Modeling Supplies?

Woody

Member since
December 2002
From: Third rock from the sun.

Modeling Supplies?

Posted by Woody on Saturday, September 27, 2003 12:49 PM

It occurs to me that alot of modeling supplies are found/purchased at places other than the hobby industry. I am always looking for tools, supplies, and raw materials no matter where I am. Anyone have a product or source of supplies that comes from a place other than the plastic kit industry? If we share these sources, I think we can all benefit. Someone, on this forum, mentioned Norton sandpaper the other day. I went and found the sandpaper at Home Depot along with small rolls of masking paper and Norton synthetic steelwool in 0000 grade. I'm looking forward to checking out any other tips you might be able to share with the group. Wink [;)]

" I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." --John Paul Jones

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gregers

Member since
February 2003
From: UK

Posted by gregers on Saturday, September 27, 2003 1:02 PM

Hi Woody. i use the stick on wheel weights from car tire shops to add ballast to the noses of aircraft and used to use them on those R/C planes that i was very good at crashing for balancing them out. ....Greg

Why torture yourself when life will do it for you?

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styrene

Member since
May 2003
From: The flat lands of the Southeast

Posted by styrene on Saturday, September 27, 2003 3:54 PM

Small tools for modeling can be found at www.micromark.com. They are a great source for small tools. They cater to the modeling industry.

I've just started buying my superglue at Lowe's Hardware. I really like the Loctite varieties. One is super thin, and the other is a gel. Container design helps to get out the final drops, too.
Also, I'm finding accessories for my Dremel there as well.

Asking your dentist for dulled or broken hand tools, and dulled dental bits is usually a good source. Usually the tools (scrapers, etc.) are only broken or dulled on one end. A good file can sometimes be used to re-sharpen.

Gip Winecoff
Gip Winecoff

1882: "God is dead"--F. Nietzsche

1900: "Nietzsche is dead"--God

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renarts

Member since
April 2003
From: Sunny Florida

Posted by renarts on Saturday, September 27, 2003 4:14 PM

Rio Grande Jewelers supply.
RTV molds, small tools, etc., the jewelry production industry very closely paralells the model building industry for tools and some supplies.

Lee Valley wood working supply.

Flyfishing and or tying shops. Great source of line, small jigs and fixtures as well as other assorted doo dads that come in handy.

Pic up a mag called Cinefex. Its pricey, but in the back are ads for companies that sell supplies to the movie industry. Model building supplies, casting, tools etc.

Mike

Mike "Imagination is the dye that colors our lives" Marcus Aurellius A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"

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lizardqing

Member since
July 2003
From: Dahlonega, Georgia

Posted by lizardqing on Saturday, September 27, 2003 4:23 PM

I have found things at wal-mart, the dollar store and scraps of stuff off job sites. And of coarse friend's garages.

Chris The Scale Firehouse The Lizard's Workshop

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Swanny

Member since
February 2003
From: Sandusky Ohio, USA

Posted by Swanny on Saturday, September 27, 2003 5:24 PM

See your dentist for old picks and other dental equipment. My dentist (who is also a hobbiest) keeps a cigar box of old picks for anyone who asks to look through.

Swanny's Models

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Keyworth

Member since
January 2003
From: NE Georgia

Posted by Keyworth on Saturday, September 27, 2003 6:03 PM

Try Michael's or any good arts and crafts store. They have a myriad of stuff for other hobbies that can be applied to modelling. And Michael's usually has at least a 40% discount coupon weekly.

"There's no problem that can't be solved with a suitable application of high explosives"

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Woody

Member since
December 2002
From: Third rock from the sun.

Posted by Woody on Saturday, September 27, 2003 7:25 PM

Boy this is some great stuff, I'm going to be tied up doing some web searches. Here are a couple of my favorites <http://www.smallparts.com/> and <http://www2.mooremedical.com/index.cfm?PG=CTL&FN=storedirectory&CS=HOM> If you search the Moore Medical site, you can play a game. It's called what are my hobby tools really called! LOL Seriously though Micro Mark must do alot of shopping at medical supply stores. One example is the small eyelet tool that Micro Mark sells for pinpoint glue and super glue accelerator. It's real use is an ear, nose and throat curette (item #10659 in the Moore catalog)! Be sure to check out the surgical chisels. If you use stainless steel tubing for gun barrels you will be in hog heaven when you get to Small Parts' site. Both these sites will send you a free catalog and I highly recommend them as they are valuable references. Cool [8D]

" I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." --John Paul Jones

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Keyworth

Member since
January 2003
From: NE Georgia

Posted by Keyworth on Saturday, September 27, 2003 8:38 PM

Thanks for the links, Woody. I've already added them to my favorites' list and requested catalogs. I ordered stainless tubing too.

