I recently purchased the UMM scribers from Model Paint Solutions after hearing Dr. Strangebrush talk about them on Plastic Model Mojo. I have used them a couple times and have had mixed results. I am under no illusion that the problem lies with the tools…
That being said I was wondering what everyone else was using.
Thanks,
Dow
I use a sewing needle chucked into my pin vise, or sometimes, just held free-hand. And sometimes, I just use a new Nr. 11 blade.
This one is my favorite.
I nearly always use the little two sided razor saw blades, with three holes lengthwise for securing the blade to the handle. Sorry I don’t know the brand name, but I think I bought it from UMM. Sprue Bros sell some like it, just look up “cutting tools.”
I don’t use the handle for scribing, I just hold the blade with two fingers.
https://www.tamiyausa.com/shop/tools/fine-craft-saws-2/
I probably use these the most when creating a line with scribing tape.
Sometimes a UMM scriber with a template, sometimes the UMM hook style scribers for cutting deeper grooves, sometimes a #11 for a very fine line. Whatever works.
2nd vote for Sewing needle in pin vise
I’ll put in my [2cnts] for the sewing needles.
My wife’s a seamstress and there is no shortage of sewing needles in this house. I’ve also used the needles she uses in the sewing machines. Same as regular ones but a little thicker above the point and easy to chuck into handles or hold in fingers.
Stay safe.
Jim [cptn]
If I understand you, you mean this style of razor saw:
That one is made by Czech Model Kits (CMK), but I think the style or design is common across several brands.
Yeah, they make good scribers, too.
You may all be familiar with modeler Chuk Wojtkiewicz, whose handle is usually “chukw” on the forums he belongs to. In one of his builds, he showed how he took one of those razor saw blades that had snapped, leaving a sort of crescent-shaped bit at one end, and found it to be just the right shape for scribing.
I save my old dull #11 exacto blades for scribing duties. put them in a handle and then use the back side to scribe panel lines.
And if the panel lines need to be cut, I just spin it around and use the dull blade to do that job.
Hi Dow!
This is just to let you know that I have used just about every tool listed by the responders. Personally I prefer a Gem Scriber.(GEM) is the brand. It’s for scribing and drawing designs on Glass. I don’t know they cost now. When I bought mine through my Auto Body shop sixty Five years ago it was $180.00.
I still use all the others, Depends on who’s shop I am in and if I had advanced warning of the project. If not I always carry one of those little skinny retractable knives for that purpose!
This is my favorite from Bare metal foil
https://www.bare-metal.com/introduction-to-using-bare-metal-foil.html#_
Yup, that’s the type, I find them to allow stable controlling of the blade, as you guide it to either clean a scribed line, of form a new one. The needles and #11 blades do work well, but I’m old and shaky and lack good control of those longer tools.
Gee, I already have one of those PE razor saws- never thoght of using it to scribe lines. I fired I’d have too much trouble starting and stopping the line. My saw already has a chip in the middle of one of the sides. I’m going to try grinding off all but a few teeth to see if I can get a more definitive start and stop point.