From the lady painting side of the hobby; multipack sets of eyebrow tweezers are much finer and cheaper than branded hobby tweezers, clear nail polish is excellent for high shine on gems/bottles, nail acrylic powder with the appropriate chemical is excellent for filling large gaps and can be drilled/sanded/painted and is super cheap (gsw have just recently released this as a branded product), paper clips make excellent rebar for basing and also really fine glue applicators in a pinch and finally nail art liner brushes are the best panel liners imo ❤
Tooth picks and skewers. You can use them to apply super glue. You can cut them at an angle, and super glue sand paper to them to sand hard to reach areas. You can scrape off spill over paint with them after the paint dries. You can use the cap of a paint brush + a sponge+ the skewer+ poster putty to make a sponge weathering brush. You can use them as pikes and decorate your models with Space Marine Headpikes. You can break them and use them as terrain, they are more useful than I thought.
I snip off one end, sand it flat, then superglue small items to it to paint. Then snap them off, clean up the tiny bit of residue, and maybe I don't even need to paint the spot after if it won't show. I have a bunch of different lengths of them i keep stabbed into a space piece of xps, which I can also put them in while the painted parts dry.
Floral hobby wire. You can buy spools of various gauges for just a few dollars. The stuff is great for making aerial antennas for tanks and 'mechs, and works excellent for pinning very small parts. It's also great for making bow strings on fantasy archer/crossbowmen miniatures.
Crafter here stumbled on your videos they are awesome. Tip DT or Dollar General has the fabric closet shelves, you can use foam boards as supports sturdier than some cardboard. Also if you use acrylic paint if you forget to wash a brush just soak in Murthy’s oil soap for a day or so tamp it and resoak if needed. Also wash brushes keeps them soft. And you an use styrofoam to stand brushes upside down to dry and olive or pearl onion jars to always keep water at working station for brushes til you wash them. Jars are tall, heavy and don’t take up much space. Us 😊crafters use a lot of tricks!
A row of cothes pegs hot-glued to the edge of a shelf is where I clip my brushes to dry after cleaning so as the bristles are pointing down and nothing runs into the ferrule.
For the overhead supports for the soft shelves, look at "tension poles". Spring loaded, and made to press against two surfaces, you can hang things from them and not have to attach anything permanent to the walls.
Empty glass spice containers with blue tack to hold models while I paint. They are heavier than pill bottles and don’t get knocked over easy. Bathroom tile caulk for miniature bases. Way cheaper than green stuff and easy to texture and clean up. Dental picks for sculpting tools, hardware store was selling them at the counter. Steel cake pans with lids make great ways to transport and store minis if you magnetize the bottom of your mini, they don’t move! Indoor grow lights are full spectrum and give better lighting for colors when painting. Saws all blades in home made handle, in fact lots of hobby companies sell more expensive cheaply made versions of real tools. If I see a hobby tool, I usually go to a hardware store to see if there is a better tool for cheaper. I also watch the workers at the construction sites I manage. If anyone has ever repurposed something to make their job easier, it’s those guys. They have all kinds of specialty ties and adhesives to hold things temporary or permanent. It’s also where I get all my terrain materials for free. It cracks me up to see people buying xps foam for hobbying. Every job site out there throws away sheets of the stuff every day. Card board, wire, and all kinds of sci fi looking plastic parts are yours for the taking.
That last part... I can't tell you how many times I've passed by a construction site dumpster and fought down the urge to snatch a sheet of styrofoam, or chunk of concrete, or wire bundle, or any other piece of scrap 😅
I use the ono roller at my desk, both for fidget, and for dealing with typing cramps - I keep it in the carry bag, because that fabric feels better to me than the metal does
As an old hobbyist who lives with severe chronic pain (I have spinal stenosis from collapsed lumbar discs), I try to adapt my condition to the tabletop hobby. My hands shake and my eyes aren’t so great so I use a digital microscope to aid me in applying liquid latex, which I use to mask areas of the mini off I don’t want to paint over . If I make a mistake with the latex it’s easy to remove so I can start again. Where I can I use an airbrush because it’s a lot more forgiving. I also use a wrist brace to steady my hand and protect my wrist. I will normally rest it on one of those bean heat packs when I’m painting. The type you pop in the microwave. There are a lot of everyday items you can adapt to the hobby. Whenever I can I do that to save money because as soon as you add the word hobby to something it automatically triples in price.
I work in a factory, the job I do involves me contorting my hand in a weirdish way. So Tool number 1 is going to be a REAL help for me when I cramp up while painting. But my "hand health" is important to me because I know and work with people who have carpal tunnel and it is no joke. Seriously people, its crippling, be aware of it.
As someone whose last 3 years have been basically ruined by carpal tunnel, can confirm. Pain ruled my life. Just got the surgery for it a few months back and it's like I can start living again. Carpal tunnel sucks.
@RyanEdwardsVA congratulations and I hope the surgery fixed it. Seriously you youngins, ya hot shots, hell you old ones too. Take it seriously. Ive seen the damage it does. Take it seriously, do the little things and it'll help you alot.
hey, just a fyi you can also use basicly a silly putty mixture to help strengthen your fingers, grip, and your tendons in your hand. They make various kinds that take diffrent amounts of force, have to use it after I had hand surgery still do it sometimes when the pain is bad xD
For real! Whether its carpal tunnel, RA, or anything in-between, hand health is something so overlooked. Maintaining a good grip strength is also important to health and muscle longevity. Hope you feel better mate :)
@@obtree This is incorrect, the "tunnel" is formed by tissue, and the main portion is a ligament. Inflammation in the area causes things to swell this narrows the tunnel and can cause the structures that run through it, most commonly the median nerve to be compressed. That's a jist
Adding to this, I picked up some silicone sheets from my local dollar store cooking section. They're advertised as being for covering cooked food, however the larger ones cover my painting surface perfectly. They offer a non-slip that won't scratch a fresh paintjob, and you can clean them with soap and water in minutes just like the popup stopper.
As another old person, I use pill bottles and blue tack to mount mini's on to paint. I put bb's in the bottle to give it weight, adding some hot glue to hold the bb's steady. I find the added weight makes it easier for me to hold the bottles steady. I like to paint in batches of 5, and us a paint rack made for Citadel pains to hold the smaller pill bottles. I have several racks made for 9 paint pots, 3 pots on three levels. I put two pill bottles on the top row, one in the middle row, and two on the bottom row. I then prime and base coat, zenithal them while the bottles are in the paint rack. Thanks for sharing, Friday's are great.
Similar. But my pill bottles are filled with sand. Also, I built a paint rack for my vallejos from scrap 1" cpvc pipe and the small pill bottles fit there perfectly for storage
Surgical needle holders or artery forceps, think grabby scissors with a ratchet on the back that can keep them closed. Super cheap, but really useful for so many things - holding pins and bits of wire, grabbing sponges, assembling stuff.
prescription bottles. i use a bottle per model when building a warband for skirmish games. I store them in the bottle till I'm ready to paint. bottle doubles as a paint handle. use blue tack to hold model to bottle. also use them to store extra bits. I get them from friends and family that take allot of meds. And it's a good way to recycle.
The ono fidget toy is probably something a doctor would encourage. That being said, there's a whole range of injury specific rehab doohickeys for hand pain, the vast majority of which are in the 10-15 bucks range, like stress balls or kneading dough with different resistances. The thing your doctor would prefer, most likely, is that you use a rubber grip extender on your brush so you can hold it comfortably (I thiiiink they start at about 5 bucks) and set up your keyboard so you can play ergonomically (absolutely free according to them, who assume you think your time has no value. Actual price: 15 to 45 minutes, depending on the level of McGyvering necessary)
My friend works for a medical supply company and he 'acquired' a bag of 75 plastic sample bottles. They are hand-grip-sized and you can swap out the screw lids if you want. If I want extra stability I can put gravel and/or plasticene in them for weight. A bit of double-sided tape or blutac on the lid and I'm good to go. Of course I am literally painting on p**s pots LOL 😀
I use M&M tubes that the mini candies come in as handles for painting. They are perfect for grip. Have a long handle and you can store your sticky tack under the lid. I also use an old spice rack that has these perfect sized holes on both sides of it for craft paint holder. It also swivels around to the other side. It takes up less space as it is up right and the paint is easily accessed.
