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can anyone recommend a good source of tweezers? so far i have yet to find a pair that wont shoot my teeny tiny bit halfway across the room when i squeeze it. im looking for a pair that will grab and hold nicely while keeping whatever im holding from rolling or twisting.

im also in the market for a magnifying headset. ive been looking into it a bit and it seems that i want a pair with dual lenses as opposed to a single lens.
can anyone recommend a good one?

lastly im looking for a starter paint set that wont break the bank.

are there any tools that you use for assembly as well as painting that yok might be worth checking out?
my old man hands are shaky and prone to cramping when working on detail parts so any suggestions would be appreciated.

For tweezers, I use sewing tweezers. Can be gotten from places where you buy sewing stuff.

Magnifying headset I can't help you. I have always found my limit is my hands, not my eyes. I do have a soldering clamp station which includes a magnifying glass... but I removed it because it was just not helpful to me.

Starter paint sets I personally don't recommend unless you want to try out a whole different bunch of schemes. IMO you're better off just buying the loose paints, unless it's a really great deal.

For keeping your hands from cramping, make sure you have some clippers to ease the stress of clipping models from sprues. Also use a cork or old paint pot or anything you can hold on to and blutac your models to it when painting. Having something substantial to hold on to while painting will reduce cramps.

Reverse tweezers; http://www.amazon.com/Testors-8942T-Reverse-Action-Tweezers/dp/B003ZD1148
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Inexpensive magnifier I use, you can find it many places online; http://dx.com/p/pro-skit-ma-016-1-8x-2-6x-5-8x-2-led-white-light-headband-magnifier-black-2-x-aaa-192854
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Reaper makes an inexpensive line of starter paint kits with brush, figures, and techniques; http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/LearntoPaintKits/sku-down
I recommend Michaels Arts and Crafts or Wal Mart (Apple Barrel, Folk Art paints, etc.); http://www.plaidonline.com/apple-barrel-craft-paint/brand/detail.htm
Walmart $1 can of black primer to start as well.
I prime all my figures black, and dry-brush the entire figure; white, bone, light grey, or a metal color to start , that way I can see the detail better.
Depending on what the main colors in the end will be;
White; bright colors, reds, yellows, etc.
Bone; medium and natural colors, browns, tans, etc.
Light Grey; dark colors, black, grey, etc.
Metals; Gold, Silver, Bronze, etc.

Inexpensive Supplies;
 
Tools (Purchased);
Dykes; or heavy-duty wire cutters; NOT Sprue-Cutters (sprue-cutters are expensive and will get damaged when trying to cut metal or wood). Example; http://www.xs11.com/forum/images/tips/20020902-floatpinremove.jpg
Scissors; crappy or inexpensive, you are not a seamstress, so $1 ones will do fine when cutting stuff, if you need a more precise cut, you should probably invest in a straight cutting table or use a blade and metal ruler.
Metal Ruler; often called a Drafting ruler. Uses; guiding a straight cut, and measuring.
Hibachi skewers; (made of Bamboo) cost about $1 for a bag of 50 at local grocery store, great for spiky defenses, and etc…
Place-mat for dinner table; (made of Bamboo and other wood slat items) good for fences when cut.
 
Supplies (Found);
Wire Hangers; from the dry-cleaners. I prefer the plastic coated ones. (Cut-out the straight area and save). Then find a drill-bit the same size. Uses; pinning large items, axles on vehicles, BANNER-POLES, etc… Alternatively, LARGE paper-clips.
Broom (Old); (house/kitchen) with long Nylon bristles. Depending on stiffness can be used as Spears, Lances, Antenna arrays, poles, cabling, and etc…
Stir-Sticks; wood, (NOT Popsicle, they are treated and can have a to-finished look). From Starbucks for free with a cup-o-Joe or a box from Smart and Final for about $5. Uses; as wood, for everything wood; floors, bridges, fences, and etc…
Cereal Box Cardboard; Save the front and back of the Cereal-box or GW box, etc. the cardboard is treated and very solid. Uses, a VERY inexpensive substitute for plastic-card.
Rocks and Gravel; from your neighbor’s driveway (I Keed, I keed) Uses; boulders, and etc…
Old Toys; from your closet, from a yard-sale, and etc. Uses; BITZ for Orky stuff, rubble terrain, machinery, and etc…
Chopsticks; (fast food for free) Uses; large wood poles, fencing, supports, and etc…
Wrapping paper rolls; (thicker ones) Pringles can, oatmeal can, etc.
Telephone DSL Cabling (wires); they have 4-12 different colored wires inside
Pennies (or nickels fit ROUND base weights perfectly; if you are rich lol); (note; I have tried the washer and slug idea, trying to find the right size and driving around is not worth the penny, or the nickel) Alternatively, they can be cut in two (just off-center) to fit in the underside of the slotted-bases.

Hope this helps.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Sorry for double post;
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Cramping hands;
Loctite Fun Tak (putty type non stick product) use; on the underside of a base and put it on top of an unused paint bottle, that way you can hold the bottle not the figure?
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Paint stir stick for free at Lowes (12") use; fun tak or white glue several models along the stick (I put 5) then paint in steps, easy to hold stick instead of model.
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Stretch fingers, lol...

awesome guys, thank you.
i've just recently seen the blue tac idea put to use so im definitely going to give that a shot.
i wonder if that will help with assembly as well as painting. this way i can use something big to hold onto instead of the fig or the base. i always end up getting glue all over my fingers because im trying to hold two tiny bits together.

great ideas, thanks.

Fun Tac has many uses, just Sat I used Fun Tac to hold SM Wargear in place for Vetetan Sgts (combi weapons, Storm Shield, Power Sword, etc.), easier than magnets, and barely noticeable...
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Also, glues;
Plastic weld; Plastruct (train and good "Hobby" shops)
http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/pls/pls00002.htm
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Metal; Gorilla same as GW half the cost at WalMart
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Zip Kicker accelerant

Hemostats are a better than tweezers when you really need a solid grip (better leverage, they lock in place), but will mar soft parts if you aren't careful. Pearl/bead tweezers are a good option for oddly shaped bits (the ones that tend to go flying) - they have broader jaws with a depression in either face that cradles the part, reducing twisting and keeping it from squirting out. For flat parts, I find that any old pair will do (within reason - the worst of the worst will have burrs from being stamped that will mar parts with even gentle pressure) - just a matter of deciding if straight or angled arms will give me a better angle of attack.

you can order a 6-pack of swiss army knife tweezers off of amazon. I like those for little things. I picked up a set of Gale Force 9 tweezers as well. The angled one are particularly useful.