Here are some of the most used tools that I use and are essential to my hobby creations from making masters to mold to actual custom figures. These are just some of the “key” tools but not all of them.

Micro-Sander

a tool that I use almost all the time. this little baby can do a great job in some hard to reach places and can relieve the stress of a lot of hand sanding. This sander can be found at micromark.com

Dremel and Kit

The dremel 300 series is also a very useful tool that can got the job done in a hurry along with the many different accessory pieces to chop, cut and detail any custom job you have. The variable speed motor starts smoothly, adjusts speeds quickly and stops just as quickly when turned off. The unit is well-balanced, and feels comfortable in the hand. Vibration is kept to a minimum to reduce fatigue, meaning the Dremel can be used effectively for a lengthy period of time. The accessories for cutting and grinding will keep me going for a long time.

Knife Set

Almost everyone uses knives to help make their creations. This is the exact set I use to cut heads and limbs off, applying decoupage and even using them as a carving tool when using the right blade tip. I buy and use all kinds if tips including carving corner tips and round carving tips. Can be found in most craft stores.

Miscellaneous tools

These various tools shown here are used constantly in different stages either from casting to sculpting. Drill bits are mainly used to tap the holes needed in my master sculpts to insert the straws I use that makes the holes for the arm pegs. These bits are probably the best and drills very clean. Sometimes I have to tap a small hole in a damaged resin cast to fill back in with new resin instead of just using a filler. This way I can sand down smooth without it showing fill edges. These bits were bought from Home Depot but are also found at most hardware stores.  The tool below it is just an old plastic handle paint brush that is used as a stir and sweep tool for resin casting. When pouring resin into molds, the sweep has to be done inside the mold to force tiny air bubbles out, that’s why the end is bent. 3oz plastic cups are essential to the casting job to mix resin. A whole pack can be used up in just a week or 2. The soldering tool is used for shaping and detailing sculpy and create etching. Same with the small exacto pen knife. A hole punch for anything i need at the time for round detail. Sanding files are mainly used to sand in between figures legs and helps keep an even sand.

Paint Brushes

Last but not least, paint brushes. I have bought the expensive $3-$5 in the past but these are the best and they are CHEAP!! Nylon soft white tip brushes. They come in various sizes and are the most important part next to paint selection. These brushes I swear by and the can be found at the craft store Ben Frankins. $1 a piece is a deal for me and they last the same as the expensive brushes. I buy several at a time because a group is used for light color paints and another set is used for dark color paints. No.6 size shader and 0 point size brushes are used the most by me. Sometimes a 3/8″ size tip if applying a base coat on a large area or the whole figure.

Just like all brushes, they do wear out. When that happens they usually get used 1 more time to either resin smooth an area on a figure or brush on silicone to mold a head for casting. Then it gets thrown away.