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How to have a steady hand

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  • Member since
    January 2021
  • From: Somewhere near Chicago
How to have a steady hand
Posted by Teenage Modeler on Wednesday, June 2, 2021 7:35 PM

Whenever I am gluing small parts, painting details, or anything that requires a steady hand, I think that I can only do so much.

 

I do have stead hands generally, but when I'm working on small scales, they shake a little, often ending up glueing the piece wrong, or painting an area that I should not have. 

 

Any tips on how to keep a steady hand?

Made you Look

 

  • Member since
    September 2014
Posted by rooster513 on Wednesday, June 2, 2021 7:50 PM

You can try bracing your forearm against the edge of the bench to help steady the hand. Or use your other hand to steady the one painting if whatever you are painting doesn't need to be held.

-Andy

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Orlando, Florida
Posted by ikar01 on Wednesday, June 2, 2021 7:55 PM

There are varying types of stands equipped with clamps or grips and sometimes a magnifier that you can use.  Some come with gooseneck type arms and others could have different types of sliding armsso you can adjust where you want the piece or pieces to be while you work on them or let them dry.  Sometimes I'll rest my arms on the edge of my workbench and make sure I have a high intensity light ready.

  • Member since
    April 2020
Posted by Eaglecash867 on Wednesday, June 2, 2021 8:40 PM

Lots of light and magnification, surprisingly, helps a great deal with helping to steady your hands.  When you can actually see what you're doing, it increases precision.  Aside from that, if you can mount what you're painting on something to hold it for you, then you can use one hand to paint/place parts, while you use the other hand to help stabilize that hand.  I have a small suction-cup base table-top vise that I use.  It has a ball joint between the base and the jaws that I can move and lock into any position I need it in.  That really helps with detail work.

"You can have my illegal fireworks when you pry them from my cold, dead fingers...which are...over there somewhere."

fox
  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Narvon, Pa.
Posted by fox on Wednesday, June 2, 2021 9:42 PM

I agree with all that was said above. I'm 80 and have shaky hands. I got the idea of bracing my arms on the edge of the bench from the members here and it really helps a lot. I also use any and all types of clamps to hold parts steady.  Some use background music to help in calming. I use classical music, spanish guitar, and lots of others. Whatever works for you. Hope that this helps.

Jim Captain

Stay Safe.

 Main WIP: 

   On the Bench: Artesania Latina  (aka) Artists in the Latrine 1/75 Bluenose II

I keep hitting "escape", but I'm still here.

  • Member since
    July 2012
  • From: Douglas AZ
Posted by littletimmy on Wednesday, June 2, 2021 10:32 PM

I tend to use my pinky finger as a " pivot point" when gluing stuff, and especially when brush painting.

Just having a positive contact point between the workbench and  my hand helps quite a bit.

 Dont worry about the thumbprint, paint it Rust , and call it "Battle Damage"

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Thursday, June 3, 2021 9:42 AM

I have to rely now in touching my hands togehter at the base to do fine detail work, unless one part is held in a vise or something.  Then in that case resting forearm or wrist on bench works.  What you want to avoid is cantilevering both arms in the air and through your body to connect your hands.

 

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    October 2019
  • From: New Braunfels, Texas
Posted by Tanker-Builder on Thursday, June 3, 2021 10:16 AM

HI;

    LikeFOX I am up in years( 78) and since an auto accident that damaged my upper body I shake bad. I keep my elbows on the table and built a ramp from LEGO's to support my Fore-Arms and Wrists.

     I usually only use the ramp when the parts are large. For small parts I use The Multiple "Extra-Hands "Tools a lot more. It works.

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