Basic Skills
1. Cut accurately with an X-acto knife.
2. Read rulers and mark lengths
3. Have knowledge of basic glues and how to apply the
4. Paint smoothly
It's that easy! Here are a few tips on tools that would be useful.
List of Tools
An easily portable toolbox is essential to a miniaturist.
It doesn't take much to get started. A few must-have tools include a
self healing cutting mat, "square", sharp scissors, rulers, toothpicks,
glue, assorted clamps, X-acto knife, pencil, sandpaper and tweezers.
Many of us need some sort of magnification to work on miniatures.
There are many available types. Some clip onto eyeglasses, several fit
over your head and others combine magnification with light. Please be
sure you get a hands-free version so that you have two hands to do your
mini projects!
It doesn't take much to get started. A few must-have tools include a
self healing cutting mat, "square", sharp scissors, rulers, toothpicks,
glue, assorted clamps, X-acto knife, pencil, sandpaper and tweezers.
Many of us need some sort of magnification to work on miniatures.
There are many available types. Some clip onto eyeglasses, several fit
over your head and others combine magnification with light. Please be
sure you get a hands-free version so that you have two hands to do your
mini projects!
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Lots of miniaturists are adopting scrapbook containers. With multiple pockets, these organizers provide a lot of places to stash your tools.
Handy Tip #1:
Keep your set of tools in your toolkit at all times even while at home. If you use these tools at home, you're may forget to put them back in your toolkit. You'll miss these essentials during the miniature workshop.
Handy Tip #2:
Conversion tables might be handy in assisting you to figure out what size a miniature should be. Click below to access our English conversion table:
Listed below are some basic tools that will help you get started:
1. Pencil - HB lead (Bic mechanical)
2. X-acto knife #10 with #11 blades
3. Miter box with fine saw blade
4. Sandpaper - fine and medium. An emery board also can come in handy
5. Screwdriver - medium size
6. Clean wipes (Wet ones, Handi Wipes or a damp sponge in a bag)
7. Paint brushes - several sizes, flat & pointed and also 1" foam brushes
8. Tweezers - fine pointed & locking / reverse action
9. Pin vise with assorted drill bits
10. Locking forceps/hemostats
11. Files for metal and wood
12. T-pins - small size; s few quilting pins also could be handy
13. Rubber surgical gloves
14. 6" & 12" metal cork backed rulers
15. Glue - White Tacky, Yellow Wood, Super Glue, Gel Type Glue
16. Glue bottles with fine tips and the smallest possible opening in tip (monoject syringes)
17. Toothpicks
18. Sharp scissors (2 pairs) - one for paper and one for fabric
19. Pliers - regular & needle nose
20. Clamps - assorted types and sizes
21. Wire cutters - flush
22. Small T-square or right angle (or glue two Legos together as an L")
23. Small Hammer
24. Tape - masking, painters and Scotch and double sided
25. Small/medium plastic zipper bags
26. Waxed Paper
27. Pins, needles and thread
28. Utility knife
29. Hand-held miter cutter
30. Small self-healing cutting mat
31. Suction-action pick-up tool
32. Clay sculpting tools
33. Steel wool (0000)
34. Rubber gloves
35. Small screwdriver
Good sources for many of these tools include Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Joanne's and Micro-Mark®. Tool boxes can also be found at Lowes, Home Depot, Walmart and Kmart. Micro-Mark®, originally primarily serving the model railroad community, is a great resource for miniaturists.