"There's no problem that can't be solved with a suitable application of high explosives"

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 29, 2003 7:57 AM

Harbor Freight sells all kinds of tools, air compressor supplies and other goodies that we pay a bundle for from specialty shops and since they're not listed as "hobby" tools, they don't jack the price up. If you work on metal stuff (in 1/1 scale) their tools might not last very long, but on styrene they'll last a lifteime! Wink [;)]

There is a product called SuspendStrips and SuspendDots found in the fishing section of most department stores, they're adhesive backed lead strips about the thickness of posterboard used to weight crankbaits down so that they'll suspend instead of float. They work great as counterweights in tight places.

-fish

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gar26

Member since
July 2003
From: Canada

Posted by gar26 on Monday, September 29, 2003 3:31 PM

I've gotten tools from the drugstore or the dollar store, Wal-mart you just have to look around

gpebernat

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glweeks

Member since
September 2003
From: USA

Posted by glweeks on Monday, September 29, 2003 4:13 PM

For raw materials try your local recycling center (I used to work for one) in the metals buy back area they buy all kinds of brass finnials and doo-dads that can be used to mount stuff on like ships etc. They also buy stripped lamp wire (it's copper) of any guage, copper sheet, lead (dentist's x-ray tabs, the little ones that go in your mouth), aluminum... all kinds of stuff. Just get there before they ship it all to the smelter, once a week, once a month, whatever. They'll sell it to you at a small profit. (what's brass? 35cents per pound right now, copper 30?) there's a lot of wire strands in a pound of copper. Enough to wire engines in any scale!!!
G.L.

Seimper Fi "65"

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Woody

Member since
December 2002
From: Third rock from the sun.

Posted by Woody on Tuesday, September 30, 2003 7:38 PM

I work for a Factory that among other things makes vinyl shutters. One type of shutter is actually made of light grey styrene and I'm quick to snatch up the scraps. Some of the flat pieces are 10"wide X 14"long, perfectly smooth on one side and wood grained on the other. We also have product lines that use plexiglass and I can get as much of it as I can haul off! Tongue [:P]

" I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." --John Paul Jones

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, October 1, 2003 3:24 PM

You can also try small parts inc. (www.smallparts.com) They are great for tools and supplies like fine grill mesh, telescoping tubing in many shapes etc. I also get stuff from a friend who is a doctor. They get kits for procedures and are required to throw away the whole kit for sterility purposes. Obviously, models do not have to be sterile so he gives them to me instead of the garbage man. I have a whole array of tweezers, hemostats, alligator pliers, scalpels, syringes (no needles, but don't need them), scissors, even hammers and chisels (he's an orthopedic surgeon) If you go to the doctor, ask for the disposable stuff. If you know someone in the medical profession, ask for anything that is not a biohazard and your tool box will fill up quickly and the price is right (FREE).

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Woody

Member since
December 2002
From: Third rock from the sun.

Posted by Woody on Saturday, October 4, 2003 5:28 PM

Good tips guys! Here's one for another free tool. Save the little three legged do-hicky that comes in your pizza box. I use them for paint stands. Points side up for large parts. Place a small piece of double sided tape on the flat round end to hold small parts! You can also modify them to do a particular job because they are free and aren't you getting a couple more pies tonight! LOL Big Smile [:D]

" I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." --John Paul Jones

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cnstrwkr

Member since
March 2003
From: USA

Posted by cnstrwkr on Saturday, October 4, 2003 10:41 PM

If your wife/girl friend/sister has her nails done. The nail techs use a foam sanding block that is washable. When the tech thinks its worn and wants to get rid of it, snap it up, its great for smotthing plastic!

Tommy difficult things take time...the impossible, a little longer!

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, October 5, 2003 10:22 PM

An addition to my Harbor Freight reply... -just ordered 60 bucks of stuff (including the magnifying lamp that Micro Mark sells for 3 times as much) and they didn't charge me anything for shipping! I must have over 20 lbs of stuff too. Now that's service!

-fish

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qmiester

Member since
May 2003
From: Central USA

Posted by qmiester on Monday, October 6, 2003 10:36 PM

If any of you guys use liquid cement (IPS Weld-On #3), check your area phone directory for a plastics distributor. He may have that product on the shelf as Pleximent or Pleximent-chloride. Weld-on #3 origionally sold for $3.95 a bottle 15 years ago (that's for a 2 oz bottle). For years I bought Pleximent for 4.95 a quart, which lasted me 1 1/2 to two years. I was checking last week cause my supply was running low and found out that it is no longer available in the quart size but the gallon size is $27.95. I figure that will last me 8 to 10 years. Better yet, get some of your buddies to go in with you.

Quincy

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, October 13, 2003 2:12 AM

If I had a gallon of liquid cement it would become a family heirloom!