I find your videos particularly relaxing. I think it's because you have that fellow nerd energy. Like, hey lets chill and chat about nerd stuff, because it's actually really cool that we put time and energy into something we enjoy so much.
You can never have too many clamps! I store my "immediate use" ones clipped to the shields on my airbrush spray booth. The extras are in a storage box under the desk. My quirky non-hobby tool is eyelash extension micro applicator brushes. They are often sold in packs of 10 at local hobby stores for silly money. I get mine in the hundreds for cheap off Amazon. Hope you are enjoying the show 👍😁
I have a jewellers non-battery powered sprung thickness caliper. Great for marrying drill bits to brass and plastic rods for conversions and pinning, or general measuring. Also a shaving style conical 0-16mm reamer to enlarge or clean up pre drilled holes to perfect circles without needing the exact size drill bit. Drill bits can dig into the plastic and tear out the surrounding material. Love these tools for conversions. Also thanks Atom for the popit idea from your previous video - got one and it's already had heavy use.
I once was a a closet painter! And it was in the basement! For 3 years I did it, and it was nice to be able to close the bifold doors until the next paint session. But this summer I moved it into the room where the closet was. (Old man eyes needed more light). All of these ideas are amazing. Thanks for the creativity you add to the hobby work. Vids are always amazing!
I use a lot of corks! Had a friend who worked in a bar and got me 100s of corks from the wine bottles. Great to break down and use as small rocks etc for terrain. But also, drill a little hole, in it and one in your mini, then glue in some metal wire (something similar to what you would use for pinning) in to a foot or something that'll be on the base and then you have a perfect stand/holder and can prime the whole thing really easily and even paint them on there too.
Serving tray! Just glued my pallete and water to it with blue tack and that way I have my entire painting setup in one place. Just lift it onto your desk and you are ready to paint!
I once did one of them metal walkways you see militaries use when they have to make semi permanent walkways over damp swampy terrain, kinda also looks like one of them loading ramps you use to load and unload an ATV from a flatbed. Friend asked me how i did this and where i got it... Simple: Its that white plastic packing strap that you sometimes get on large cardboard boxes. Kept one string of it and that lasts foregver. Simply cut a strip fitting to your model. Glue it on the base. Metal, Wash, Drybrush done... if you want you can add rust to it.
As another old i want to share some of my hacks about these tools with you. Use a vertical mouse for your computer. It takes a couple of days to get used to it, but I can assure you it changed my life. I've used the closet organizer the same way you do, and I also use a hanging shoe organizer. Same system but with big pockets, useful for storing terrain making tools and other stuff. Finally, I also use the biggest clamps of my collection as miniature holders in batch painting, attaching them to the clamps with blu tack. So I can let them dry grabbed in the shelves in front of me, away from paint splatter and saving a lot of space in the table. Great video as always, cheers!
Vertical mouse gang member here too. At work I have to use a cheapo regular mouse and I hate it. Got my private vertimouse last year and I love it! Now trying to convince my boss to get us vertimouses for work. And hight adjustable tables...
I’ve recently started using the textured wrap that’s usually for wrapping sprains and whatnot, the kind that you have to stretch to get it to stick to itself. But instead of injuries, I’ve been wrapping it around paintbrushes to give the more customized grips than say if you bought pencil grips.
Something I use for model building is the plastic containers that some lunch meats come in, after using up the contents I wash out the container real well and let it dry, then I store and organize the various parts (and some entire kits if they are small enough) into them, having a label printer and tape handy helps with marking the containers. If I need something smaller to store the optional/extra parts (since the kit doesn't have that many) the plastic boxes commonly used for office supplies also work and tend to be very cheap.
I’ve been painting minis since 1978. I’m getting old but still kitbashing, painting, and gaming. Thanks for the informative video. Keep up the good work ya zogger. I’ve got an organizer that holds paints and hangs in a closet. It’s purposely made for paints. Got it in AC Moore like 25 years ago.
Clamps for every kit1 Hobby crafting, First=Aid, and, of course, tool kit. Hooks, cord, and clamps let you hang a first-aid kit where you need to work with it. Off your trunk lid, tree, random pole, etc. The same for crafting. I saw an organizer vlog use tension bars vertically off a desk to the ceiling to create a panel wall. Same goes here as well. Such a rapid install (and maybe daily breakdown too) could provide convenient tool, paint, glue space in arms reach but off the table. Very much enjoyed this video. Thank you!
After seeing the hanging shelves, i can already see myself using them for all my boxes of untouched miniatures, spare bits, and useful garbage waiting to be used. That and the ono device seem like a great idea. Thank you.
Tooth picks for painting eyes, and then a small bit of paint on the edge of an Xacto-knife to paint the slit of a creature with vertical or horizontal pupils. A toothbrush holder is great for holding brushes as well.
In the last video I learned that those transparent shelves were for nail paint and that helped me a lot to buy good and cheap ones. I've had three for years and used them to organize and display whatever collectibles could fit inside. In this case, the infernal handheld device has been an instant purchase. It has nothing to do with the hobby, but after hours of working, my hands are a mess. These videos are very interesting!
Tongue depressors. Obviously they can be used as stir sticks. But, I cut the ends off at an angle then sand that down to a "sharp" edge. It works great as a sculpting tool or a scraper that is firm enough to actually scrape but not so hard that it damages the surface you're scraping. Add some (blue) poster tack to the tongue depressors and you have a convenient want of holding only minis.
I have arthritis in my hands, and I just spent the better part of the day hand drafting wood-working plans. My hands and my back hate me, right now, and I'm for sure getting one of those Ono things. Probably a good roller for working out the knots in my back, too.
I use one of those soft-shell Plano tackleboxes to carry my tools, miniatures, and accessories. They usually come with free plastic cases inside to sort your baits and things, and they’re just big enough to fit some 1/72 scale-to-28mm miniatures in, as well as whatever other bits and bobs ya need. I manage to cram a bunch of generic minis I may need at a moments notice, extra dice, tokens, *and* some spare crafting supplies all in a single box-and the tacklebox itself carries about 3-4 of the boxes, with extra zipper storage on all the sides. I got mine on-sale at Walmart for $3!
I got this tip from another TH-camr, cannot remember which. Instead of an expensive textured dry brush pallet, I picked up a 10” square ‘not Lego’ brick base panel at DollarTree (now $1.25). After washing it with warm soapy water and letting it dry, it’s good to use. It is awesome and changed my dry brush results immediately. Bonus tip, they have a brush organizer in the hobby section, some assembly required, holds roughly two dozen brushes.
if you want to go cheaper, i would imagine a primed circuit board would work. i'm sure everyone has an ancient video card or an old router laying around...
cardboard and texture paint you probably already use for basing and done :D Or a piece of plasticcard and spread woodglue on it and dunk it in sand - same thing in the end =)
Paused at 4min to say I've seen so many of your vids and never realized just how much you talk with your hands. It makes me feel like home and I'm glad you pointed it out. My Italian grandma would approve. :)
Great videos. It's always nice to think out of the box and find stuff to use outside the hobby stores. You know what would be cool? A video (or series thereof) of all the cool stuff a gamer or modeler can find in the art supply stores!
