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Ive been trying to figure out whats the best way to remove mold lines on models. Ive been using automotive files; which are too big in most instances.. if files are the best thing, does anyone know where i can get a small set of them? thanks for your help..

I just scrape them off with a modeling knife. It sucks, I miss the innocent days when I didn't care about them.

I use the GW ones, although I haven't seen them on the site recently so I'm not sure if they still make them. They're nice and small, but you could probably find some hobby files elsewhere for cheaper.

I find I use a modelling knife to remove the majority of mold lines (on plastic), using the files only when the line is in a hard to reach spot. The trick is to hold the blade at a 45 degree angle to the model and drag the blade across the line.

Metal, plastic, resin...one of the funky restic hybrids?

Plastic and resin - I use a sharp knife. Restic varies depending on its properties but normally a knife.

Metal gets the file treatment.

http://www.micromark.com/12-piece-swiss-pattern-needle-file-set,6787.html

http://www.widgetsupply.com/product/BCU22.html

Cut files or diamond files work well enough. Much cheaper than GW and you get a variety of shapes to deal with the different curves and what not.

If I am feeling in the mood - I will also use jeweler's points in a rotary tool. Should be able to find those at either of the sites that I linked to above. Of course issues with shipping may apply...but once you know what you are looking for - you should be able to find them in your neck of the woods.

Cheap alternative, the back of most hobby knife blades.

The GW mold scraping tool is simply a sharp 90 degree edge. Most hobbie knife blades will have the same edge so you just scrape it across the length of the mold line and it takes off the raised plastic.

I tend to like the GW scraper as it won't vibrate leaving a rough finish like thin hobby knife blades do sometimes.

thanks for the info guys..

I forgot where I got my files... they came in a set of maybe 5 or 6 but I only use two of them. One is round and comes to a dull point. That one I use a lot. The other is just a flat rectangular type for edges and corners. Both have red rubber handles. I mostly use them for metal stuff.

For plastic I mostly use a hobby knife.

I have yet to work with resin so can't tell you too much about that.

In the end I don't bother with mold lines unless its like big pieces of flash or vent.

Resin is just softer plastic that comes with "bubble" defects that you use superglue instead of liquid/plastic cement.

Typically just use the back of a hobby knife, orientate it at a 45 degree angle and scrape the mould lines away. If it's in a particularly hard spot to reach I'll use the sharp side of the blade.

I bought a hobby scalpel set which has a range of blade shapes and sizes, so for the most part I use the back of the scalpel and for tricky mould lines I'll flip through the scalpel set and find one the appropriate shape and remove it with the sharp side rather than the back side.

You can just use the sharp side for all the lines, but it's unnecessary for most lines and will tend to blunt the blade if you use it in a scraping fashion.

For metal models sometimes I use a small file, but mostly just stick to knives.

I absolutely hate mould lines, when I'm trying to speed paint an army often I can get the "painting" step down quite fast but the mould lines always take me ages.

Yeah mold lines are the single biggest reason assembly is by far my least enjoyed aspect of this hobby. (conversions being the exception)

Someone needs to start a commission model assembly and mould line removal service, I'd pay for that As awesome as professionally painted models look, I like painting my own models... it's the damn assembly that I hate and would pay for someone to do it for me

Check out harborfreight.com. I picked up a pack of 10 diamond files of different shapes for less than 10 dollars. Brush them clean of filings occasionally and they will last...well, probably a lifetime.

Peredyne wrote:Check out harborfreight.com. I picked up a pack of 10 diamond files of different shapes for less than 10 dollars. Brush them clean of filings occasionally and they will last...well, probably a lifetime.

Do people actually find files quicker than using a knife? I know I've tried files and sandpaper and mystical juju beans and always end up going back to the knife because it's quickest.

I'm a big fan of the X-Acto blade for most mold line removal.
Especially for plastic and resin. That being said, I do have a file and use that on metal models and larger resin pieces with offset joints.

http://fromthewarp.blogspot.com/2010/10/cleaning-mold-lines.html

Like some others said though, the speed at which you can clean them off with the knife is hard to beat.
And I find that files can leave unwanted surface texture sometimes.