What are the indispensable tools in your kit?

[Bstarr3]

So, what are the little bits of kit that you can't do without? Something you use every time you go to the bench, or a very specialized tool that you couldn't do a certain job without? Something you bought from a retailer in Azerbaijan on a sketchy website, something you repurposed from the hardware store, or something you made yourself.

 

For me, aside from the obvious ones, are my Xuron photo etch scissors, glue looper, and my magnifying lamp. Two little things I use constantly are the styrofoam block that my air compressor came in - great for holding drying parts - and a pack of wooden clothespins from the dollar store. A little poster tack on those guys and they're a great stand for painting small parts

 

Mods, if you don't mind I posted this here instead of tools tips and techniques since it's more of a general discussion. Please move if you think necessary.

[TimHepplestone]

Optivisor and toothpicks. Never needed the optivisor until I turned 45

[Bstarr3]

Yeah I have an optivisor too, but I use it a lot less since I got this big swing arm magnifying lamp

 

V-LIGHT Full Spectrum Natural Daylight Effect Heavy-Duty Magnifier Lamp with Metal Clamp, Black (VS103B) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UV41UR2?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

[LSP_K2]

For me, Dremel tool and X-Acto knives.

[Tnarg]

Full on Stereo Microscope is the only way to see the details anymore. Got a surplus one and it is a huge help. My eyes are facing that age where it is difficult to see what I want to build. Oh well, I am still here and having fun.

 

Tnarg

[ssculptor]

I am a sculptor who has been making models since 1942.

My most important tools are ALL OF THEM. 

No discrimination on my part, I love 'em all. I need them all.

Now that things are settling down I can afford to buy the few minor tools I am missing, like an air compressor like the really big one found in an automobile repair shop. Also a MIG and later a TIG welder unit (I already have a 250/300 amp electric arc welder). I have a machine lathe but I can see  a vertical milling machine.  Oh yes, I can use 3D additive machine.  A 3D scanner would be a fine addition to my shop, 

 

In other words all tools are necessary to me.  Back in the 1960's I knew that I could happily live in  machine shop. Just convert one room to living quarters and move in. But It would be difficult to get a woman to live with me in such a heaven so I had better back off a bit and find a woman who would live with a sculptor. I needed children also.

 

Well, right now I have a lot of sculpture to make, and some models to make just for relaxation (a man gotta have a hobby). My wife is the important part of my life so she will always  have a 50% say  what I get so I will just concentrate on making sculpture for a while. 

Who knows, maybe by devoting 80% of my time to sculpture and showing it on various venues I will be able to sell more art and finance a bigger workshop. 

 

We shall see. 

 

Stephen

[BiggTim]

My chair.

[Gazzas]

My chair.

Thanks for the RoFL!

 

I need everything on and off my bench.  I'm just not skilled enough to do without anything.

 

Gaz

[Guest Airfixer]

My Iwata CM-C and HP-C Plus airbrushes...my compressor...my JLC razor saw...my optivisor...sanding sticks...Magic Sculpt epoxy clay...

 

And, most importantly, decent workplace lighting.

[G-Man]

My Brightech magnifying lamp. It's LED and super bright. Even if I'm not using the magnifying glass, the lamp is always on.

[Uncarina]

Tweezers (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B012X2ZNOA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1), magnifying lamp, sanding sticks, jewelers needle files, sharpened toothpicks, Tamiya sprue cutters, Xuron photoetch cutters, small drill set, pin vise, scribing tools...

 

Cheers, Tom

[Gerhard]

Tamiya sanding sponge, and my optivizor. 

Edited February 15, 2018 by Gerhard

[mozart]

Without any question whatsoever, my optivisor.  Couldn't manage a thing without it.

Max

[Rick Griewski]

I am with Gaz on this one. I need a lot of tool support. There are a couple however that stand out. My bench top soldering ventilator (carbon filter) pulls the Ca fumes away from my face. The fiberglass scratch tool removes heavy paint. I also rediscovered the ole drafting ink pen. For younger folks this is the adjustable pincer looking thing used with India ink. This thing holds a drop using the surface tension of the liquid drop. It's perfect for dispensing thin liquid cement. I just fixed a panel lines fiasco yesterday using it with thinned primer to fill in trenches. Adjust the width of the point to match the line and capillary does the rest. I avoided CA glue in this case. Repeat until stupid modeling error is gone. Perfect for those pesky imaginary panel lines too with almost no collateral damage. So when Jennings says, 'fill in those P-51 panel lines' you can salute him and get to it.

 

Rick

[Bill_S]

I find myself using this often these days...