If you're in an environment where its a/c controlled I find a fingerless glove on the hands resting on the desk can soften the contact and prevent a lot of pain. I don't use the mouse without wearing em. This way instead of having a cushion your your mouse pad that might be inconvenient but then you always got the bugger softening up surfaces you rest your mitts on.
Sounds obvious but If you own a headlamp/bikelight or some other torch you use for outdoorsy stuff keep it nearby when Hobbying. When i'm looking for stuff i've dropped (which is ~85% of my hobby time) i find it great to place my headlamp on the floor and kinda shine it along the floor so anything gets picked out by casting shadows. Also great to look in those tiny crevices under stuff which seem to have the attraction of a supermassive blackhole, though often you need some form of long stick to get it, not sure where to buy one of those.
As someone who basically collects hobbies, thank you for telling me to organize my clamps better. Also those closet organizers for use in a basement sounds like just the best thing.
I don't paint in a closet. I paint in an armoire i bought for $100 at a garage sale. I installed a slide-out shelf for my work surface and some cheap led strips inside. Screwed some shelves across the back for my wip and it IS great to just shut the doors and know the cats aren't going to jump up and destroy my work. I use bed bath and beyond "spice racks" for display of pinted armies.
The closet hanger is a great suggestion1 But for those with the means and the space.... a roll-top desk is a great alternative to the closet hangers. Having pets, and the need to conceal, store the painting gear after done a session, a roll-top desk is a devine work area.
Not little but super important for me - I recently found an excellent table that I can use while stuck in bed or on the couch (functional neurological disorder life). It’s the first now that goes low enough to not further damage my wrists, and it’s worth is adjustable and so can go over my double bed. I figure the best one for people will depend on your country but if you google for adjustable over bed table and look for one that goes nice and low and also pretty wide..
I have been using, for a good 15 years now, the quart containers that you get soup in from Chinese takeout. I use them for water pots, paint stripping, and part storage.
Something I only recently discovered exists is "Superglue Activator", available from a variety of manufacturers. Apply glue to one part, spray the other lightly with the activator and it grabs instantly. Alternatively you can glue the joint as usual, adjust until you're happy with it and then give it a quick spray to lock it in. Lastly, if you have a gap that needs filling but can't be bothered with modelling putty, you can use baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) and superglue to quickly fill a gap which can then be sanded/filed down as normal if needed.
Getting old means usually more empty pill bottles. I have found myself using empty pill bottles and some blue tack as makeshift model holders used while painting models.
I’m still a bit new at this but I just came up with one: use a hammer style electric massager with zip ties/rubber bands to secure a bottle of paint and boom handheld paint shaker! Those impact massagers are at almost any overstock store(TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, Ollie’s, etc) for like 10-25$, and it really helped my arms because old.
Firstly, great video. Secondly, I DO paint in a closet, sort of, I have a corner unit that was meant for housing a PC back in the old "it needs its own piece of furniture" days. Pull out shelf to paint on, and when I close the doors everything "looks" tidy :-) As for tools, I've been experimenting with nail art products suggested by my wife, and UV cured resin glue is my current go to for anything clear I need to glue, doesn't fog, sets instant when you apply the UV, and is crystal clear. Also its a great gap filler too. Not curing till your ready has been a game changer. I then went onto using UV cured resin gels, the one I've got is kind of like fresh green stuff in texture, doesn't stick to fingers or tools, is totally clear and cures in seconds under UV, but otherwise you can work with it as long as you like till your ready to set it. I've sculpted several simple figures now, Water Weirds, Gibbering Mouthers, that sort of thing, still getting a feel for it, but its easy to use, and being able to cure it in seconds exactly when you want is brilliant! Not convinced it would hold detail as well as sculpting with green stuff, and being clear has disadvantages (ie, seeing what your doing) but with some more experimentation, I can see the value. Being clear however has allowed me to build figures with LEDs in for added bonus effects!
That hand fidget toy sounds amazing. My hands are killing me after a day of fiber splicing and driving across the city to do said fiber splicing. Thank you!! For the clamps, i do have one of those little stands with a magnifying glass and 3 arms with alligator clips. Works good for little minis. Im always worried that it will leave teeth marks, so i put some cloth between the teeth and the mini.
Im using the bottom part of carboard egg container to prime minis.... Since Im still pretty new to the hobby and learning Im usually priming 1-3 at he the time... Its also great if you priming smal parts separately. Just use some silly putty to attach whta you are priming to the pointy thingies and you good to go...
In my hobby space I have three plastic kitchen cutting boards for my projects. They protect my table nicely and were inexpensive. I keep a small hoard of resealable plastic bags for parts and such. For squads, I use medicine measuring cups and poster putty as paint handles.
Great ideas, i use a variety of clothes pegs like you do with the clamps. Other ideas, lolly sticks, tooth picks, cheap disposable nail files and makeup brushes make really good highlighting and they are cheap.
ratcheting quick-release clamps let you control the pressure applied. pillbottles with dollar tree glass marbles/stones filling the bottom half for painting handles (I got enough problems to do several projects in a cycle). THey fit nicely in: nail polish racks. holds pots, droppers, and pillbottle handles. desk rack and wall mounts, but with enough paints, I'm questioning the efficacy. tackle box: bits and/or model transport (no more than 28mm, though) catscratch pad: easy drying rack for airbrush jobs/rattle can primed/lacquer jobs. This one's more for the Gunpla/vehicle side makeup brush cleaner sponge: a little water and makes an excellent drybrush moistener not lego texture pallet: 8" from dollar tree, but it's just for a base. add a few more bricks to it, then superglue some additional angles because variety helps. priming it is another good idea craft needle/button punch: for when the wood of a toothpick isn't string enough to scrape/pry open. at dollar tree, these are usually too dull to scribe panel lines or pilot drill holes, but for un-making dried paint in recesses, second to none for not damaging the plastic.
Loved the popper tip. I paint almost exclusively with speed paints so it was a huge help. On the topic of clamps and model assembly I personally love the soldering octopus I got for the purpose. It's got clamps smaller than those you showed of attached to flexible posable arms. It was an absolute godsend trying to test pose and glue my Pipermakes cuttlegeists.
Instead of clamps I use rubberised clothes pegs. Found most clamps had too much force. Glass droppers from the food prep aisle for transfering paint. Plastic shot glasses for mixing airbrush paint.
I second the clothes pegs (mine were advertised as "gel"); they've always had enough tension for my needs. Plus the curved surfaces are great for holding cannon barrels, columns and the like.
Saw your last video on the topic. Knew some items, but the fidget popper pallet was a new one on me. Had to special order a white one. Actually bought five and distributed them to fellow mini-painters who I wargame with. Thanks for passing on the idea!
To go with your hanging storage thingie, there are about a million different sizes of plastic storage tubs. You could probably find one that fits almost perfectly. That would let you cram more stuff in each one.
The tops of many of the jugs of army men are made to be scenery for the plastic guys inside. They are usually molded to look like rocks, dirt and wooden crates - plus the carry handle is a wood and rope bridge. DRY BRUSH PALETTE!! You can get them almost anywhere - Amazon, Wal-Mart, Big Lots. If youre a thrift store hound like me, youll see one with just a few army toys left and tape all over it for a couple of bucks. Bonus tip- if you're particularly crafty, you can make the rope bridge into a brush holder and seal the inner cup (the "bunker", I guess) and BAM, you have a brush holding, paint cup, texture palette thats worth like, a billion dollars... give or take. I washed mine w dish soap and water, thorough rinse, then sprayed w Mr. Surfacer 1200, which makes it bullet proof as well.
I use plastic bins from the dollar tree to store so many things, large bins about the size of a sheet of letter paper in both 2 inch and four inches tall work great for miniatures collections. Also the small hardware organizer is amazing For assembling multi part hard plastic kits.
