alternate sources of modelling supplies

[rsxse240]

I was at Lowe's today and I was looking for a garage sale sign. Easily found. While looking at the signs, a LARGE for sale sign, 18X24 inch, is made of what looks to be polystyrene, probably around 1/32" thick. $10

Oates epoxy plumber's putty. Just like Mili-put white, 8 or so inches long, roughly 4 times more material than mili-put. Both parts in one log. Simply cut off a hunk, kneed it, spread it where you want it, but work quickly, it hardens VERY quickly, right at 5 min to be workable with a cheese grater, REALLY rough sand paper, hobby knife, etc,. It's fully cured in about an hour and able to be machined, sanded, dremeled, even drilled and tapped (low torque bolts. Sticks VERY well to just about any surface including styrene. $6

Clamping forceps, tweezers, scissors, sometimes disposable scalpels. Just try to cut your finger off and go to the emergency room and ask for the sucher kit when they're done with it. I've been successful in getting about 5 of these kits throughout the years. While you are there getting your finger sewn back on, grab some non-powdered gloves to keep your finger prints off your models.

Lowe's also has brass and aluminum rods, angles, and other metal shapes for fabrication in the hardware section in the "HOBBY PROJECTS" drawer.

If you have a good source of hobby supplies, please post it up! I am ALWAYS looking for supplies in odd places.

[Snake45]

I'm always on the lookout for hobby-usable stuff at Walmart, Michaels, Hardware Stores, auto parts stores, drug stores, office supply joints, everywhere.

Silver Sharpies, double-sided tape, cheap superglue, masking tape, rubbing alcohol, single edge razor blades, 3M wetordry sandpaper, Krylon and Walmart paints, paintbrushes, all kinds of good stuff. The paintbrushes I'm currently using came in a generic Chinese-sourced "value pack" of various sizes at Walmart. They're as good as any "name brand" expensive paintbrushes I've ever used.

[Agent G]

Sally's Beauty Supply. Catch a sale and you can stock up on sanding boards, sanding blocks and buffers. Look around and see what else can be used. Tweezers, burnishers and fake nails for shapes like headlight visors.

G

[bobthehobbyguy]

Dollars store is good for emery boards , sanding boards.

[LDO]

Sally's Beauty Supply. Catch a sale and you can stock up on sanding boards, sanding blocks and buffers. Look around and see what else can be used. Tweezers, burnishers and fake nails for shapes like headlight visors.

G

And lots of nail polish.

[rsxse240]

all great suggestions, keep 'em coming!

[jbwelda]

in keeping with one of the original suggestions, what I like to do is bang my head against a brick wall until it starts bleeding and then when I go to the hospital, when the nurse isn't looking, I steal some suture string. makes great spark plug wires. of course, the medical bill is pretty high, but at least I got over on them on the suture. and maybe a hemostat or two.

jb

[Agent G]

And lots of nail polish.

Lots and lots of nail polish!

I get some cheap eye make up there too, the weird metallic blues, greens and rust tones. Looks great rubbed on exhaust pipes.

G

[Mike_G]

Sally's Beauty Supply. Catch a sale and you can stock up on sanding boards, sanding blocks and buffers. Look around and see what else can be used. Tweezers, burnishers and fake nails for shapes like headlight visors.

G

Aww, ya beat me to it! I'll add that the washable nail sanding sticks last the longest.