Is it just me or do others here also have trouble folding teeny weeny photo etch parts? I even have an Etch-Mate folding tool which is great for larger parts but I really struggle when small parts need folding into 3D shapes. I mean does anybody actually get these really small items to fold up and look right. I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that extra detail involving 3D items is the realm of resin. PE is great for adding surface detail, seat belts, instrument panels or simple larger folded items. The Eduard set I am working with now has some items so small which need complex, accurate folding it is simply ridiculous. I probably won’t use 30%-40% of this set because of this. In saying that, most of the unused parts will have been for OTT “I know it’s there” detail anyway. Oh well, it was my choice but I was just wondering if others find themselves in similar circumstances or is it just me?[D)]
I know your feeling on this Brian. I have had to pop off pieces and reglue them a few times due to not getting it straight and the part setting up almost instantly. I hate that.
I bought 2 sets for some corsairs I am doing and it will probable be the last I buy. Lots of wee tiny things that ar a devil to hold let a lone put in the right plave staight.
Hehe, yep, it depends on what you need. Some ingredient in the glue picks up latent thoughts and feelings from your brain and performs the exact opposite way.
Fold 'em ??? I’m still trying to see 'em !!!
Eyes going, hate the magni-visor, have to take glasses off to see part, then can’t find squat on bench, etc, etc, etc … Plus, to make matters worse, I nibble at my nails & thus have stubs to handle 'em with … Why am I doing this ?$@$#^*(&^#$%
Seriously, I use a couple knives & razors, plus very-fine point tweezers …
Snowy, I went down to the hardware store and bought 4 sets of longnose pliers, small ones, Sidchrome brand, red handles.
The original one has no teeth on it, and is about 4 mm across the nose, perfect for grabbing the etch without marking it.
As for the other three sets, I ground them down across the nose to 3 mm, then 2 then 1.
Seems a little fiddly I know, but what I got was a decent size tool that would grip the small part as needed and not fling it across the room only to be found next time you walk in with bare feet, and accurate folds even on the smallest items, like a crosshair site for a 1/48th scale Zero.
Tweety1, I’ll try your pliers idea, that sounds pretty good, might even get me out of trouble. If I go for the Sidchromes I’ll cringe when I put 'em to the grinder. There goes that life time warranty…! OUCH!
Thanks.
Howdy, MMF!
I mainly use the Zero-Time (Cenodine, maybe?) line of CA adhesives readily available here, mainly the “wide” type. That and gel type, which seems to work a bit better for me.
I tried Locktite, but that stuff just did not stick at all.
Everything I use sticks great, but like I said, if I had just one half a second more time to adjust the position…[:D]
Any difference in setting times between the two Wave types?
I’ve tried epoxy glues, and found them a bit unwieldy. And I don’t need 2 minutes–2 seconds would be plenty!
There’s gotta be a single-tube cyanoacrylate out there that gives you a second or two to position.
The quest continues…
snowy, I feel your pain brother! Some of the really small levers and such almost seem like they would be better to make from scratch - lite wire with a bit of glue on the end. As for myself, in the end I usually make use of a very trusted pair of flat blade pliers. They haven’t let me down yet!