I haven't tried this yet - just returning to modelling after retirement - but I have been thinking that velcro straps would be the answer to holding awkward shapes together while the glue dries. If necessary with a tissue layer underneath to prevent them being accidentally glued to the model.
I don't know why the hanging organizers thing never hit me. I do my hobby stuff in a an unfinished basement as well. Concrete walls make setting up shelves a chore involving heavier tools than I'd like to deal with, and cheap Ikea bookshelves take up more space than I'd like and can't be placed where work tables would go... Plus you gotta make sure you've got drainage mats under them in case of water ingress, they're a tipping hazard, especially if your floor slopes because of drainage, etc. I'm about to get a bunch of these lol
Some advice for hand soreness while playing PC games. Try changing from WASD to...and hear me out...RightClickADF, swapping S for whatever you used to use right click for. Your left hand will be in a a MUCH more natural position, and holding right click to move forward is far easier than holding W, at least for me a fellow old who has big hands.
I have a number of electronics "probes", kind of like dental probes but cheaper. Come in all sorts of shapes with angled tips and use these to manoeuvre small parts into position when my sausage fingers are uncooperative. They are also pretty good as scribing tools. And yes I have also laid in a supply of those smaller spring clamps. They have been a significant addition to the modelling armory. Probably not quite relevant but I have also bought a couple of those cheap(ish) "USB" airbrushes. They are mainly marketed for make-up application, cake decoration etc. Essentially have a small rechargeable compressor in a hand grip for the airbrush. Double action like a normal airbrush. The compressor is fairly low power and you won't get the precision that you expect from a high end airbrush but for painting large areas, they are cheaper than a rattlecan and you don't have an airline restricting your movement. Also good for blowing dust off a display model. Finally, and likely nothing new to anyone. Cheap make up brushes from Poundland etc (dollar store or whatever the US equivalent). Larger bushier ones for cleaning and dusting. Smaller for dry brushing. And cheap nail file foam boards (not sure if the official name) as a cheaper version of modellers sanding sticks.
I use £1 plastic shot glasses as miniature holders. Turn them upside down and you are done! Great for painting individual models as well as batch painting!
Perversely I have dropped a cumulative fortune at Poundland: Make up brushes - dry brushing Acrylic nail polish storage rack - dropper bottles Tea candles - flip over, add a lump of blu-tak = hobby holder. Tea candle glasses (a shot glass with a well for the tea candle) - white spirit in the well, oil paint inside the rim. Paint/wash miniature. Drain white spirit back into the bottle. Wipe clean.
*shuffles feet* Um... SO yeah.. I quite literally putt my painting station in a closet, normal not walk-in, when I was in a smaller place than now. Hung ga light from the closet rod. Frankly it was kinda awesome.
Hey. I’m an OG dnd and Warhammer guy. Quick background… I did lawn maintenance for years and bartended .. For years. Now I’m cursed with arthritis in my thumbs and wrists. Painting is good because I don’t have to apply pressure. Stop holding the brush like your older brother is trying to take it away. All these new techniques has saved me. Slapchop and speed paint is so great that I can still get my boyz on the board. For me it’s hard to paint the way I’d like to, but paint in less intense modes.
Loved the silicone poppers from the last video. I immediately bought a set of those and use them all the time for quick painting. I use lots of acrylic bathroom containers to hold q-tips, brushes, elastic bands, etc... I appropriated some un-used makeup brushes from the wife for dusting and dirty work so I don't ruin the good brushes. I also use under-sink shelves to organize stuff. Many of them have slide-out trays that are handy.
I picked up a fidget popper after your recommendation, and I now use it all the time. Thanks for that An option to the Ono Roller is a set of Baoding balls.
I use those pegs for gripping parts when gluing but sometimes they were too ‘slippy’. To solve this I cut up some small pieces of high grit sand paper and superglued them to the gripping pads of the pegs. They now stay in place and the sandpaper is fine enough not to damage the part.
I made some soldering clamps from strips of titanium, I don't find them very useful for soldering, they are however, very useful for holding parts while gluing
I wonder if the small metal baking trays you can get at Dollar Tree for like $1.25 each would fit in those fabric hanging shelves... Then you have a place for magnetized minis and just pull the tray out when you need it
@@tabletopminionsthey're steel (or have enough steel in them to work with magnets) - I use them for priming my minis! Ok, just measured one - it's 10" wide, and 15" long, and it looks like those hanging closet shelves are 12x12, so it'd poke out a couple inches at the front. I just thought it might do double-duty for both having a sturdy bottom and for magnetized minis so you didn't need to worry aboutthe cardboard trick.
Arriving at the wrong side of 55, I discovered that foot cramp is a new treat I never knew was a thing. I'm yet to discover anything better than canned goods!
Reminds me when I sprained my ankle while visiting family in Mexico. My aunt brought me a empty bottle of alcohol and told me to roll my foot on it until it got better.
I love my ono roller, both for fidget energy and for loosening my hands when my age catches up to me. It was the best money I spent on a "fidget toy". I do need to find some clamps, though. Thanks for the link!
The hanging clothes cube shelves are useful for storing my models and packages when I'm done for the day. The clips I may give a go for my next assemble models, thank you Atom. Just recently I DIY two spinner caddy racks and put my paint pots on them, it helped saved some spaces on the desk. I saw Don made one for himself and was inspired to make one. It was worth the build.
8:30
'Glue never sets as fast as you like'
Unless its your fingers then its milliseconds 😂
So true roflmao
Truth!
Murphy’s Law has an affiliate link with super glue.
From the lady painting side of the hobby; multipack sets of eyebrow tweezers are much finer and cheaper than branded hobby tweezers, clear nail polish is excellent for high shine on gems/bottles, nail acrylic powder with the appropriate chemical is excellent for filling large gaps and can be drilled/sanded/painted and is super cheap (gsw have just recently released this as a branded product), paper clips make excellent rebar for basing and also really fine glue applicators in a pinch and finally nail art liner brushes are the best panel liners imo ❤
Tooth picks and skewers. You can use them to apply super glue. You can cut them at an angle, and super glue sand paper to them to sand hard to reach areas. You can scrape off spill over paint with them after the paint dries. You can use the cap of a paint brush + a sponge+ the skewer+ poster putty to make a sponge weathering brush. You can use them as pikes and decorate your models with Space Marine Headpikes. You can break them and use them as terrain, they are more useful than I thought.
A long time favorite trick I use as well!
So much better than the tip of the glue bottle, or it's brush or whatever.
cut up skewers are my go-to for stirring potted paint, getting it to the palette and mixing it.
I snip off one end, sand it flat, then superglue small items to it to paint. Then snap them off, clean up the tiny bit of residue, and maybe I don't even need to paint the spot after if it won't show.
I have a bunch of different lengths of them i keep stabbed into a space piece of xps, which I can also put them in while the painted parts dry.
Floral hobby wire. You can buy spools of various gauges for just a few dollars. The stuff is great for making aerial antennas for tanks and 'mechs, and works excellent for pinning very small parts.
It's also great for making bow strings on fantasy archer/crossbowmen miniatures.
Crafter here stumbled on your videos they are awesome. Tip DT or Dollar General has the fabric closet shelves, you can use foam boards as supports sturdier than some cardboard. Also if you use acrylic paint if you forget to wash a brush just soak in Murthy’s oil soap for a day or so tamp it and resoak if needed. Also wash brushes keeps them soft. And you an use styrofoam to stand brushes upside down to dry and olive or pearl onion jars to always keep water at working station for brushes til you wash them. Jars are tall, heavy and don’t take up much space. Us 😊crafters use a lot of tricks!
Thank you for continuing to indulge my love and desire of weird non-hobby objects for my hobbies.
A row of cothes pegs hot-glued to the edge of a shelf is where I clip my brushes to dry after cleaning so as the bristles are pointing down and nothing runs into the ferrule.
