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Decal tweezers?

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  • Member since
    April 2007
Decal tweezers?
Posted by Leddy on Monday, February 15, 2010 11:21 AM

Is one type of decal tweezer better than another?  I am looking at 2 manufacturers; what features are best for dedicated decal tweezers?

Thanks1

Leddy

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: A Spartan in the Wolverine State
Posted by rjkplasticmod on Monday, February 15, 2010 12:19 PM

I like the self clamping type.  I have a couple from Kaydee that are intended for assembling springs into HO model railroad truck couplers.  I use them almost exclusively for holding decals while wetting & placing on the model.

Regards,  Rick

RICK At My Age, I've Seen It All, Done It All, But I Don't Remember It All...
  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: Left forever
Posted by Bgrigg on Monday, February 15, 2010 1:01 PM

Same here! Make sure you get the kind that has no teeth, or file them smooth.

Here is a set available from Squadron.

So long folks!

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: Neenah, WI
Posted by HawkeyeHobbies on Monday, February 15, 2010 2:10 PM

I'm a big proponent of quality tweezers, ones that are designed for production use. You want tweezers that will hold but not damage the decal. In many cases the tweezers must hold the decal itself not the backing paper, so you want a pair that can do it without tearing or otherwise damaging the decal.

You also want a tweezers that has the ability to get under a decal without scrunching up the edge and creasing it.  Reverse action tweezers with ultra fine points are perfect for decaling.

Here is a video I made that you might find useful.

 

 

Gerald "Hawkeye" Voigt

http://hawkeyes-squawkbox.com/

 

 

"Its not the workbench that makes the model, it is the modeler at the workbench."

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: Neenah, WI
Posted by HawkeyeHobbies on Monday, February 15, 2010 2:13 PM

I'm a big proponent of quality tweezers, ones that are designed for production use. You want tweezers that will hold but not damage the decal. In many cases the tweezers must hold the decal itself not the backing paper, so you want a pair that can do it without tearing or otherwise damaging the decal.

You also want a tweezers that has the ability to get under a decal without scrunching up the edge and creasing it.  Reverse action tweezers with ultra fine points are perfect for decaling.

Here is a video I made that you might find useful.

 

 

Gerald "Hawkeye" Voigt

http://hawkeyes-squawkbox.com/

 

 

"Its not the workbench that makes the model, it is the modeler at the workbench."

  • Member since
    April 2007
Posted by Leddy on Monday, February 15, 2010 9:15 PM

Hawkeye,

Which of the tweezers (viewer/ left to right) do you mean?

Thanks!

Leddy

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: Neenah, WI
Posted by HawkeyeHobbies on Tuesday, February 16, 2010 7:47 AM

The one holding the straight pin and the one to the right of it are Reverse Action tweezers...which means you must apply pressure to release the jaws. These prevent one from squeezing the decal too hard thus damaging the membrane.

Gerald "Hawkeye" Voigt

http://hawkeyes-squawkbox.com/

 

 

"Its not the workbench that makes the model, it is the modeler at the workbench."

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: A Spartan in the Wolverine State
Posted by rjkplasticmod on Tuesday, February 16, 2010 7:58 AM

I never apply the tweezers to the decal itself, only to the backing paper.  For me, the biggest advantage of the self clamping/reverse action tweezers is that you can dunk the decal in the water while being held by the tweezers & then when the decal moves freely on the bacikng paper position it on the model.& slide it off with a brush.  The self clamping feature makes it much less likely to accidentally release it at just the wrong time.

Regards,  Rick 

RICK At My Age, I've Seen It All, Done It All, But I Don't Remember It All...
  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: Neenah, WI
Posted by HawkeyeHobbies on Tuesday, February 16, 2010 11:20 AM

For some reason the VIDEO in my previous post didn't make the trip.

Gerald "Hawkeye" Voigt

http://hawkeyes-squawkbox.com/

 

 

"Its not the workbench that makes the model, it is the modeler at the workbench."

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