10 Essential Model Making Tools | Workbench Wednesday

This week's Workbench Wednesday is a show and tell on the 10 model making hand tools that I use most often. I have often been asked for a good list of tools for people just getting started in model making, and these 10 are the "go-to" items that I use on nearly every build. Did I leave out your favorite? Put it in the comments below!
Thanks for watching!
Dave
Scale Ruler: www.micromark.com/Model-Rr-Rule?gclid=Cj0KCQjwxuCnBhDLARIsAB-cq1qz7_D6fqzX4JkxEG9hSj-euzSwvv5t3zk6badQx65y66JeUSQVNlAaAkj_EALw_wcB
Small tools from Micro-Mark: www.micromark.com/mini-hand-tools
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[@Cruiserfrank]

With the holidays coming up the two big US home improvement stores (the Blue one and the Orange one; I've worked for both) will soon (starting within a month) have LOTS of hand tools on sale up near the front of the stores. I've seen scissors, nippers, small clamps sets, the needle nose pliers, the tiny file sets, tweezers...sometimes even hobby knife sets. Many of the things on Dave's list can be found there at a good price. Check them out; you won't be sorry.

[@Ron_Ventura]

I’d add a tool that was in every shot of this video, but didn’t get a mention - the cutting mat!

[@gladams56]

I was amazed how much my tool kit matched yours.

[@jimmanley4300]

To tag on to your collection of clamps, sewing pins and push pins. While not a clamp in the true sense of the word, they can be used to squeeze material while it's glued. (Thinking of how you glue frames on a template.) And they're dirt cheap while your out picking up clothespins. I also love my jeweler's screwdrivers. My local big box home center sells a pack that holds the different sizes in the handle.

[@robertallan5222]

Rubber bands have pulled me out a lot of jams😂

[@McGowJobs]

A combo of tweezers and clamps, hemostats are invaluable on my bench.

[@NYCJDClark]

Here we go!

[@gladams56]

Recently I’ve added s pair of flat nose pliers to my most used tools. They are great for straightening out things or breaking things square.

[@lynnmccurdythehdmmrc2561]

Hard to add any tools that are "basic" to your list. But I like my Chopper and Mini Square. And of course, a #2 pencil.

[@davevan8864]

A good brand set of small screwdrivers. Vital when working on HO or On30 trains. A digital Micrometer. The kind with scriber points. Kiskars makes a great hobby knife. Large diameter padded handle. Cross point jaws that are dual purpose. You use one set of 'No. 11' size blades and the other set for the traditional medium size blades. VERY handy and great for those of use with hand issues. Thanks as always!!!!

[@scottmorgan5370]

I'm hoping you do a video on the power tools you use. Believe it or not, the clean bench is very very essential tool as well.

[@keithdenner9441]

Very informative video. Thank you.

[@pbyfr]

As I work mainly with styrene, I find also very useful a set of engraver, I have cheap from 2 to 0.45mm, and expansive Tamiya from 0.5 to 0.1 mm. An Olfa scrapper is also very helpful. Speaking of the razor saw and the mitre box, I have also an V angled mitre box to cut small tube. Most pin vises don't work long for drill bit 0.5 mm and smaller. I have now the mini pin wise from Tamiya, goes well even with 0.3mm drill bit. High quality European chopper is also very useful.

[@vincenthuying98]

Dear Dave, for your files, there’s a file brush available to very easily clean those dirty files. It’s like a steel wire brush, very flat, with short stiff wires, with a slight angle at their tips.

[@richardsweeney197]

The drill bits can be bought by the tube of 10 or 12, also as long as you don't break the tip off, blades can be sharpened using finer and finer grits if sanding sticks.

[@gardenrailroading]

I love your tool choice's! My only comment is that you can recycle your used metal tools and sharps as scrap metals and yes, I tape my used knife blades when done with them.

[@pacificcoastminiatures]

Japanese clothespins are also great. They are designed to secure clothes on Japanese clothes drying racks which are aluminium pipes. So these clothespins open very wide which is useful if you're clamping something larger than what a standard western clothespin would be able to clamp. I bought a couple of bags last time I was in Japan. The only downside is they don't have much of a jaw, more like four fingers, but you could glue a piece of styrene or card to them to extend the clamping surface.

[@NorseNerdleMeister]

Can’t ever go wrong with Fiskars scissors!

[@dscottpeterson6653]

Also the cutting mat you work on.

[@tonyharwood8408]

I would have gone for a fine straight tweezers rather than the angled, but apart from that - I agree with your choices.

[@loispadgett6306]

Good list I have some of them. Going to look into the ones I don't. Can you tell me were you got your mini miter box? Will look forward to another one like this one. Keep sharing and teach will see you next time. GOD BLESS 🚂💖🚂💖🚂💖🚂💖

[@lesterolson5526]

A great way to store your hobby knife is in a toothbrush holder and if you mark the end with the blade, you can reduce your chances of injury even more.

[@rahwi]

I'm very fond of jeweler's pliers. Light weight, needle nosed, but with very a long, thin nose, and flat inner jaws, with no teeth. Usually spring loaded to auto open. Good for when you don't want to leave visible tool marks. Also good for bending and shaping wire. There are versions with rounded jaws for bending gentler curves and loops. Expensive when purchased through jeweler suppliers, but affordable versions can be found online - including that one store that starts with 'A'.

[@NYCJDClark]

I like the old 6 inch General #651 steel ruler. It is very convenient but no longer available. They do turn up on eBay once in awhile.

[@russrockino-rr0864]

Let me Guess, Exacto? Thanks for sharing Dave

[@thomasfrench2012]

I think I heard Dave say, "Someone please make a miter box out of steel instead of aluminum."

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

Yes please. I'm on my 3rd one.

[@patapscofallsdivision2579]

Scissors: Be wary of corrugations on the blades. The resulting cuts will have matching corrugations that are noticeable in scale work. Hobby Knives: Buy one with a non-rolling handle. A knife rolling off of the bench is not great,. Don't ask me how I know that.... And always abide by what you said when it comes to tools: "Buy once. Cry Once." Get the best that you can afford to avoid the frustration of a cheap tool.

[@ColtonsHobbies]

If you had to pick a laser cutter under 2k do you have any options? i cannot afford the one you have unforatunely. i was looking at xtool d1 pro 40w vs 20w. thoughts?

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

Glowforge has a new desktop model for the hobbyist called the Aura for $1200. It's a diode laser, but comes with all of the safety features and support that Glowforge is known for. It's low powered, but should be enough for most modeling materials.

[@claybass3631]

When you run the trains, do you actually calculate and use scale speed, or, just eyeball it 'til it feels right?

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

Eyeball all the way

[@rickdee67]

Hey Dave! Good workbench Wednsday. Did you get the extended Phillips bits?

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

I did, Thank you! Your paint chip is on the way

[@KenBinCT]

You forgot the laser 🤣🤣

[@andreasatlars4281]

How about a cutting mat?

[@ChristopherYoder-bb8by]

Are you in cotton wood

[@MicrobyteAlan]

372

[@AppalachiaRRlover]

I’m lucky in that I’m diabetic and will throw my old hobby knife blades in my sharps container

[@mynx_uk]

Helpful advice (ba dum tish) Health Warning, Do Not under Any Circumstance, use your wives or girlfreinds clothes pins, they have the power to use a Cast iron skillet, they very well might.