My favorite tools

[Bughunter]

My favorite tools


In my build thread of the Sopwith Triplane there comes up the question, what tools I use for the scratch work, how I hold the parts and so on. Since this is not really related to the Triplane I open here a new thread.
So I show my favorite tools here.

Bending tools, also used to hold parts sometimes.



My most frequently used tweezers:



Diamond files and grinding sticks:



Ultra expensive miniature files round and square:



Various etched saws:



My most important holding tool, a small machine vice from Proxxon.



Some years ago I found small cobalt drills on ebay from a company liquidation. I bought all the sizes I could get. All have a 1mm shank and are graduated in 0.002mm steps. No, I don't have all



Some milling heads, I have much more:



My lovely Harder & Steenbeck Infinity




May be you get an idea from it, about some useful tools for you.

Cheers,
Frank

[smperry]

Frank
Thanks so much for taking the time to photograph the tools and post them. I see what you mean about the machine vise. You can hold a piece of brass securely with only the portion you need to work on protruding. That just went to the top of my TO GET list. I ordered some of the etched saws the other day, I can see where I will be fleshing out the collection over time.
This ought to be made a permanent fixture on the Hints and tips section. Extremely helpful. Thanks again for taking the time and effort.
sp

[lcarroll]

Frank,
    Some really good hints here and a lot in common! I use the same etched saws (RB I think) as smp noted and the "ultra expensive" files are on my permanent wish list. I agree, this is a great theme and i hope others add to it with their ideas!
Cheers,
Lance

[Berman]

 You can purchase a set of assorted diamond coated files fro EBay for $6 USD including shipping. Search for "10PCS  100mm diamond needle file set". Add " + 10PCS 140mm" and for a few dollars more you can add a set of larger files. Click the EBay SORT button to select lowest price including shipping.
  EBay also has scalpel blades and handles for a very reasonable price as well as assorted surgical tools. I find my alligator polypus forceps quite useful. Straight and curved hemostats.

[Bughunter]

The micro needle files seems no more available

Cheers,
Frank

[kensar]

Your picture of the tweezers sparked an idea - spray-on plastic coating for the tweezer handles.  A better grip on them will reduce the tendency to for them to pop out of my fingers!

[Ian from Doncaster]

That’s a real pro set up you have there.!

At the other end of the scale, I use cocktail sticks, q-tips, etc almost all the time..

[Bughunter]

After Mike asked today fro my working setup I realized I have already a thread.
To have it in one I add here also the pics from the workbench thread and will add the machines in an own posting.

In the middle the main workplace below the roof window (the daylight is great), on the right storage and some small machines.



On the left side my lathe. The "hobby zone" modules in the middle are really nice!



In airbrush mode. So the smell of Alclad and Co is going on shortest way to outside



And a picture in the evening: the very bright lamps, so light from nearly four directions:



Cheers,
Frank

[Bughunter]

That are my machine tools

Proxxon TBM220 drilling machine


Proxxon Disc sander TG125/e
Very nice control of speed and silence, but have some trouble with mounting of the table.



Proxxon MF70
Nice, but the X/Y table is only alu



Proxxon KS230
Very useful tool for my wooden air screws!



The lathe



Silhuette cutting plotter



But with a new magnetic knife holder, full metal with ball bearing and more robust knife.


Here in the plotter.
For maintenance the knife can be removed with a press on the alu button at the end.



Cheers,
Frank

[Bughunter]

And to have it all in one also the photographic related things.

LED ring, mainly for build shots (and exhibitions)



On the same bench I take pictures of my models with a light tent and reused work lamps.



The outdoor photo setup



Cheers,
Frank

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi Frank,
Thanks for posting shots of your set-up and power tools.
Very interesting and explains how you can create model parts the way you do,

Mike

[Edo]

wow!
what an array of tools.... very interesting ‘behind the scene’ post!
ciao
edo

[Rookie]

That is a mighty impressive workshop you have there Frank.

But all these tools would be useless without your fine craftsmanship!

Only the combination of those make it possible to make such beautiful models...

Even if I had the same tools, I would never be able to do what you do.

Willem

[Rick_H]

I'd like to contribute a bit here too.

My favorite tool is also calculated to prevent that "sproing" of a part flying to places unknown.  My tweezers are narrow-tipped stamp tongs, manufactured by Solingen.  These have a very, very soft action, so I am able to hold the part gently, like a butterfly.  With this gentle grip, I don't fire things across the room; they just drop on the bench where I'm working.

Rick H

[Borsos]

Impressive collection of tools, Frank. Which one of them do you use to make coffee with?
Andreas