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wipw

Member since
January 2003
From: Utah - USA

Posted by wipw on Tuesday, October 14, 2003 3:23 PM

Hit Lowe's up for Methyl Ethyl Keytone. It's about $15 a gallon. It's the stuff most of the liquid, solvent type cements use. They put stuff with it to make is work slower. Talk about a fast glue! But keep the can tightly capped. I bought a quart can some years ago (can't find quarts locally anymore) and filled up a little plastic glue bottle with a needle in the end. It completely evaporated out in about a month. The quart can didn't last much longer. I guess I didn't have it capped well enough. (I even put a layer of wax paper over the top before putting the cap back on.)

Great thread! Thanks, Woody.

Bill

Bill ==========================================================

DML M4A2 Red Army ==========================================================

========================================================== -- There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness". (Author unknown)

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, October 15, 2003 2:48 AM

Heres a site that specializes in the jewelry industry...I've ordered a couple of tweezers from them they might have some other things of interest.
http://corporate.auctionworks.com/store/default.asp?sid=200310130058330000000008502611&sfid=24342

Chris

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Woody

Member since
December 2002
From: Third rock from the sun.

Posted by Woody on Wednesday, October 15, 2003 9:40 PM

Chris, Good find! They have two punch sets for 1/2 the price of Waldron punches! I saw a lot of tools that would be useful for modelers and the prices seemed reasonable. Cool [8D]

" I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." --John Paul Jones

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, October 16, 2003 8:07 AM

Don't know how many of ya'll are into molding and casting... thought I'd share the best mold release product I have founf on the market. It's from the Price-Driscoll Company in Conn. ,called Polyester Parfilm. Leaves NO "witness Lines" and is paintable right after casing, dries ultra fast and the spray coat covers well! If you do any molding/casting, do yourself a favor and contact Jessica ther. Great customer service!

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 2, 2003 10:35 PM

Another hobby of mine is fly tying and I have found my vise to be an indespensible tool. You can clamp it to a desk and it has two sets of very small jaws which can be rotated 360 degrees. Perfect for painting tiny pieces (and tying flies)
Cheapo ones can be found in any tying shop for under $20.

greg

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Woody

Member since
December 2002
From: Third rock from the sun.

Posted by Woody on Thursday, November 6, 2003 11:14 PM

Drafting pens are first rate glue and CA accelerator applicators. Most old drafting kits have several of these tools in the set. Buy a set and put the pens and dividers in your hobby tool box. The dividers are handy for checking dimensions on like parts or transfering a measurement. Heck you'll more than likely also get a good compass. Wink [;)]

" I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." --John Paul Jones

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sharkbait

Member since
October 2003
From: Canada

Posted by sharkbait on Friday, November 7, 2003 6:36 AM

Just a quick note on Methyl Ethyl Keytone. AKA MEK
We use it a lot to clean Aircraft parts ect.
Works like a charm - BUT:
It is Very Dangerous stuff. I KID YOU NOT!!!!
Do Not Get it on your skin Avoid the fumes ect
Lock the stuff up when not in use - We do in the hangar.
Check Labels or whimis for more info.
I assume if you use it you know but I worry about our younger / new members.

You have never been lost until you've been lost at Mach 3!

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racingmaniac

Member since
November 2003
From: polystyreneville

Posted by racingmaniac on Sunday, November 9, 2003 12:29 AM

Great subject. I have found things all over the place. Go to any drug store and you can get nail clippers of assorted sizes, fingernail files, makeup sponges (which are great for applying decals), fingernail polishes for custom paint colors. Also a good crafts store will yield a bounty of tools and supplies, such as wire and hoses for engine detail. and a good medical supply store will give you very good tweezers and hemostats for those hard to hold parts.

that which doesn't make us irate or irritated, has probably been thrown against the wall.

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Woody

Member since
December 2002
From: Third rock from the sun.

Posted by Woody on Sunday, November 9, 2003 12:53 AM

I went to the Dollar Tree store this evening and found a cheap source for red and green LED lights. They have a seasonal item called "Window Brighteners". You can harvest 9 green LED's from the Christmas tree and 5 red LED's from the star. As a bonus you'll get a 9volt holder with each and some colored tubing that looks like it may have fiberoptic type qualities. Of course the Window Brighteners are a dollar a peice, Dollar Tree after all. LOL Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

" I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." --John Paul Jones

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 8, 2004 4:31 AM

Harbor Freight was mentioned earlier in the the thread but I'll mention it again. It is the SINGLE BEST SOURCE for machinest squares, calipers, V-blocks and hand tools of all sorts. Priced about 1/3 of Micro-Mark. Also free shipping. www.harborfreight.com/

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 8, 2004 9:47 AM

As Gip said.....

MicroMark is a great place for tools. Can always find something useful there!

As for other supplies, I just browse when I'm at a store and if I find something that can be used, I'll pick it up. A Michaels Craft Store opened up down the street from me, not too long ago. Every once in a while, I'll find some good stuff. I purchased a pair of wire snips from them (Used for cutting bead wire) and they work perfectly for cutting parts off sprues! They're even angled Tongue [:P]

It beats paying for a so called "Specialty" set of sprue cutters and at half the price.

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