Dang, that is genius!
For the overhead supports for the soft shelves, look at "tension poles". Spring loaded, and made to press against two surfaces, you can hang things from them and not have to attach anything permanent to the walls.
Empty glass spice containers with blue tack to hold models while I paint. They are heavier than pill bottles and don’t get knocked over easy. Bathroom tile caulk for miniature bases. Way cheaper than green stuff and easy to texture and clean up. Dental picks for sculpting tools, hardware store was selling them at the counter. Steel cake pans with lids make great ways to transport and store minis if you magnetize the bottom of your mini, they don’t move! Indoor grow lights are full spectrum and give better lighting for colors when painting. Saws all blades in home made handle, in fact lots of hobby companies sell more expensive cheaply made versions of real tools. If I see a hobby tool, I usually go to a hardware store to see if there is a better tool for cheaper. I also watch the workers at the construction sites I manage. If anyone has ever repurposed something to make their job easier, it’s those guys. They have all kinds of specialty ties and adhesives to hold things temporary or permanent. It’s also where I get all my terrain materials for free. It cracks me up to see people buying xps foam for hobbying. Every job site out there throws away sheets of the stuff every day. Card board, wire, and all kinds of sci fi looking plastic parts are yours for the taking.
That last part... I can't tell you how many times I've passed by a construction site dumpster and fought down the urge to snatch a sheet of styrofoam, or chunk of concrete, or wire bundle, or any other piece of scrap 😅
As well as the bathroom caulk, wall filler/spackle is a brilliant "texture paint" for bases.
I use the ono roller at my desk, both for fidget, and for dealing with typing cramps - I keep it in the carry bag, because that fabric feels better to me than the metal does
As an old hobbyist who lives with severe chronic pain (I have spinal stenosis from collapsed lumbar discs), I try to adapt my condition to the tabletop hobby. My hands shake and my eyes aren’t so great so I use a digital microscope to aid me in applying liquid latex, which I use to mask areas of the mini off I don’t want to paint over . If I make a mistake with the latex it’s easy to remove so I can start again. Where I can I use an airbrush because it’s a lot more forgiving. I also use a wrist brace to steady my hand and protect my wrist. I will normally rest it on one of those bean heat packs when I’m painting. The type you pop in the microwave. There are a lot of everyday items you can adapt to the hobby. Whenever I can I do that to save money because as soon as you add the word hobby to something it automatically triples in price.
Oh my man . I hear your pain.. I also have spinal stenosis and have arthritis.
@@heathandkentyvapevarietysh1402 Sorry to hear that. Thanks for the reply. I wish you well. Take care of yourself.
We arthritic painters and gamers feel seen - appreciated!
I was just using a elec mug warmer to heat my decal water to 130f. It makes decals ready quicker, easier to get off and work with imo.
You could use a cheap doorway pull-up bar for an easy, removable place to hang your hobby rack
If you want to alleviate some of your hand strain, try adding a silicone grip on your brush to increase the circumference.
I work in a factory, the job I do involves me contorting my hand in a weirdish way. So Tool number 1 is going to be a REAL help for me when I cramp up while painting. But my "hand health" is important to me because I know and work with people who have carpal tunnel and it is no joke. Seriously people, its crippling, be aware of it.
As someone whose last 3 years have been basically ruined by carpal tunnel, can confirm. Pain ruled my life. Just got the surgery for it a few months back and it's like I can start living again. Carpal tunnel sucks.
@RyanEdwardsVA congratulations and I hope the surgery fixed it. Seriously you youngins, ya hot shots, hell you old ones too. Take it seriously. Ive seen the damage it does. Take it seriously, do the little things and it'll help you alot.
hey, just a fyi you can also use basicly a silly putty mixture to help strengthen your fingers, grip, and your tendons in your hand. They make various kinds that take diffrent amounts of force, have to use it after I had hand surgery still do it sometimes when the pain is bad xD
For real! Whether its carpal tunnel, RA, or anything in-between, hand health is something so overlooked. Maintaining a good grip strength is also important to health and muscle longevity.
Hope you feel better mate :)
@@obtree This is incorrect, the "tunnel" is formed by tissue, and the main portion is a ligament. Inflammation in the area causes things to swell this narrows the tunnel and can cause the structures that run through it, most commonly the median nerve to be compressed. That's a jist
Adding to this, I picked up some silicone sheets from my local dollar store cooking section. They're advertised as being for covering cooked food, however the larger ones cover my painting surface perfectly. They offer a non-slip that won't scratch a fresh paintjob, and you can clean them with soap and water in minutes just like the popup stopper.
As another old person, I use pill bottles and blue tack to mount mini's on to paint. I put bb's in the bottle to give it weight, adding some hot glue to hold the bb's steady. I find the added weight makes it easier for me to hold the bottles steady. I like to paint in batches of 5, and us a paint rack made for Citadel pains to hold the smaller pill bottles. I have several racks made for 9 paint pots, 3 pots on three levels. I put two pill bottles on the top row, one in the middle row, and two on the bottom row. I then prime and base coat, zenithal them while the bottles are in the paint rack. Thanks for sharing, Friday's are great.
Similar. But my pill bottles are filled with sand.
Also, I built a paint rack for my vallejos from scrap 1" cpvc pipe and the small pill bottles fit there perfectly for storage
I love the idea of adding weight. I use pill bottles, too, but not weighted. That would also help my clumsy arse from knocking them over so easily.
Surgical needle holders or artery forceps, think grabby scissors with a ratchet on the back that can keep them closed. Super cheap, but really useful for so many things - holding pins and bits of wire, grabbing sponges, assembling stuff.
Agreed. Clamps might be good for big stuff like terrain, but a couple of cheap forceps are the true clamps of the 28mm (and smaller) hobby!
I have a pair I got at a junk shop that was selling fly fishing stuff. I use it more in sewing, but its def one of the best $3 I've spent for hobbies.
prescription bottles. i use a bottle per model when building a warband for skirmish games. I store them in the bottle till I'm ready to paint. bottle doubles as a paint handle. use blue tack to hold model to bottle. also use them to store extra bits. I get them from friends and family that take allot of meds. And it's a good way to recycle.
I use mine as painting handles, too.
Just bought a handle to replace my bottles lol
The ono fidget toy is probably something a doctor would encourage. That being said, there's a whole range of injury specific rehab doohickeys for hand pain, the vast majority of which are in the 10-15 bucks range, like stress balls or kneading dough with different resistances. The thing your doctor would prefer, most likely, is that you use a rubber grip extender on your brush so you can hold it comfortably (I thiiiink they start at about 5 bucks) and set up your keyboard so you can play ergonomically (absolutely free according to them, who assume you think your time has no value. Actual price: 15 to 45 minutes, depending on the level of McGyvering necessary)
My friend works for a medical supply company and he 'acquired' a bag of 75 plastic sample bottles. They are hand-grip-sized and you can swap out the screw lids if you want. If I want extra stability I can put gravel and/or plasticene in them for weight. A bit of double-sided tape or blutac on the lid and I'm good to go. Of course I am literally painting on p**s pots LOL 😀
I use M&M tubes that the mini candies come in as handles for painting. They are perfect for grip. Have a long handle and you can store your sticky tack under the lid. I also use an old spice rack that has these perfect sized holes on both sides of it for craft paint holder. It also swivels around to the other side. It takes up less space as it is up right and the paint is easily accessed.
I find your videos particularly relaxing. I think it's because you have that fellow nerd energy.
Like, hey lets chill and chat about nerd stuff, because it's actually really cool that we put time and energy into something we enjoy so much.
