Anyone know of good small parts holder

[Nova-ss]

I'm having trouble with holding small parts in my hands when sanding,glueing and holding parts..just getting old.so looking for something to hold parts while sanding an glueing parts..any good suggestions ? .....thank you...Chris 

[Ace-Garageguy]

It can be a problem, for sure...especially sanding small parts.

I haven't really found the perfect tool yet, but I've found that several sizes of hemostats can be very helpful for holding things while sanding parting lines, etc., as well as normally-closed tweezers for gluing small parts in place.

[Sledsel]

Hemostats

[peteski]

Here are some of the things I do to hold very small parts for painting.

I use insulation stripped from various gauge wire (as tubing to hold the parts), masking tape and a thick double sided clear tape (similar to the foam poster tape but clear).  You can also see small dowels (pieces of toothpicks).  "Roach clips" also work well for some parts.

 

Edited November 2, 2016 by peteski

[Jon Haigwood]

The problem I have with little wooden clothespins is that occasional the snap shut while holding a small part and the part becomes airborne and is usually not found until I have found a replacement for it.     Hemostats can mar the parts and need to have something inside the tips to eliminate this. 

[IHSS]

Here are some of the things I do to hold very small parts for painting.

I use insulation stripped from various gauge wire (as tubing to hold the parts), masking tape and a thick double sided clear tape (similar to the foam poster tape but clear).  You can also see small dowels (pieces of toothpicks).  "Roach clips" also work well for some parts.

 

You mean alligator clips. Not every one knows what roach clips are lol. Also, is that a kids pedal car model or a very tiny firetruck model? either way looks very cool and i would love to see more of it.

[Foxer]

I use all these things above, but I shy away from the half dozen hemostats have because they like to crush plastic.

I also have a few small hand clamps that work well, especially for sanding.

[Mike999]

I like to use this stuff, Simply Tacky.  Available cheap at Hobby Lobby.  For holding small parts, I tear off a piece of Simply Tacky and put it on a craft stick. Or "ice cream stick," also available cheap by the bag full at Hobby Lobby.  One thing I like about Simply Tacky as opposed to tape - you can twist/pull it into any shape you need to hold the part.  Also unlike tape, you can use it over and over. So it's economical and I'm a cheap old geezer.

For bigger parts, I sometimes use double-sided tape with one side also stuck to a craft stick. Or even a long piece of sprue, depending on what I'm painting. I also use all the stuff already recommended here, like clothespins and alligator clips.  You can also buy small plastic clothespins, instead of the big wooden ones.  They have smaller springs and don't apply as much pressure as the bigger ones.

 

[BigTallDad]

I use double sided (adhesive) masking tape; it can be found at golfing stores and is used to put new grips on clubs.

Just cut off a small piece, mount it on a popsicle stick, mount the part, and sand (or paint) away

[1930fordpickup]

The problem I have with little wooden clothespins is that occasional the snap shut while holding a small part and the part becomes airborne and is usually not found until I have found a replacement for it.     Hemostats can mar the parts and need to have something inside the tips to eliminate this. 

What if you put some shrink tube over the ends to help with this? Maybe even grind the sharp ends down first? 

[Jon Cole]

I have some plastic hemostats. May have bought them @ Micro Mark.

[Johnt671]

Use an rubber band around a hemostat rather then snapping the shut. You can control how strong they grip with the number of twists you use to wrap the band around the hemostat, or push the band further up to loosen the grip a little or down toward the finger loops to get a stronger grip.

[Nova-ss]

I use all these things above, but I shy away from the half dozen hemostats have because they like to crush plastic.

I also have a few small hand clamps that work well, especially for sanding.

Mike,

What hnd clamp are you referringto..I'd like to know.

Isn't there a adjustable hemostat that doctors use.it has a screw adjust on it.?

Thank you all for your suggestions . ..I saw this..has anyone used it before?.....Chris 

 

Edited November 2, 2016 by Nova-ss
fix words

[Foxer]

Mike,

What hnd clamp are you referringto..I'd like to know.

Isn't there a adjustable hemostat that doctors use.it has a screw adjust on it.?

MM Multi-Tool I looked at this one for a long time and bought it when it was a lot off. I have found the vice to be the smallest vice for small parts and don't use any of the other parts, so is a bit expensive considering that.

I never knew of an adjustable hemostat. Too bad my RN wife doesn't have access anymore.

 

Edited November 2, 2016 by Foxer

[mikemodeler]

If you have a Harbor Freight or Northern Tool store near you, check out their miscellaneous tool section, lots of things that might be used. I have an old adjustable length stand with alligator clips on the ends that comes in handy when painting. I also picked up some mini clamps at Sears, some with suction cup bases, to use for assembly and detail painting.

[peteski]

You mean alligator clips. Not every one knows what roach clips are lol. Also, is that a kids pedal car model or a very tiny firetruck model? either way looks very cool and i would love to see more of it.

Your 2nd guess is right on the money!  N-Scale (1:160) 1910 Knox fire engine.  For more info go to http://micronart.com/customerPratt_details.html and then click on the top middle photo.  BTW, if you right-click on any of the photos and select view image (or the equivalent for your browser) you will see a full-size photo.

As I mentioned I use wire insulation as tubing but I also use heat-shrink tubing if I need larger-diameter tubing.

As for the double-sided tape (in the photo I posted earlier), this is what I use:

 

[afx]

I use alligator clips a lot.