strider
Cardboard Collector
Posts: 2
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Post by strider on Feb 27, 2017 1:33:11 GMT
Edited: Thanks for the suggestions - I've added several to the list!
Hi All,
I'll soon be moving from the USA back to my native Europe.
I used to be into crafting when I was younger, and want to get back into it again. This move is the perfect opportunity for me to get a fresh start.
I'd love to hear about your recommendations for the basic tools and supplies I should look out for.
Thus far my list includes:
Self healing cutting board Cheap cutting boards for use when painting/modeling Compass cutter (for making circular bases) Craft paints (always useful) Basic brushes Craft Knife/Utility knife Hot glue gun Metal Rule Lazy Susan Dremel rotary tool Metal mechanical pencil PVA Glue
Is there anything else you'd recommend to yourself if you were starting from scratch? Do you have any tips on where I should look for such supplies, or other supplies in general?
Thanks in advance for your suggestions!
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Post by margaret on Feb 27, 2017 3:52:18 GMT
In addition to the self-healing cutting board, I like to have a couple of pairs of the thin cutting "boards" that dollar stores have in sets in the kitchen section. I use one pair for polymer clays [stored clay side to clay side to avoid contamination] and the other pair for other messy work. Some people don't mind getting paint and glue all over their cutting board, but I prefer to keep mine clean. These are light and would be easy to pack and ship. If you plan to work with wood sticks, you might want to get a popsicle stick cutter, since I have no idea what it would be called in Europe and it's hard to ask for something if you don't know the name. It's called a "Hobby & Craft Easy Cutter" here. www.amazon.com/Midwest-Products-Hobby-Cutter-Ultimate/dp/B000BQT3VKOther things like foamcore / foam board, foam insulation sheets, cardboard, cardstock, various kinds of craft sticks, bamboo skewers, corks for sticking miniatures to while painting, transparent plastic report covers to cut in strips for river / water sections, etc. you can probably find pretty easily after your move. Although they might be called something else... A Dremel-type rotary tool is extremely useful if you do the type of terrain / miniature work that it excels at. Many crafters never need one - it just depends on your style. Some people like to use a wire foam cutter made especially for cutting polystyrene. Others manage fine without one.
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Post by adamantinedragon on Feb 27, 2017 4:47:32 GMT
A good set of wood nippers, especially one with angle settings is incredibly useful. An air brush. If you get an air brush, get or make an air brush hood. A lazy susan base you can mount your work on and spin it around. I have one I picked up from Goodwill for about two bucks. A set of miniature crafting files, invaluable if you ever do mini mods. Clothespins. They are great little clamps. Actual clamps are also really handy. If you can afford it, a Dremel tool is also great.
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sotf
Advice Guru
Posts: 1,084
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Post by sotf on Feb 27, 2017 7:21:00 GMT
I'd add a decent pallet to the list of things you want to have. There's a set of 3 that are about $2.99 at Walmart and are extremely useful for both terrain and mini painting.
I would suggest a good extendable utility knife to an actual craft knife. They tend to be far more durable, cheaper, and easier to replace the blades of than a craft knife.
If you can find one, getting you hands on a metal, mechanical pencil is a VERY useful thing. Both in that you can write with it and mark on things, and you can retract the lead and do stonework with it.
A metal ruler is a godsend, same with a small square (metal) because you can use it as a guide.
A small hobby drill is another thing you want to have, either one you can get at a hobby store for cheap (Mine was $1.99 before the half off coupon), or a pin vice. Either with a few bits that can match the diameter of paperclips and other bits of wire you might need for pinning things.
One other thing that is invaluable to have are the large, white, trash bags you can buy in bulk at the store. Unfold them and not open them, just spread it under where you're crafting if you need to do projects that you need to work around...or even ones with a lot of pieces because it makes it easy to track parts down.
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Post by jennifer on Feb 27, 2017 7:25:37 GMT
3D printer too
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Post by margaret on Feb 27, 2017 7:35:35 GMT
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Post by Neyjour on Feb 27, 2017 7:48:46 GMT
Don't forget PVA Glue!
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Post by guillaume on Feb 27, 2017 13:34:56 GMT
a heavy duty sculpting tool is allways good to have (don't buy one, just make one: a flattened nail glued in a old brush body will do)
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strider
Cardboard Collector
Posts: 2
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Post by strider on Mar 1, 2017 15:50:16 GMT
Thanks for these suggestions - I've updated my list accordingly!
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Post by voodoo on Mar 2, 2017 6:28:40 GMT
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Post by DnDPaladin on Mar 2, 2017 23:21:41 GMT
14 watts... first time i see that. most little glue gun are 10. 80 watt, god that must take forever to cure !
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sotf
Advice Guru
Posts: 1,084
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Post by sotf on Mar 2, 2017 23:41:26 GMT
For supplies, getting one of each of the 3 main sizes of craft sticks that most places carry is a good thing to have available.
