discussion What to use to hold small parts? eg: clamps, vice, Blu-tack, pegs, etc....

[pjgtech]

A fellow member Buildernator was asking about holding small parts, eg: 1/35th scale figures, so though it might be useful for someone, especially new to the hobby, to go through the usual methods for holding small parts, when assembling, glueing, painting or weathering.

As a (relatively) new scale modeller myself, I have slowly built up my selection of tools and equipment, so I started with one of those holed boards with the little clamps, but TBH never really used it. So it sits on my shelf still nearly brand new.

Then I moved on to an old piece of foam, formed into a small block, then loads of toothpicks with a blob of Blu-Tack on the end, which I find is great for those occasions when you have lots of very small pieces. Nb: Blu-tack can leave some residue on parts if not careful, but it is easily picked/peeled off.

More specialist items to hold parts include the plain Tamiya turntable, good for turning a larger item whilst painting. This actually comes with a couple of its own small clamps too.

Then there's the Tamiya vehicle holder, with the small wire clips, ideal for 1:35th scale vehicles, etc. Adjustable wires and it swivels to get at any angle.

More general items for holding, clamping small items includes various small clamps, clips, clothes pegs, etc, all useful and its a good idea to have a few different sizes and a nice selection to choose from. Most of these are also cheap!
The pistol grip type ones are good cos they are adjustable (and can also be reversed).
One thing I have learnt is that you can never have too many clamps, etc!
NB: be aware that some clamps can be very strong, so can crush or crack small parts, so try to use the correct clamp for the part in question.

Then another specialist holder is some sort of plane stand, I have a cheap generic one bought off the bay of E I think if my memory is correct. It has adjustable legs/arms, (for length and height) so can accommodate fairly small and fairly large planes.

One thing I often use is the small stainless steel type model paint pots, which I turn upside down and place a blob of Blu-tack on the underside and then, Voila! instant small part holder with stable base.
You could also use bottle tops, small pieces of cork, jam jar lids, old airgun pellet tins, etc, etc. Just stick a blob of blu-tack on and away you go....

Lastly, there also the more top end, posher, expensive type stands/holders. I recently treated myself to one of the small Dspiae multi position vice/holders, which is very handy, and can be angled in pretty much any position to aid painting, etc. But not cheap!
NB: Other manufacturers and vices/holders are available....

I am also aware that some people use lollipop stick with blu-tack on the end or lengths of tape, eg: masking tape to hold small parts whilst painting, etc.
I have almost certainly missed a few things, so please feel free to add items that you use to hold small parts, when assembling, glueing, painting, etc.

Cheers

 

[Buildernator]

Youve put allot of effort there Peter, in this will be a great help for me and other members of the community, and it is very much apreciated!

 

[Gern]

Double sided sticky tape on a coffee stirrer works well with the added advantage that unlike BluTack, it doesn't 'creep' up the sides of the part when you press it down into the BluTack which can leave unpainted edges.

A combination of a mini crocodile clip held in a clothes peg has the advantage you can set it down on any flat surface once painted.



This can work for quite large pieces if you set the crocodile clip so the part is over the 'legs' of the clothes peg.



Make sure the clothes peg is sideways on the crocodile clip - the pressure of the spring may force the crocodile clip to open slightly and drop the part - which always happens just when you've finished cleaning your airbrush. You do of course know how I found this out!

 

[Neil]

I’ve got the dspiae clamp recently and beginning to wonder how I ever did anything without it!

I also use the long clips but just have a wooden block I drilled holes in and use that to put them in.

tongue depressors/ lolly sticks like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C2CC6714?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1 and then use bluetack on them. Using them with the clips and my home made peg board makes for some flexibility as well.

And clamps, always got the clamps.

 

[pjgtech]

Forgot to add, I also sometimes use reverse, or self locking tweezers, the sort that you have to squeeze to open, rather than squeeze to close.
Also hand for small things....

 

[Steven000]

Nice tutorial Peter, well done.

It's a bit old fashion but I'm still using drops of hotglue (heated gun) on the ends of wooden sticks. Very sturdy yet easy to remove afterwards. I also reuse the sticks. Cheers

 

[Tim Marlow]

I find blu tac, blocks of wood, and coffee stirrers/cocktail sticks to be the most use for these sorts of jobs. The combination is infinitely adjustable, doesn’t mark the surface, and will hold anything of any shape. I also use empty Tamiya pots as figure holders for some of the little blokes. Those mounted on pennys (below, they are gaming figures) are also held on golf tees with rare earth magnets when painting. The models here are 1/35, 1/72, 1/48, 1/28 and 20mm scales, showing the work for all scales.



I have the Tamiya stand, as you can see, and many other types of clip or clamp, but only use them to hold parts together during assembly. I find they hold can parts too tightly, damaging parts or the painted finish, or inflexibly, being only able to hold things in one orientation, when painting. The Tamiya stand is just used as a holder for parts during painting, not as a painting stand per se.

As to holding aircraft for decalling etc, I use a helping hands device and hold them by the spring clamp on one wing when I do the sides. The clamp is padded with a fold of kitchen towel to stop it marking the model. For the top and bottom I don’t use an aircraft stand, I simply use a box of suitable size and support the wings and tail that way. It may seem a bit ad hoc to most, but I learned my modelling before all these devices became available, so learned to use what was to hand.

Personally, I’d say blu tac is by far my most used modelling tool and I’d be lost without it…..and the drawer full of various wood offcuts comes in a close second…

 

[Jim R]

Lots of excellent ideas. For handling small parts I think the secret is a decent pair of tweezers, points that meet accurately, and don't grip too hard. Also think carefully about where/how you position the tweezers. We have all had parts ping off into space, never to be seen again. but with a bit of care the Carpet Monster will go hungry - sometimes

 

[PaulTRose]

I have some of those clips on sticks..... Also use blutack and cocktail sticks

But i got a flat bit of wood about 15mmx40mmx175mm......drilled holes in it like a cribbage board..... When stuff gets painted start putting them in at one end and work to the other.

 

[pjgtech]

Cool, thats a neat idea, will stash that one in the back pocket to try out at some point....cheers

 

[Neil]

Lots of excellent ideas. For handling small parts I think the secret is a decent pair of tweezers, points that meet accurately, and don't grip too hard. Also think carefully about where/how you position the tweezers. We have all had parts ping off into space, never to be seen again. but with a bit of care the Carpet Monster will go hungry - sometimes

The carpet monster always gets their fee - infinitely patient and ever hungry…