You can never have too many clamps! I store my "immediate use" ones clipped to the shields on my airbrush spray booth. The extras are in a storage box under the desk. My quirky non-hobby tool is eyelash extension micro applicator brushes. They are often sold in packs of 10 at local hobby stores for silly money. I get mine in the hundreds for cheap off Amazon. Hope you are enjoying the show 👍😁
I identify as an old, closet painter..
42 and I transformed our 2 master bedroom closets into one and build a desk in there. It’s my “cloffice”.
You should get a crawfish plushie, just to fulfill the pun.
"This is my cloffice, home of crawfish."
...It kinda rhymes, at least!
@@1Kapuchu100 I’m from Louisiana. I probably have a crawfish plushie around here somewhere.
I have a jewellers non-battery powered sprung thickness caliper. Great for marrying drill bits to brass and plastic rods for conversions and pinning, or general measuring. Also a shaving style conical 0-16mm reamer to enlarge or clean up pre drilled holes to perfect circles without needing the exact size drill bit. Drill bits can dig into the plastic and tear out the surrounding material. Love these tools for conversions. Also thanks Atom for the popit idea from your previous video - got one and it's already had heavy use.
I once was a a closet painter! And it was in the basement! For 3 years I did it, and it was nice to be able to close the bifold doors until the next paint session. But this summer I moved it into the room where the closet was. (Old man eyes needed more light). All of these ideas are amazing. Thanks for the creativity you add to the hobby work. Vids are always amazing!
I use a lot of corks! Had a friend who worked in a bar and got me 100s of corks from the wine bottles. Great to break down and use as small rocks etc for terrain. But also, drill a little hole, in it and one in your mini, then glue in some metal wire (something similar to what you would use for pinning) in to a foot or something that'll be on the base and then you have a perfect stand/holder and can prime the whole thing really easily and even paint them on there too.
Serving tray! Just glued my pallete and water to it with blue tack and that way I have my entire painting setup in one place. Just lift it onto your desk and you are ready to paint!
I once did one of them metal walkways you see militaries use when they have to make semi permanent walkways over damp swampy terrain, kinda also looks like one of them loading ramps you use to load and unload an ATV from a flatbed. Friend asked me how i did this and where i got it... Simple: Its that white plastic packing strap that you sometimes get on large cardboard boxes. Kept one string of it and that lasts foregver. Simply cut a strip fitting to your model. Glue it on the base. Metal, Wash, Drybrush done... if you want you can add rust to it.
On those hanging organizers, I use dish pans. I have a project in each dish pan with the supplies that go with it. Works slick, grab and go.
As another old i want to share some of my hacks about these tools with you. Use a vertical mouse for your computer. It takes a couple of days to get used to it, but I can assure you it changed my life. I've used the closet organizer the same way you do, and I also use a hanging shoe organizer. Same system but with big pockets, useful for storing terrain making tools and other stuff. Finally, I also use the biggest clamps of my collection as miniature holders in batch painting, attaching them to the clamps with blu tack. So I can let them dry grabbed in the shelves in front of me, away from paint splatter and saving a lot of space in the table. Great video as always, cheers!
I switched to a vertical mouse last year and it’s been great! Thanks for watching!
This is why I miss the Trackman and Trackman FX trackballs by Logitech.
Vertical mouse gang rise up (slowly, bad knees too)
Vertical mouse gang member here too. At work I have to use a cheapo regular mouse and I hate it. Got my private vertimouse last year and I love it! Now trying to convince my boss to get us vertimouses for work. And hight adjustable tables...
I’ve recently started using the textured wrap that’s usually for wrapping sprains and whatnot, the kind that you have to stretch to get it to stick to itself. But instead of injuries, I’ve been wrapping it around paintbrushes to give the more customized grips than say if you bought pencil grips.
Something I use for model building is the plastic containers that some lunch meats come in, after using up the contents I wash out the container real well and let it dry, then I store and organize the various parts (and some entire kits if they are small enough) into them, having a label printer and tape handy helps with marking the containers. If I need something smaller to store the optional/extra parts (since the kit doesn't have that many) the plastic boxes commonly used for office supplies also work and tend to be very cheap.
The fidget popper from the last video was an inspiration!
Yeah, I got one myself for a quid, and it's been brilliant!
I’ve been painting minis since 1978. I’m getting old but still kitbashing, painting, and gaming. Thanks for the informative video. Keep up the good work ya zogger. I’ve got an organizer that holds paints and hangs in a closet. It’s purposely made for paints. Got it in AC Moore like 25 years ago.
Clamps for every kit1 Hobby crafting, First=Aid, and, of course, tool kit. Hooks, cord, and clamps let you hang a first-aid kit where you need to work with it. Off your trunk lid, tree, random pole, etc. The same for crafting.
I saw an organizer vlog use tension bars vertically off a desk to the ceiling to create a panel wall. Same goes here as well. Such a rapid install (and maybe daily breakdown too) could provide convenient tool, paint, glue space in arms reach but off the table.
Very much enjoyed this video. Thank you!
After seeing the hanging shelves, i can already see myself using them for all my boxes of untouched miniatures, spare bits, and useful garbage waiting to be used. That and the ono device seem like a great idea. Thank you.
Tooth picks for painting eyes, and then a small bit of paint on the edge of an Xacto-knife to paint the slit of a creature with vertical or horizontal pupils. A toothbrush holder is great for holding brushes as well.
In the last video I learned that those transparent shelves were for nail paint and that helped me a lot to buy good and cheap ones. I've had three for years and used them to organize and display whatever collectibles could fit inside.
In this case, the infernal handheld device has been an instant purchase. It has nothing to do with the hobby, but after hours of working, my hands are a mess. These videos are very interesting!
Tongue depressors. Obviously they can be used as stir sticks. But, I cut the ends off at an angle then sand that down to a "sharp" edge. It works great as a sculpting tool or a scraper that is firm enough to actually scrape but not so hard that it damages the surface you're scraping. Add some (blue) poster tack to the tongue depressors and you have a convenient want of holding only minis.
I have arthritis in my hands, and I just spent the better part of the day hand drafting wood-working plans. My hands and my back hate me, right now, and I'm for sure getting one of those Ono things. Probably a good roller for working out the knots in my back, too.
I use one of those soft-shell Plano tackleboxes to carry my tools, miniatures, and accessories. They usually come with free plastic cases inside to sort your baits and things, and they’re just big enough to fit some 1/72 scale-to-28mm miniatures in, as well as whatever other bits and bobs ya need.
I manage to cram a bunch of generic minis I may need at a moments notice, extra dice, tokens, *and* some spare crafting supplies all in a single box-and the tacklebox itself carries about 3-4 of the boxes, with extra zipper storage on all the sides. I got mine on-sale at Walmart for $3!
I got this tip from another TH-camr, cannot remember which. Instead of an expensive textured dry brush pallet, I picked up a 10” square ‘not Lego’ brick base panel at DollarTree (now $1.25). After washing it with warm soapy water and letting it dry, it’s good to use. It is awesome and changed my dry brush results immediately.
Bonus tip, they have a brush organizer in the hobby section, some assembly required, holds roughly two dozen brushes.
I did the same. Works great!
@thestateofplay does a great video on the not-Lego base plate. Works wonders!
That's where I first saw that one too@@camdavbax
if you want to go cheaper, i would imagine a primed circuit board would work. i'm sure everyone has an ancient video card or an old router laying around...
cardboard and texture paint you probably already use for basing and done :D
Or a piece of plasticcard and spread woodglue on it and dunk it in sand - same thing in the end =)
Paused at 4min to say I've seen so many of your vids and never realized just how much you talk with your hands. It makes me feel like home and I'm glad you pointed it out. My Italian grandma would approve. :)
Great videos. It's always nice to think out of the box and find stuff to use outside the hobby stores. You know what would be cool? A video (or series thereof) of all the cool stuff a gamer or modeler can find in the art supply stores!
