the toothpick and poster (silly putty, blue) tack method. I keep a supply of toothpicks, in a dispenser on my bench top because I use them for so many things. I also keep a supply of poster tack handy- use that for holding small parts to a piece of wood sometimes for painting.  I find the blue tack on toothpick works pretty well- only problem is that sometimes I need to use other hand to hold the part against model to get it to release if glue sets too slow.

You know, sometimes I think it would be nice for modeling to be a species with four hands :-)

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

mgh
  • Member since
    May 2011
  • From: Utah County, Utah
Posted by mgh on Thursday, January 10, 2013 12:51 PM

Some really nice stuff you have put together.  Still looking through it all.

Thanks for posting that!

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: Piscataway, NJ!
Posted by wing_nut on Thursday, January 10, 2013 10:42 AM

This is what I do...

Take a small piece of masking tape and roll is sticky side out from one corner.  Use the tip to hold tiny part. When it looses its grip at the tip cut it at an angle and you have a new tip.  The CA sticks fats and hard and the parts stay when the "handle" is pulled away.

More PE tips about 1/3 way ON THIS PAGE of my website...

Marc  

mgh
  • Member since
    May 2011
  • From: Utah County, Utah
Posted by mgh on Friday, January 4, 2013 9:11 AM

I picked up  some glue dots, and they work extremely well when stuck to the end of a toothpick.

Thanks for the responses, much appreciated.

  • Member since
    February 2011
  • From: St louis
Posted by Raualduke on Wednesday, January 2, 2013 5:45 PM

Those glue dots work very well ,I've used them. Another option is plain old bees wax. You just have to roll a small piece between your fingers to warm it up a bit

mgh
  • Member since
    May 2011
  • From: Utah County, Utah
Posted by mgh on Wednesday, January 2, 2013 4:07 PM

Cadet Chuck

Heck, I just wet the tip of my index finger in my mouth and press it on the PE part.  Picks it up very nicely.

I can get the part picked up, but have a heck of a hard time placing it accurately.  My hope is that if I can get it stuck on the end of a toothpick, it will be easier to place it.  Tiny piece typically means tiny spot that I have to hit with the part!  Whether something like this will help is still to be seen, but it can't hurt.

  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Longmont, Colorado
Posted by Cadet Chuck on Wednesday, January 2, 2013 1:51 PM

Heck, I just wet the tip of my index finger in my mouth and press it on the PE part.  Picks it up very nicely.

Gimme a pigfoot, and a bottle of beer...

  • Member since
    January 2010
Posted by CrashTestDummy on Wednesday, January 2, 2013 11:35 AM

There's a product the scrap-bookers and card makers use called glue dots (aka, 'snotdots').  They're little sticky, rubbery dots that are sold in a box that contains a paper roll with hundreds of them on it.  You can peel a dot off and wrap it around the end of a toothpick, and you can use that to pick up/hold small parts.  

They work great, and one $2.00 box would be nearly a lifetime supply for a modeller.  You can get them at any store that sells craft stuff, Michael's, Hobby Lobby, your local scrapbook store, etc.

Gene Beaird,

Pearland, Texas

G. Beaird,

Pearland, Texas

mgh
  • Member since
    May 2011
  • From: Utah County, Utah
Posted by mgh on Wednesday, January 2, 2013 10:08 AM

Yes, I do know that stuff.  Will stop by an office supply store and see what I can find.

Thank you!

  • Member since
    August 2008
Posted by tankerbuilder on Wednesday, January 2, 2013 9:06 AM

Hi ;

Well don't think I am nuts. You know the stuff that is used for folks fingers when they handle a lot of paper ? I don't remember what they call it .

I put it on a "Q-TIP " that has most of the fuzzy removed . It works great and releases the part without a problem.             Tanker-builder

mgh
  • Member since
    May 2011
  • From: Utah County, Utah
DIY grabit-stix?
Posted by mgh on Sunday, December 23, 2012 5:40 PM

I was watching some videos on youtube about handling photo-etched parts, and the person was using these:

http://www.megahobby.com/grabit-stixtoolforworkingwsmallparts5pcpk3pksblistercdscalemotorsport.aspx

I have tried using blue tac on the end of a tooth-pick with some success, but it is not a great solution.  Any of you make something like this to use?  How do you handle tiny parts?

Thanks!

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