Kinda obvious question but I gonna ask it anyway.

[V8tiger]

I’m so tired of picking up tiny parts with my tweezers and having them pop out to lose them! Any pointers on how to not do this? (I’m smiling here but serious, kinda)

[gman]

There are a few approaches, depending on what you are doing while handling those tiny parts:

-you can line the tweezers with masking tape doubled over, so they have some stickiness

-you can use products like Fun Tak, Glue Dots or masking tape to hold the parts

-if you have a supply of old #11 Exacto blades, you can stab the part with the tip of the blade in a non-visible surface, and use the blade handle to position your part for painting or installing

-for photo etched parts, plain old Scotch tape can be used to hold them while trimming, and taking some of the stickiness from the tape works well for installing them

[Dave G.]

Oh you need some surgical tweezers, the tips have grooves like pliers but much finer. When I had a gland removed in my neck , on follow up the next day they removed a drain and put in a stitch, the doc gave me a the pair he used. The scissors were horrible but the tweezers great.

[yh70]

this is what you need. works great for picking up and placing small parts....https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NPBM1JN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Edited September 28, 2022 by yh70

[V8tiger]

Thanks guys. The suggestions are all great! I really appreciate it. No more popping and lost parts!

[Leo64]

I can't remember where I saw this tip, but I tried it out and it works pretty good.  What I did was buy a set of not too expensive tweezers, you can find them at a bunch of different places, then I went to a local bicycle shop and they gave me a used bicycle inner tube.  I used 5 minute epoxy and glued a small piece of inner tube to each of the tweezers tips and then trimmed them with a sharp x-acto or scalpel.  It helps with gripping small parts.

Steve A.

[Fat Brian]

I glued strips from a wide rubber band to the inside of the tip of one pair of my tweezers specifically for handling small parts.

[Kit Basher]

Like Steve and Brian, I added rubber. Two little pieces of heat shrink tubing shrunk onto the tips.

[espo]

There is a company that offered short plastic sticks with an adhesive tip that would hold the part you're trying to place on a model. The adhesive usually was good for one or two times and would easily release the part with little pressure or support for the part you're attaching.  I found them at a local hobby shop, but I'm sure any of the online suppliers would also carry them. 

[Theo]

I use this tool.  Solved this problem for me and for cheap.

Amazon.com: Uchida Of America 91GR Double Ended Jewel Picker : Beauty & Personal Care

[Calb56]

 

[customline]

Thanks for spreading the word, Charles.  I'm pleased that my tip is appreciated and continues to help those of us with less-than-ideal dexterity 🥴

[Calb56]

I thought it was ingenious. Coming up with ideas using other mediums is great! 

Bad dexterity and poor eyesight here!