Tips for the old timers

[Gramps46]

A friend recommended the sticks used in fingernail painting as being handy for gluing and painting tiny features.  He was right, much better than toothpicks.

 

As we get older, and the shakes and tremors set in you need to find something to hold our model so you can use both hands.  It is especially hard when working on the front or back of the model when you can't lay it on its side.  I discovered using an empty tissue box works pretty darn well. 

[Bainford]

Great idea, Gary. The box trick looks very handy.

What is the end of the finger nail stick like? Is it a brush of sorts?

[Gramps46]

6 hours ago, Bainford said:

Great idea, Gary. The box trick looks very handy.

What is the end of the finger nail stick like? Is it a brush of sorts?

Trevor - the ends come in various shapes but most have ball on one end which I have found useful. Surprisingly better than fine brushes. This is the link where I got mine.

8/20 PCS Nail Art Design Dotting Painting Drawing Polish Brush Pen Tools Acrylic | eBay

 

Edited February 27, 2023 by Gramps46

[Dpate]

1 hour ago, Gramps46 said:

Trevor - the ends come in various shapes but most have ball on one end which I have found useful. Surprisingly better than fine brushes. This is the link where I got mine.

8/20 PCS Nail Art Design Dotting Painting Drawing Polish Brush Pen Tools Acrylic | eBay

 

Those are just burnishing tools.  I have a set by AK, but that pink one looks nice as the left end looks to be the smallest I've seen.  Never thought about using one for gluing though, and don't feel bad about shaky hands.  I'm 33 and have a shaky hand when using a brush etc lol.  

Edited February 27, 2023 by Dpate

[TarheelRick]

Wonder if those would be available at Sally's Beauty Supply or an equivalent?

[Bainford]

6 hours ago, Gramps46 said:

Trevor - the ends come in various shapes but most have ball on one end which I have found useful. Surprisingly better than fine brushes. This is the link where I got mine.

8/20 PCS Nail Art Design Dotting Painting Drawing Polish Brush Pen Tools Acrylic | eBay

 

Cheers Gary. I have something similar to that, purchased at an art store. Actually, I unwittingly bought a second identical one a few years ago, so I have one I can dedicate as a paint/glue applicator.

Edited February 28, 2023 by Bainford

[Ace-Garageguy]

3 hours ago, TarheelRick said:

Wonder if those would be available at Sally's Beauty Supply or an equivalent?

Cuticle pushers can also come in handy for shaping 2-part filler before it kicks...

[charlie8575]

Good idea for the tissue box, and the other tools.

Charlie Larkin

[bo_ells]

My girlfriend's big hobby is doing her nails. The amount of stuff she has that overlaps modeling stuff seems endless.

She thought my first sanding boards were out of her stash, and she has gotten fussy at me for several purchases I have made getting my workspace together.

The question is will I remember to ask her first before ordering some nifty detail tool...

[Tcoat]

Every time I visit the Dollar Store I spend some quality time in the beauty/hygiene section looking for things to use for modeling. I do get some odd looks!

Nail files, cuticle tools, cotton ball, nail polish and so on all get checked over. The best sprue cutter I have ever owned is a nail cutter that came for there. Looks like I have to add these burnishers to my list.

 

[Mike C]

Great idea! I clicked on the eBay link. It's real cheap too. The 20 piece set is only $6.95 and free shipping.

[Lone Wolf]

This is slightly off topic (?), but I feel it's close enough. The next time you visit your dentist, ask if you can have any broken dental tools, or ask for them to save them for your next visit. I got one tool I use for spreading putty, an almost sharp at the tip, long curved-side, thin flat "spoon" piece (for detail work), with a wider, straight-sided, kicked-up near the end section, at the other end (w/rounded corners), which is good for larger jobs.

In addition I got a nice assortment of sharp, straight and curved, single & double-ended "picks", all in stainless steel. Being damaged or having broken tips, they all required some minor work, but costing nothing, it was well worth the time to fix them up. I use them for all kinds of repair work, from my cars, to electronics, to models. The price can't be beat!

[Gramps46]

I agree with Ken on the dental tools.  I inherited a bundle of dental tools from my father-in-law and they come in very handy.

[peteski]

I have been collecting damaged dental tools from my dentist for years.  Most have one end broken (those are usually accidentally dropped on the floor), or some are just worn out.  The dental assistant keeps them for working on dental molds and things like that, so they usually have a stash in the back room.  When I first asked my dentist for those tools, he looked at me funny (not backyard dentistry), but when I explained what I needed them for, he didn't have problem giving me few tools.  Later, I brought in some of my models to show him (and even made a model for him) he had no problem with me asking for the tools on my every visit.  Here is part of my stash.

 

I often reshape them by grinding the tips with my Dremel tool.  I make scribes, miniature pry bars or awls.  Or just cut off the broken end and use the remaining good end.

I also ask my dentist's assistant for empty plastic boxes. They receive crowns or bridges from outside labs packed in nice clamshell boxes.  Those are handy for storing small things in my workshop.

When I had my root canals the periodontist also let me have some of those tiny needle "files" they use to clean out nerve canals.  Those are handy for hobbies too.

Edited April 7, 2023 by peteski

[stitchdup]

if you dont mind ordering from china, there are sets of nail art sets on amazon that include 30 plus small brushes, 12 different shaped metal tools and a pile of different nail varnishes and small tubs of "velvet" that just short flocking. usually these sets are around 10 bucks. the brushes are decent but they need to be cleaned carefully if using thinners as the glue used in them is poor. some sets have a few colours of nail varnish too. and also from china, there are sets of decals for doing patterns on nails that work for interior seat trim (buy 4 sets as there are odd numbers of each included) and they come in black or white patterns over a clear carrier film. they can be overpainted with acrylics as nail varnish is just thick car paint really. also if your clear coat on your 1/1 has areas of peeling around stone chips, a blob of clear nail varnish on it could save you a paintjob

[Gramps46]

I didn't know what to call them but "nail art sets" gives a whopping response on Amazon.  Thanks for sharing Les.