Tacky Glue and Superglue are also pretty good things to have.
For superglue, you can get by with the cheap packs of a few tiny tubes (and they're great even later on since you don't really have to worry about the tube drying out), but the gel superglue is a very good step up for a lot of things.
You probably also want some baking soda, sprinkle a bit on superglue and it dries far more quickly. It also works great for dust basing if you spread super glue over the base and then sprinkle on baking soda, the end result is a great ash field or a good place to start with basing on deeper snow or ice.
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Post by skunkape on Mar 3, 2017 13:44:43 GMT
You probably also want some baking soda, sprinkle a bit on superglue and it dries far more quickly. It also works great for dust basing if you spread super glue over the base and then sprinkle on baking soda, the end result is a great ash field or a good place to start with basing on deeper snow or ice. There's a product called Kicker, that comes in a small spray bottle, more like a spritzer bottle that is used to set superglue. While you don't have to use it, a lot of plastic model makers use it. You put the superglue on the parts, then while holding them together, you spray a shot of Kicker on the joint and instantly the superglue sets!
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Post by Sam on Mar 3, 2017 14:53:24 GMT
A small fine tooth saw - I use an old hacksaw blade wrapped with tape Tweezers or small fine tip pliers - use with rubber bands to create a mini vice Emery boards - great for removing flash on miniatures or rounding the edges on a piece spring style clothes pins - work well as clamps
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sotf
Advice Guru
Posts: 1,084
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Post by sotf on Mar 3, 2017 15:53:14 GMT
You probably also want some baking soda, sprinkle a bit on superglue and it dries far more quickly. It also works great for dust basing if you spread super glue over the base and then sprinkle on baking soda, the end result is a great ash field or a good place to start with basing on deeper snow or ice. There's a product called Kicker, that comes in a small spray bottle, more like a spritzer bottle that is used to set superglue. While you don't have to use it, a lot of plastic model makers use it. You put the superglue on the parts, then while holding them together, you spray a shot of Kicker on the joint and instantly the superglue sets! It tends to be far more expensive though.
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Post by skunkape on Mar 3, 2017 16:51:15 GMT
Yeah, the Kicker does tend cost more than baking soda. That's why it's mostly used by plastic model makers. I've been making plastic models since I was 12, so spending that much for something like Kicker, doesn't even phase me anymore. Course, I know we're supposed to be creating inexpensive terrain! Also realize, I have about 30 Hirst Arts molds, and I've bought 1 box of Merlin's Magic, which I've almost completely gone through, so spending for my own crafting purposes, don't really have a problem with it! Just haven't quite had the disposable income to purchase a 3D printer, but I do have one in mind!
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sotf
Advice Guru
Posts: 1,084
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Post by sotf on Mar 3, 2017 18:02:33 GMT
Yeah, the Kicker does tend cost more than baking soda. That's why it's mostly used by plastic model makers. I've been making plastic models since I was 12, so spending that much for something like Kicker, doesn't even phase me anymore. Course, I know we're supposed to be creating inexpensive terrain! Also realize, I have about 30 Hirst Arts molds, and I've bought 1 box of Merlin's Magic, which I've almost completely gone through, so spending for my own crafting purposes, don't really have a problem with it! Just haven't quite had the disposable income to purchase a 3D printer, but I do have one in mind! The spray also tends to make the end result more brittle than baking soda, though more clean looking. I've used baking soda for various metal things for a long time and my father did before me in dealing with metal model kits before that because it's a more sturdy bond anyway.
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Post by skunkape on Mar 3, 2017 18:55:10 GMT
I didn't know that using baking soda made a more sturdy bond! Great info, thanks!
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Post by Draklith on Mar 4, 2017 18:43:22 GMT
Since I didn't see anyone suggest it already
Hot wire cutters for styrofoam I have found invaluable, I would suggest the hot wire foam factory as they make some great tools
Almost every single piece that I have created, had some form or piece of Styrofoam that needed cutting, grooving, shaping, engraving
I don't feel like my craft would properly exist with out hot wire, it's like a lightsaber through butter baby
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sotf
Advice Guru
Posts: 1,084
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Post by sotf on Mar 5, 2017 2:52:52 GMT
Since I didn't see anyone suggest it already
Hot wire cutters for styrofoam I have found invaluable, I would suggest the hot wire foam factory as they make some great tools
Almost every single piece that I have created, had some form or piece of Styrofoam that needed cutting, grooving, shaping, engraving
I don't feel like my craft would properly exist with out hot wire, it's like a lightsaber through butter baby Personally, hot wire cutters are probably more of a later purchase after you've started doing a lot of other things. They're great tools, but they tend to cost more than most want when starting out and don't really have other uses if someone decides that the hobby isn't for them...
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