What spatula do you guys you use for spreading putty on your model?
I don’t have one at the moment and have seen several different ones at Micro-Mark’s web site and am trying to decide what would be the best one to get. This set that Micro-Mark sells for $9.95 looks like a good idea but I don’t know if I would ever have the need for so many shapes:
Any thoughts on this?
The other choices are seperate ones like these which run either $4.75 or $6.25 each:
Thanks
PS I could also just wait for the weather to get a little better as they sell these type of tools by the handful at the local community college flea market the 3rd Saturday of each month. [;)]
The one I use is similar to 60737 pictured above but one end is bent 90 degrees to the handle. I got mine at a Pat Catan craft store, $1.99 for a set of three. They are actually for sculpting clay.
Matt, I saw your article on seam filling and the clay tool you used in the article was part of what prompted me to ask this question. [;)]
I think I’ll just wait for the flea market like I mentioned as they sell these type of tools for about $1 each or so. They have hundreds of them and they are made in Pakistan or India so the cost to manufacture them was probably real low.
Fancy that! i use the exact same thing! I like it too because the flat tip is thin enough to go into the tube and get some putty without making a mess…
I use a toothpick, then remove the excess from the seam with a cotton swab moistened with nail polish remover. Works great for me, it’s cheap, and I rarely ever have to sand.
Go to a specialty art store and check out the ‘shaper’ brushes. Here’s a pic of what I’m talking about:
I use the one that’s second from the left most often. It’s round, but has the end cut at an angle with a slight concave to it. I also have the one that’s second from the right too, and it’s good for getting into corners. The tip is rubber and it works really well for spreading the putty out (almost like putting on paint).
I have some various ‘putty’ tools like the ones in the second picture you posted, but I find that I use these ‘shaper’ brushes the most.
I just happen to be putting together a 1/72 T-38 (F-5) and the fit of the various pieces is absolutely terrible. It also had raised lines which I’ve sanded off and will re-scribe. I have used this ‘shaper’ brush and putty A LOT in the last few days…
Mike
I use the spatulas that artists mix oil paints with - they come in various shapes and sizes and are readily modifiable for special uses. Any place that supplies artists oil paints should stock them.
Is that set of clay tools you bought at the craft store like these at all?
They have these on Ebay for $6.99 plus shipping and I was curious if this was similar to your set.
I went to Michael’s yesterday with my wife and they didn’t have anything like these. All I saw was the painter’s spatula’s with the wood handle which would work I guess but they are a bit pricey to me.
I feel your pain Mike, Ive scoured Michaels and Hobby Lobby and just cant seem to find any though I have seen plenty of palete knives…which are just to big.
I ended up going with a squadron tool…which works for me and sure as heck beats a toothpick! I paid $5 for mine at the LHS…
There’s a set I saw somewhere here in town that I think would work good, but cant remember the store I saw it in.
Gee, I didn’t know about those things. I have been using old credit cards. I cut them into strips (about 1/4-3/8 wide). The round corners are handy for curved areas. Of course there are only two of those per card. The other thing I use old credit cards for is for pooling liquid cement, or white glue for application with a toothpick. You just scrape off the dried glue with a hobby knife.
I found this set on Ebay and bid on them. They are selling for $6.50 plus $3.50 shipping if the bidding price doesn’t go up any. [:D]
There are 6 sets of these available if any of you want one too.
Not a bad price for eight instruments. [;)]
This set will be a better choice for me because I do not have any dental probes at all and they come in handy at times for different things.
I think a few of these will also make a great paint stirrer because of the shape of some of them. [tup]
Mike looks like a good set you picked out, and hopefully the price will stay reasonable…
it is however EVILBAY! LOL…
Good Luck and let us know what you think of them when/if you get them.
I use guitar picks. I have 4 guitars and tons of picks from thin to heavy gauge (for different playing styles). You can cut and shape the picks for any application. The different thicknesses give you a variety of pliability. And you can get picks at any music store for peanuts.