If you're in an environment where its a/c controlled I find a fingerless glove on the hands resting on the desk can soften the contact and prevent a lot of pain. I don't use the mouse without wearing em. This way instead of having a cushion your your mouse pad that might be inconvenient but then you always got the bugger softening up surfaces you rest your mitts on.
Sounds obvious but If you own a headlamp/bikelight or some other torch you use for outdoorsy stuff keep it nearby when Hobbying. When i'm looking for stuff i've dropped (which is ~85% of my hobby time) i find it great to place my headlamp on the floor and kinda shine it along the floor so anything gets picked out by casting shadows. Also great to look in those tiny crevices under stuff which seem to have the attraction of a supermassive blackhole, though often you need some form of long stick to get it, not sure where to buy one of those.
Just a foot or 3 of thick planting or welding wire, bend it straight with a hook on the end
That's how I find things when I drop 'em, too... 😂
Thanks for sharing more tools of the trade that help you out that we wouldn’t normally associate with the hobby.
Was great to meet you at GAMA, sir. You’re a fantastic ambassador for our hobby!
As someone who basically collects hobbies, thank you for telling me to organize my clamps better. Also those closet organizers for use in a basement sounds like just the best thing.
I don't paint in a closet.
I paint in an armoire i bought for $100 at a garage sale.
I installed a slide-out shelf for my work surface and some cheap led strips inside. Screwed some shelves across the back for my wip and it IS great to just shut the doors and know the cats aren't going to jump up and destroy my work.
I use bed bath and beyond "spice racks" for display of pinted armies.
I was SHOCKED how chic Uncle Atom’s closets are. 😂
TOTALLY didn’t grab those photos off of Amazon. Thanks for watching!
The closet hanger is a great suggestion1 But for those with the means and the space.... a roll-top desk is a great alternative to the closet hangers. Having pets, and the need to conceal, store the painting gear after done a session, a roll-top desk is a devine work area.
Not little but super important for me - I recently found an excellent table that I can use while stuck in bed or on the couch (functional neurological disorder life). It’s the first now that goes low enough to not further damage my wrists, and it’s worth is adjustable and so can go over my double bed. I figure the best one for people will depend on your country but if you google for adjustable over bed table and look for one that goes nice and low and also pretty wide..
I have been using, for a good 15 years now, the quart containers that you get soup in from Chinese takeout. I use them for water pots, paint stripping, and part storage.
Something I only recently discovered exists is "Superglue Activator", available from a variety of manufacturers. Apply glue to one part, spray the other lightly with the activator and it grabs instantly. Alternatively you can glue the joint as usual, adjust until you're happy with it and then give it a quick spray to lock it in. Lastly, if you have a gap that needs filling but can't be bothered with modelling putty, you can use baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) and superglue to quickly fill a gap which can then be sanded/filed down as normal if needed.
Yes! I've tried the baking-soda thing and it really works - it sets rock-solid almost instantly.
Getting old means usually more empty pill bottles. I have found myself using empty pill bottles and some blue tack as makeshift model holders used while painting models.
I’m still a bit new at this but I just came up with one: use a hammer style electric massager with zip ties/rubber bands to secure a bottle of paint and boom handheld paint shaker! Those impact massagers are at almost any overstock store(TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, Ollie’s, etc) for like 10-25$, and it really helped my arms because old.
Firstly, great video.
Secondly, I DO paint in a closet, sort of, I have a corner unit that was meant for housing a PC back in the old "it needs its own piece of furniture" days. Pull out shelf to paint on, and when I close the doors everything "looks" tidy :-)
As for tools, I've been experimenting with nail art products suggested by my wife, and UV cured resin glue is my current go to for anything clear I need to glue, doesn't fog, sets instant when you apply the UV, and is crystal clear. Also its a great gap filler too. Not curing till your ready has been a game changer.
I then went onto using UV cured resin gels, the one I've got is kind of like fresh green stuff in texture, doesn't stick to fingers or tools, is totally clear and cures in seconds under UV, but otherwise you can work with it as long as you like till your ready to set it.
I've sculpted several simple figures now, Water Weirds, Gibbering Mouthers, that sort of thing, still getting a feel for it, but its easy to use, and being able to cure it in seconds exactly when you want is brilliant!
Not convinced it would hold detail as well as sculpting with green stuff, and being clear has disadvantages (ie, seeing what your doing) but with some more experimentation, I can see the value.
Being clear however has allowed me to build figures with LEDs in for added bonus effects!
That hand fidget toy sounds amazing. My hands are killing me after a day of fiber splicing and driving across the city to do said fiber splicing. Thank you!!
For the clamps, i do have one of those little stands with a magnifying glass and 3 arms with alligator clips. Works good for little minis. Im always worried that it will leave teeth marks, so i put some cloth between the teeth and the mini.
Im using the bottom part of carboard egg container to prime minis.... Since Im still pretty new to the hobby and learning Im usually priming 1-3 at he the time... Its also great if you priming smal parts separately. Just use some silly putty to attach whta you are priming to the pointy thingies and you good to go...
In my hobby space I have three plastic kitchen cutting boards for my projects. They protect my table nicely and were inexpensive. I keep a small hoard of resealable plastic bags for parts and such. For squads, I use medicine measuring cups and poster putty as paint handles.
Great ideas, i use a variety of clothes pegs like you do with the clamps. Other ideas, lolly sticks, tooth picks, cheap disposable nail files and makeup brushes make really good highlighting and they are cheap.
Just got the Ono fidget toy/tool. Very smooth motion and, even with small hands like mine, easy to manipulate.
ratcheting quick-release clamps let you control the pressure applied.
pillbottles with dollar tree glass marbles/stones filling the bottom half for painting handles (I got enough problems to do several projects in a cycle). THey fit nicely in:
nail polish racks. holds pots, droppers, and pillbottle handles. desk rack and wall mounts, but with enough paints, I'm questioning the efficacy.
tackle box: bits and/or model transport (no more than 28mm, though)
catscratch pad: easy drying rack for airbrush jobs/rattle can primed/lacquer jobs. This one's more for the Gunpla/vehicle side
makeup brush cleaner sponge: a little water and makes an excellent drybrush moistener
not lego texture pallet: 8" from dollar tree, but it's just for a base. add a few more bricks to it, then superglue some additional angles because variety helps. priming it is another good idea
craft needle/button punch: for when the wood of a toothpick isn't string enough to scrape/pry open. at dollar tree, these are usually too dull to scribe panel lines or pilot drill holes, but for un-making dried paint in recesses, second to none for not damaging the plastic.
Loved the popper tip. I paint almost exclusively with speed paints so it was a huge help. On the topic of clamps and model assembly I personally love the soldering octopus I got for the purpose. It's got clamps smaller than those you showed of attached to flexible posable arms. It was an absolute godsend trying to test pose and glue my Pipermakes cuttlegeists.
Instead of clamps I use rubberised clothes pegs. Found most clamps had too much force.
Glass droppers from the food prep aisle for transfering paint.
Plastic shot glasses for mixing airbrush paint.
I second the clothes pegs (mine were advertised as "gel"); they've always had enough tension for my needs. Plus the curved surfaces are great for holding cannon barrels, columns and the like.
On the clamps, I like to use a helping hands tool folks use for soldering. This gives you a clamp plus you can position them however you want.
Saw your last video on the topic. Knew some items, but the fidget popper pallet was a new one on me. Had to special order a white one. Actually bought five and distributed them to fellow mini-painters who I wargame with. Thanks for passing on the idea!
I can't find white ones for the life of me! Where did you?
Amazon. The Tommike store. They are hexagonal, not round. The main picture is colored. To the side are alternative offerings including white.
To go with your hanging storage thingie, there are about a million different sizes of plastic storage tubs. You could probably find one that fits almost perfectly. That would let you cram more stuff in each one.
