Hi all, ive meant to post this idea of mine for a while now. Having spoken too or corresponded with several modellers, who all say that they struggle with these things. Nows the time to make them easy for you.
Firstly, Get yourself a smallish lump of ‘Blutack’ im sure modelling clay would doo but Blutack is stickier. Make a small pedastal with it.
Collect your 3 parts to make the clamp. The back bit, (Thats glued to body) the clasp (The bit that goes round the tool) and the handle (errr…the handly bit?)
Fold all the parts to there correct shape.
Place the ‘Handle’ on its side on your Blutack pedastal, making sure that it is opened up wide enough to take the clasp and the Back bit.
Ensuring that you put it in the hole square to the handle, place both the Back bit and the clasp in the handle. Press down ever so slightly to make sure the blutack holds them in place.
Next, using your optivisor if you need it. Push the end of the ‘Handle’ down in place. Even if it doesnt connect with both pieces 1st try everything should be held well enough to retry again and again.
Voila! Simple. Heres a couple i made this lunchtime for my Famo in the Supply and support GB.
Ive yet to use the aber ones but that is an awesome “how to” right there Guy and sure to help folk out i will be remembering it for sure, thanks for sharing it.
Try it, its the biz. The thing that makes this work over placing the bits on a piece of tape is that the Blutack pedastal raises the bits off your workbench. Only by a bit but its the little rise that makes all the difference.
Hey, thanks for the tip Guy! I’ve always had a hard time with the Aber clamps and now I’ve got some hope! I’m definitely going to try this method! How long does it take you to put one together? It usually takes me 15 minutes or so for each one using a couple of pair of tweezers, but that’s not taking into account any lost time due to tweezer twang!![banghead]
A neat way to get an “extra hand” into the equation for the Aber clamps. Simple, straightforward, and forgiving of errors. Thanks for posting this Guy!
Guy, That’s just to cool. And again a very simple solution to a very challenging task thought up by a modelling scholar. By the way, is Bluetack available here in the Colonies or is it called by another name?
Doc, it’s commonly known as poster putty and can be found at any office supply store like Office Depot or Staples or the stationery section of Target, Wal-Mart, etc. The best stuff is indeed blue and is “Blutac” by 3M but you can also find it in white and yellow. Get blue if you can, don’t really know why, but it’s the better mix of stuff vs. the others. I have a chunk I’ve been using for years, just keep it covered with the little celophane sheet and it keeps its tack forever. Very useful stuff for paint masking, holding parts, etc.
Hey, im glad you liked the tip. Its one of those things that i love reading. You guys already have given me so much usefull help i thought id give some back LOL.
Ernest (Buffle) They take as long as it does to mold the Blutack, and fold the parts. The 1st one, i needed to adjust the clasp slightly but got it 2nd try. And the 2nd one went straight together. 5mins for the pair, Honestly.
