I’ve read a lot of tips and techniques on the forum, in FSM and on various other web sites and I think I have a couple tips that I haven’t seen yet, though doesn’t mean they’re not out there somewhere already.
A friend of ours is into acupuncture, educated in and practices it. So I got a few of his acupuncture needles from him. They are very small about the same size as a .25mm dia wire (smaller than most sewing needles) but rigid and still flexible, they also have a very fine, sharp tip and a fore-finger and thumb hold on the end that makes them easy to handle. So far they have been great for marking a start point for the smallest drill bits and as an applicator for applying tiny drops of cyanoacrylate to the smallest spots. And I’m sure there are many other uses for them i haven’t discovered yet.
I’ve read that many modelers use the foil from a champagne bottle for straps canvas tarps, etc. I’ve also found that the small metal container that holds tea lites is excellent for this as well. Tea lites are those small, white wax candles that many use to heat their pot-pourri pots etc. They come in bags of 30-50 and usually only cost $3-5.00 a bag. The metal is very thin and workable, easy to cut with a scissors or hobby knife. The holders are also excellent paint cups for enamel and oil paints and washes.
Good tip on the acupuncture needles. I always have to clean my current tool (a sharpened popsicle stick [:)] ) when I’m applying CA glue, and I never seem to be able to apply a fine enough point or line.
Thanks for the tip.
You could also use pie tins for sheet metal - they are about the same guage as the tea lights at 1/4 of the cost. - or I get them for free after someone finishes thier lunch.
I’d also be interested in the accupuncture needles.
Awesome and timely tip… I just started getting accupuncture and every time they take the needles out I think “ooh… i bet i could do something with those”. Now I know [:D]
Try chucking a piece of small music wire, sewing needle or even a piece of paper clip into an X-acto or similar knife handle and you have an instant CA applicator that will apply CA in tiny quantities and exactly where you want it to go.
For 1:48 seatbelts, I’ve found the silver pull strip for opening a pack of cigarettes to be almost perfect.
They can be stripped to the right size to fit thru the smallest buckle by a small cut at one end to the size you want, then seperating like string cheese.
Just did a quick google for ‘accupuncture needles retail’ and came up with numerous sites that sell needles, including holistic health, vet supply, and other vendors. Not having had done business with any of them (yet), I can make no recommendations
I also use the old needle from my Badger 155 to apply CA… the point is fine enough to just place a tiny bit but big enough to hold onto at the other end…
I live and work in Germany and have bought hypodermic needles at the local drug stores, though in Germany the drug stores are nothing like Walgreens. The drug stores here should also sell accupuncture needles. But you best bet is probably to go online. Seems a person can find virtually anything he wants or needs on the Internet.
Speaking of applying superglue, I read somewhere (and it works) that the best way to clean dried superglue off the tip of a metal applicator is to hold the tip of the applicator over a match or lighter. The flame burns away the dried glue and leaves the applicator tip clean.