What are you folks using for picking up and maneuvering into postion for glueing? THis is for parts that even the finest tweezers will not work for. I have tried what’s called mineral tack on a toothpick but it’s too sticky and leaves residue.
I saw some sticks for this purpose but they look too darn big. I saw on some forum a guy suggested a bit of beeswax. For referance I’m talking about parts around the size of this ‘o’.
I really hate that I am getting to the point where ‘unless I really look close, I’ll never notice it’s missing’ but I tell you, after getting one in place I’m finding that’s good for today.
I put 35th scale PE bolt heads on the bumper of my Radschlepper.
I left the clear backing on one side of the fret, cut as close as I could to the bolt head. Near impossible to clean up the nub but someone may know away, then I applied a schmear of CA on the bumper, and with the pointy end of a #11 blade I touched a drop of CA the picked up the part and placed it. Worked pretty well for me.
I have started using wax rhinestone picker pencils for maneuvering tiny pieces. They’re like a regular pencil and you sharpen them the same way. Just the right amount of tack and they don’t leave a residue. I used to use a small paintbrush dipped in Future to pick up and place small parts, but the wax pencils are a lot better for this. BTW…Future is great as an adhesive for small PE that is going to lay flat on the surface its being attached to.
Slighty different tool but same principal. My wife started diamond painting a few years ago and I watched her stick this thing into a little container of wax then pick and place these tiny “diamonds” with extreme precision each time. It only took me watching for about 10 seconds for the old brain to kick in and scream “waaaait a second here”.
I still use the old ‘spit on a toothpick’ method (well…really…just lick the end of a toothpick, and pick the item up with that). Crude, but works like a charm! [:D]
I use a yucky Method for this. I will take a "Q’ tip and put it in my left ear.(That one produces the most earwax) Then I take a pin with a flattened point. Pick a wee bit of the earwax on the pin and pick up the part. So, you can use Bees-wax and some other natural waxes as well. One or two picks and renew and one or two picks, etc.
Took advantage of Amazons free delivery if I order something else within 24 hours and got a multigenerational lasting pack of those wax pencils. I’m guessing the theory is that even the smallest bit of plastic cement will quickly (hopefully very quickly) overcome the hold the wax has on the part.
Yup. So far, I haven’t had any issues with the parts releasing when I want them to onto whatever adhesive is attaching them to the model. It even allows you to put a little pressure on the part, without worrying about slipping and scratching something.
I looked at those wax pencils but before I ordered one/some/thousands, I stumbled across a “jewel picker” that is basically a double-ended stylus with one large and one small head covered with a sticky plastic. I think if you search the Bezos site for those two words, it’s one of the first things that shows up.
With parts that small I’ll usually use the tip of my scalpel to pick up and place the parts. You don’t need much pressure if it’s a sharp blade so it’ll release onto the cement used pretty easily. Any marks on the part are just too small to see.
I think this is in order here. I use some I got at a Train show. There 12 in the package and I am only on number 3. I use them to assemble my “Metal Earth” Models. I stopped on the “Oil rig/Canker Combo” when I got a wee bit to uncomfortable handling it. Now that I know why, I went back to it. Hey! talk about Sub-Atomic parts!
And I thought Plumbing the 1/25 Chrysler Turbine in the Johan kit was a doozy. Holy Cow! I don’t remember the brand But the thngs are green with what looks a drop of Soft Amber colored material on the end that is sticky as all get out. But once you place the part a simple flick/twist to the side it releases, Without! Moving the part!
