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Hi Guys, I need to replace my Hobby tools(gave them to a friend who just started, they are inexpensive anyway)
But now I need a replacement, i thought about buying the same one, but I may as well ask the brand you guys use

so the usual Kit
-Clipper
-Hobby Knife
-File
-Pin vise ( I have seen this combined with files before, but it's 21 dollar)
- and Sculpting tool
and whatever else Dakka thinks I need

If this is the incorrect page, can a mod move it?

My razor saw is by Excel (similar to X-acto).
My hobby knives are X-acto (handles) but the blades are Excel.
Files (needle files) came from a hardware store ($6 for the set of 8)
Pin Vice came from local hobby shop. Excel branded, two double sided collets (4 different sized ends).
Sculpting tool came from local dental suppliers (it's a wax carver).

Clippers are side cutters from local electronics supplier (Jaycar) for cutting/nipping wire leads from components and so forth (I do electronics as another hobby).

It's all the same stuff no matter where you buy it, so go for the cheapest.

Exception: Get the GF9 pin vice. It has a huge wooden handle that will not chafe your palm even if you use it for hours at a time.

Painting & Modelling is the best forum for this kind of enquiry.

Thanks KilKrazy

@Lord Blackfang
You mean the one that has a big ass ball attached into it?

My hobby knife is Mapped, so the blades. ($5 USD and $4.95 USD for 6 blades)

The pin-vice is the hobby knife handle, I just take the blade off and put the drill bit. ($0.12 USD for two 1mm drillbits)

My sculpting tools are cheap metal ones from an art store, from a random chinese manufacturer. (around $1.20 USD)

Clayshapers are Condor, bought at the same time I got the sculpting tools (around $9.90 USD)

The files are Davidson, bought at a hardware store, got 6 for $6.43 USD)

For clippers I have a set of the micromark 82393 and a cheapo pair of snips I got at the hardware store
all my knives are xacto with either xacto or excel blades
I have 3 sets of files 9 diamond 9 traditional and 5 diamond odd curved ones, got the all for about $4 USD each at a discount hardware place
excell is my pin vise and yes I think that the big wooden ball would help with the discomfort, and tired pinkies
Xacto makes an excellent jewelers saw (what I use) but so do excel and revell, I also reccomend the xacto extra fine saw blade, it does everything the GW saw does and more plus it's replacable
As for sculpting tools I need some color shapers but a good set of dentists carvers and picks will do wonders

Hope that helps

Retrias wrote:@Lord Blackfang
You mean the one that has a big ass ball attached into it?

That's the one.

Not sure what you're used to using, but I can't recommend a swivel-back pin vice enough. Way more comfortable to use and grants better control, at the negligible cost of having to change collets slightly more frequently, compared to a double-ended model. As for clippers, some people swear by flush-cut modeling clippers, but I'm a bit disappointed in mine. They look like Xurons, but they might be an off-brand. The thing is, the cut quality is about as good as I got by using nail clippers, they're just a bit more maneuverable. Might be my product, might be my high expectations. YMMV.

For everything else, it's a tossup. There's plenty of overpriced garbage out there, so unless you're going top-end, it's a bit of a gamble if you can't see the product first, in person. I've picked up file sets on the cheap that never see the light of day, as the quality is so bad. Same with knife handles/blades. It doesn't have to be X-acto brand, but at least make sure it's all metal. Cheap sets with plastic collets will shatter the first time you try and tighten the thing. Things like miter boxes, razor saws, and sculpting tools (if the shape is right, it'll work) are a bit less finicky, in my experience, so I'd go for the cheap stuff.

Minature Tools:

Exalto Knives
Miniature Files
Finger Nail Files are nice to for those small areas & Cheap
Strait Edge Clippers to Remove Models from Sprues best
Tweezers
Pin Vise and Tiny Drill Bits
Super Glue & Insta-set
Plastruct Bondene for Plastics
Handitact (Reusable Adhesive) to stick models to paint cans to hold or clock areas dotn want paint on etc
Masters Brush Cleaner to clean your brushes
Good Light ! Dailight lamp, Sunlight, Bright area.
Sometype of Filler like Green Putty or Contour Putty
Micro-Set & Micro-Sol for deacls if you use those.

http://www.micromark.com/

I have tons of tools i use, but those are some what will help...