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[Colin Bishop]

We all have our favourite tools for model boat building, sometimes the simpler the better.

This is one of mine. It is a small file originally included in an XActo tool set my Wife bought me as an engagement present back in 1970. It's a sturdy little thing which carries out its primary purpose of filing very well, one of the edges is smooth which makes it ideal for getting into those tight spots. However it is so, so much more than just a file. I find myself reaching for it all the time. It comes in useful for:

Opening Humbrol tins
Unlocking the chuck in my mini drills when I've lost the little rod that's supposed to do the job
Ditto the chuck in my Unimat mini lathe
Holding down and acting as a heat sink for small parts being soldered
Holding down small parts while you drill holes in them
Making holes in balsa blocks to stick components in for spray painting
Poking things generally. (when modelling, lots of things need poking)
Cleaning off things such as corners on plywood and styrene
Doing the odd bit of gouging such as cleaning off imperfections on GRP hulls
Removing dried epoxy and other debris from under your fingernails
Acting as a tool of last resort when nothing else will do the job

I simply don't know how I'd manage without it.

I'm sure we all have something similar - what's yours?

Colin

[andyn]

This is mine, superglue debonder, stops me sticking to everything 

[Martin (Admin)]

Mine is a Sandvik Sandplate or  "finger file"...

[grasshopper]

Not the sharpest tool I've ever had, getting duller as time goes on - but it works for me!

[SteamboatPhil]

It has to be my Dremel, bought for me as a leaving present when I left the theatre world in 1982, it does what it says on the tin (copyright by Ronseal believe it or not) and more. (and all the attachments you can get for it !!!!)

[andygh]

 :'(

[Wetwater]

  A complete set of fingers and thumbs.     A few dings but still in working order.
  Had them for years and wouldn't be without them.  Very useful.   :)

[bobinnit]

The Mrs, keeps the teas and coffees coming ( dont tell her I called her a tool though 

[Bunkerbarge]

Mine seems to be, unfortunately, a credit card!!

[Bunkerbarge]

More seriously though I find myself nowadays glueing pieces of abrasives to various everyday objects to make up extreemly usefull tools.

One is a small model base board of about 8" x 4" to which I glued a piece of wet and dry to one side and a piece of fine sandpaper to the other.  This is superb for generating flat sanded surfaces, particularly when dressing up white metal fittings and always guarrantees a flat surface on the part.

I also glue sandpaper to such things as wooden coffee stirrers, which give me a very cheap and incredibly useful sanding tool, superb for detail dressing up and sanding.  Compared to the type of things you can purchase nowadays that look like emery boards your wife might polish her nails with you can get a fistfull of coffee stirrers and a sheet of sandpaper for next to nothing and they will last you years!

[boatmadman]

Masking tape - for masking ( ) clamping, cleaning up dust etc

lollipop sticks - stirring epoxy, applying same and filler, packing out and supporting bits and peices

Stanley knife, razor saw.

Ian

[barryfoote]

I would be lost without this little piece of kit. Medical tweezers I think they are called. Had them over 20 years and they have helped with rigging, opening tins, picking up tiny pieces, making holes etc etc.

[bigH]

A set of hammers, ranging from a toffee hammer up to a 5Lb lump hammer.   If I can't fix it I just go and get a bigger one. ::)

[Captain Povey]

Hi All, My favorite is a bit obvious really and is the Swiss army knife. It is always in my pocket (probably illegal soon) and easily accessible for emergencies when all the other tools are out of reach. Its not the super model but does have the magnifying glass, useful for when the specs are in the house. Scissors, screw drivers (flat and Phillips), tweezers, things for bodging holes with and even cutting blades. In my opinion its better than a leatherman. Cheers Graham.

[BobF]

Hi all,
My favourite tool is my twenty four inch belt sander.

It's so handy for those delicate little fine adjustment sanding jobs.

[fullboat]

Band-Aids.
Boy those hobby knives are sharp.........
Not exactly a favorite but certainly a necessity

[das boot]

The one that does what I want it to do when I need it to do it....

(when I find one I'll let you all know)  :-\


Rich

[ronkh]

Plank bender. Stainless steel and brass bushes, much easier then planking pliers and can adjust while wood is still inside bushes which turn while being locked in place. 80 x 65 x 8 m/m and knocked up at work. 1off plank from each side per-time, up to 5 m/m height per-plank or 10 m/m one plank. Can keep in water for whenever.

[BarryM]

That whatsit I could swear I put down on the bench five minutes ago and now has completely vanished. (Sometimes appears in places I coulfd also swear I had never been near.

Barry M

[Bryan Young]

Plank bender. Stainless steel and brass bushes, much easier then planking pliers and can adjust while wood is still inside bushes which turn while being locked in place. 80 x 65 x 8 m/m and knocked up at work. 1off plank from each side per-time, up to 5 m/m height per-plank or 10 m/m one plank. Can keep in water for whenever.

Did you make it or buy it? If you bought it , where can I get one and for how much? Looks like a cracking bit of kit. BY.

[ronkh]

Bryon,
Made it at work. You are right, it is a cracker and has really helped me out with no marks on wood.