Hobby Supplies

[mindfad]

Hello,

I was interested in getting a pin vise and plastic snips. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions

[Connectamabob]

Good luck on the pin vise. I have a bunch from different manufacturers, and none of them will actually hold a drill bit straight. I'd love to know if there's an actual good brand/model out there somewhere too.

Snips though, that's easy. Toenail clippers or electronics dikes. I know there are some that are marketed directly as modeling tools, but that's BS: most if not all are just electronics dikes re-badged at a 400% markup. They may be good in their own right, but they're still just re-badged electronics dikes, so "good" means "as good as", not "better".

Toenail clippers are actually surprisingly good. They cut amazingly super clean, but they can be awkward to get at narrow spaced sprues, 'cause they're horizontal and curved. Dikes can get at things easy, but don't cut as clean as nail clippers.

There may be some actual factual modeling clippers that combine the best of both options above, but I'd expect that to be from the likes of Tamiya or another one of the reputable Japanese modeling companies that take their stuff crazy seriously (I have a couple of Tamiya tools, and they are definitely of a quality to match the price). Don't buy from the likes of GW and expect anything other than ordinary dikes at a sucker's markup.

[starkadder]

I have several pin vises and side cutters bought from jewellers' supplies.
 
I am sorry but I can't give you the brands as I've had them for years and they are still in perfect order.

The lesson is, go to a good jewellery supply shop and ask to handle different equipment until you find ones that fit comfortably "in hand" (people with different hand sizes will have different requirements).

Do not, in the short term, buy from the 'net. You need to use the equipment to know what you'll need for the future. Once you know what you like, buy it wherever you can find it.

I suppose this will sound snobbish to the point of racism, but there's a lot of cheap sub-standard stuff coming out of China. There is also some excellent Chinese stuff. It comes back to actually handling the tools.

And GW are overpriced and not very good at all.

[OSHIROmodels]

Good luck on the pin vise. I have a bunch from different manufacturers, and none of them will actually hold a drill bit straight. I'd love to know if there's an actual good brand/model out there somewhere too.

I've got the Tamiya one and it's great, it's got four different sized chucks with it (both double sided, one in the screwable handle) and I've never had any problems with it.

The snips I have are from Tri-tool, which again, is a Japanese company and I've never had any problem with these either.

I recently bought a pair of Gundam snips and they are the best I've ever had for cutting plastic models from sprues. Not good for much else but I only bought them for the one reason 

cheers

James

[frogimus]

If you know someone that works at a plastics molding company, have them get you one of these

https://www.imscompany.com/ProductNavigation/ProductDetail/Gate-Cutters,-Trimmers-and-Accessories/Gate-Cutters/Nippers

Otherwise, I believe it is possible to order just a single pair from this company. Flush cut nippers made specifically for cutting plastic gates/sprues.

[Connectamabob]

They look exactly like electronics dikes. In fact I'm pretty sure I own that exact model with the blue handles, only with orange handles. I got 'em at Fry's for four bucks, IIRC.

Not saying they won't be good, just that you probably don't have to go out of your way to get those ones, 'cause they're probably still just re-marketed electronics dikes. Or electronics dikes are them: I'm sure the factory doesn't ultimately care who buys their nippers for what as long as they sell. Nor should we care who sells them for what as long as they work and aren't overpriced.

I recently bought a pair of Gundam snips and they are the best I've ever had for cutting plastic models from sprues. Not good for much else but I only bought them for the one reason  

Is "Gundam" the actual brand or model name? Just wondering what I should search/look for on HLJ.

These look crazy in a good way:
http://www.hlj.com/product/MNESPN-120/Sup
Expensive though.

[6milPhil]

I have several pin vises and side cutters bought from jewellers' supplies.

Oh yes, top tools which might seem pricey but are worth every penny. My fave suppliers is Walshes - https://www.hswalsh.com/ I used to work in the jewellery trade so had a fair few before I got back into the hobby. 

[AndrewBeasley]

Best side cutters I found was in Maplin under the name of Richmond and after ten years of use they only have a few nicks in them and the spring opening is still going fine.

I know you cannot get these again but it may be worth a visit for the electronic tools section and have a play do research on them with a strip of plastic / metal 

[Brandlin]

Oh yes, top tools which might seem pricey but are worth every penny. My fave suppliers is Walshes - https://www.hswalsh.com/ I used to work in the jewellery trade so had a fair few before I got back into the hobby. 

WOW

Why did i not know about Walshes?? You sir have made my week.... tool porn heaven.

[OSHIROmodels]

Is "Gundam" the actual brand or model name? Just wondering what I should search/look for on HLJ.

Yup, they have a small range of tools aimed at the Gundam crowd. Also paints and pens and weathering powders etc. Everything your unfeasable mech could need 

cheers

James

[6milPhil]

WOW

Why did i not know about Walshes?? You sir have made my week.... tool porn heaven.

Get thee a paper catalogue!

[Brandlin]

Get thee a paper catalogue!

mmmm catalogue.... I shall treasure it next to my axminster tools catalogue - the genuine holy book

[snitcythedog]

My fave suppliers is Walshes - https://www.hswalsh.com/

Love you long time for that link........  Updating my Christmas list.
Snitchy sends.

[Tactalvanic]

Walshes - https://www.hswalsh.com/

Thankyou - Friday at the office just got less boring for an hour or so 

Maybe longer 

[HerbyF]

I have found that my X-acto pin vise works just fine. They usually come with different sized grip barrels. Make surre you are using the right size for your bit. With the vise open all the way your bit should slip in easily with out a lot of wobble then the vise will tighten down evenly, otherwise it will pinch at one end or the other & be tilted.