I mentioned those things in the last video, actually. Thanks for watching!
The tops of many of the jugs of army men are made to be scenery for the plastic guys inside. They are usually molded to look like rocks, dirt and wooden crates - plus the carry handle is a wood and rope bridge. DRY BRUSH PALETTE!! You can get them almost anywhere - Amazon, Wal-Mart, Big Lots. If youre a thrift store hound like me, youll see one with just a few army toys left and tape all over it for a couple of bucks.
Bonus tip- if you're particularly crafty, you can make the rope bridge into a brush holder and seal the inner cup (the "bunker", I guess) and BAM, you have a brush holding, paint cup, texture palette thats worth like, a billion dollars... give or take. I washed mine w dish soap and water, thorough rinse, then sprayed w Mr. Surfacer 1200, which makes it bullet proof as well.
I use plastic bins from the dollar tree to store so many things, large bins about the size of a sheet of letter paper in both 2 inch and four inches tall work great for miniatures collections. Also the small hardware organizer is amazing For assembling multi part hard plastic kits.
Working in a hospital we have a lot of waste. A lot. I have a pile of unused scalpel, blades, hemostats, needle whatsits....all of it comes in handy.
I haven't tried this yet - just returning to modelling after retirement - but I have been thinking that velcro straps would be the answer to holding awkward shapes together while the glue dries. If necessary with a tissue layer underneath to prevent them being accidentally glued to the model.
I don't know why the hanging organizers thing never hit me. I do my hobby stuff in a an unfinished basement as well. Concrete walls make setting up shelves a chore involving heavier tools than I'd like to deal with, and cheap Ikea bookshelves take up more space than I'd like and can't be placed where work tables would go... Plus you gotta make sure you've got drainage mats under them in case of water ingress, they're a tipping hazard, especially if your floor slopes because of drainage, etc.
I'm about to get a bunch of these lol
Great video. I recently used hair ties to hold together a 3D printed LCM-F1 French Superheavy tank while the glue set. It definitely saved my sanity.
Use the plastic granny grating as basing material, it makes for great grating for scifi minis.
Some advice for hand soreness while playing PC games. Try changing from WASD to...and hear me out...RightClickADF, swapping S for whatever you used to use right click for. Your left hand will be in a a MUCH more natural position, and holding right click to move forward is far easier than holding W, at least for me a fellow old who has big hands.
I have a number of electronics "probes", kind of like dental probes but cheaper. Come in all sorts of shapes with angled tips and use these to manoeuvre small parts into position when my sausage fingers are uncooperative. They are also pretty good as scribing tools.
And yes I have also laid in a supply of those smaller spring clamps. They have been a significant addition to the modelling armory.
Probably not quite relevant but I have also bought a couple of those cheap(ish) "USB" airbrushes. They are mainly marketed for make-up application, cake decoration etc. Essentially have a small rechargeable compressor in a hand grip for the airbrush. Double action like a normal airbrush. The compressor is fairly low power and you won't get the precision that you expect from a high end airbrush but for painting large areas, they are cheaper than a rattlecan and you don't have an airline restricting your movement.
Also good for blowing dust off a display model.
Finally, and likely nothing new to anyone. Cheap make up brushes from Poundland etc (dollar store or whatever the US equivalent). Larger bushier ones for cleaning and dusting. Smaller for dry brushing. And cheap nail file foam boards (not sure if the official name) as a cheaper version of modellers sanding sticks.
I use £1 plastic shot glasses as miniature holders. Turn them upside down and you are done! Great for painting individual models as well as batch painting!
Perversely I have dropped a cumulative fortune at Poundland:
Make up brushes - dry brushing
Acrylic nail polish storage rack - dropper bottles
Tea candles - flip over, add a lump of blu-tak = hobby holder.
Tea candle glasses (a shot glass with a well for the tea candle) - white spirit in the well, oil paint inside the rim. Paint/wash miniature. Drain white spirit back into the bottle. Wipe clean.
*shuffles feet* Um... SO yeah.. I quite literally putt my painting station in a closet, normal not walk-in, when I was in a smaller place than now. Hung ga light from the closet rod. Frankly it was kinda awesome.
Hey. I’m an OG dnd and Warhammer guy.
Quick background…
I did lawn maintenance for years and bartended ..
For years.
Now I’m cursed with arthritis in my thumbs and wrists. Painting is good because I don’t have to apply pressure.
Stop holding the brush like your older brother is trying to take it away. All these new techniques has saved me. Slapchop and speed paint is so great that I can still get my boyz on the board.
For me it’s hard to paint the way I’d like to, but paint in less intense modes.
I dont know how I have not subbed to you yet, but you sir are an easy listen with great information
Loved the silicone poppers from the last video. I immediately bought a set of those and use them all the time for quick painting.
I use lots of acrylic bathroom containers to hold q-tips, brushes, elastic bands, etc... I appropriated some un-used makeup brushes from the wife for dusting and dirty work so I don't ruin the good brushes. I also use under-sink shelves to organize stuff. Many of them have slide-out trays that are handy.
I picked up a fidget popper after your recommendation, and I now use it all the time. Thanks for that
An option to the Ono Roller is a set of Baoding balls.
I use those pegs for gripping parts when gluing but sometimes they were too ‘slippy’. To solve this I cut up some small pieces of high grit sand paper and superglued them to the gripping pads of the pegs. They now stay in place and the sandpaper is fine enough not to damage the part.
I made some soldering clamps from strips of titanium, I don't find them very useful for soldering, they are however, very useful for holding parts while gluing
I wonder if the small metal baking trays you can get at Dollar Tree for like $1.25 each would fit in those fabric hanging shelves... Then you have a place for magnetized minis and just pull the tray out when you need it
If those trays are aluminum then I don’t think that magnets will work? Not sure. Thanks for watching!
@@tabletopminionsthey're steel (or have enough steel in them to work with magnets) - I use them for priming my minis!
Ok, just measured one - it's 10" wide, and 15" long, and it looks like those hanging closet shelves are 12x12, so it'd poke out a couple inches at the front.
I just thought it might do double-duty for both having a sturdy bottom and for magnetized minis so you didn't need to worry aboutthe cardboard trick.
The closet organizer suggestion was worth it's weight in gold.
Arriving at the wrong side of 55, I discovered that foot cramp is a new treat I never knew was a thing. I'm yet to discover anything better than canned goods!
Reminds me when I sprained my ankle while visiting family in Mexico. My aunt brought me a empty bottle of alcohol and told me to roll my foot on it until it got better.
@@Rozdlc It's all about that curve.
Softball. Works great.
I use the big shoe organizers for terrain.
Easy to hang and keeps things tidy.
A sheet over it keeps dust off it all.
Clamps rock!
That’s a really good idea, too. Thanks for watching!
I love my ono roller, both for fidget energy and for loosening my hands when my age catches up to me. It was the best money I spent on a "fidget toy". I do need to find some clamps, though. Thanks for the link!
Oh, yeah! Those little dollar store clamps are so helpful.
I use a silicon pad for electrical soldering all the time! it gives a non-slip surface to work on and small parts dont roll of as easy!
The hanging clothes cube shelves are useful for storing my models and packages when I'm done for the day. The clips I may give a go for my next assemble models, thank you Atom.
Just recently I DIY two spinner caddy racks and put my paint pots on them, it helped saved some spaces on the desk. I saw Don made one for himself and was inspired to make one. It was worth the build.
Clamps I mean, not clips.
My hand therapy fidget thing of choice is Aaron's thinking putty. Keep a tin of it at my desk. And it's fun stuff on its own. Feed it your magnets
My wife clued me into the shoe hangers years ago, great place to store that pile of shame in boxes :D
You can also clamp a clamp in another clamp to give your ad-hoc tripod more stability or a better angle.