Basic Tools for Working with Miniatures and Dolls' Houses

By Lesley Shepherd, About.com

These are basic tools which are useful for working with all types of miniatures and which make a good set of portable tools to take to club nights and workshops.

Some of these tools may already be in your basic household tool kit and can be used as needed for miniature or dolls house work. Before you buy tools, check magazines, clubs and shops which deal with your miniature hobby and choose sizes which are appropriate for your interest. Many of these tools are used by most miniaturists, regardless of whether they are working on model cars, railways, dollhouses or some other project. Buy them as needed.

Tools From Your Household Supplies

• Toothpicks
• Craft sticks/frozen treat sticks
• Paper towels/rags
• Masking tape
• Small sharp scissors
• Water/paint containers (small empty yoghurt cartons etc.)
• Pen and Notebook
• Hobby Knife/X-Acto Knife

Hobby Knife/X-Acto Knife

Essential for cutting all types of thin materials, thin wood, styrofoam, plasticard , cardboard. Replacement blades come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and are sold separately. The most useful is a straight edge blade #11. Make sure you choose a handle which fits comfortably in your hand. Some are available with retractable blades. Available from hobby shops, craft shops and online.

Pliers or Hemostats

Fine pliers and hemostats (locking or not) are useful for holding things, bending wire etc. Choose smooth jawed pliers if you can find them, serrated jaws leave marks on plastic, wood and paper which are hard to remove. Available from hobby and craft stores, hardware stores, electronics shops.

Self Healing Cutting Mat

Used as a protective surface to avoid work surface knife cuts. These come in two varieties, it is handy to have both:

• Gridded green or blue cutting mats - found at hobby shops, art suppliers, craft shops, quilting stores. Choose one in a size you can fit in a take to shows/clubs kit. These have a self healing surface good for craft knives. The surface will close over cuts and not affect the mat. Do not saw or drill items on the mat, this will create holes that won't heal.
• Kitchen counter cutting mats - thin transparent flexible plastic mats to place on a kitchen counter. These are often found in bargain/dollar stores, hardware stores, kitchen supply stores. They are great as a protective cover for a work surface or table while you work.

Steel Ruler

Used as a straight edge for knife cuts as well as for measuring. Choose one with imperial (inches) and metric (cm) measurements. For a start, get a 12 inch/30cm rule. Later add a smaller 6 inch/15cm. length.

Available from hobby stores, craft stores, art supply and stationery stores. Choose one with a cork base if possible as it will not slide on the surface when you are cutting against it.

Wire Cutters

These are useful for cutting wire and clipping small bits of extra metal and plastic off of moulded pieces in kits. Choose a pair whose edges can cut flush with another surface.

Scale Ruler

Hobby scale rules are useful for judging the size and scale of miniatures. They usually contain a standard measurement rule, with markings for various scale sizes. They are available for dolls house miniatures in several scales, as well as for model vehicles and trains.Special scale rules are also available for architectural miniatures.

Needle Files

Needle files are useful for shaping plastic and metal. They are available in inexpensive sets from hobby shops, hardware and craft stores. Try an inexpensive set first, it may be all you need unless you plan to work in exceptionally fine detailed scale with fine metal.

Set Square

A set square is used to mark out perfect right angles. For miniatures choose a small, six inch (15cm) version, available from a hobby or craft store.

Box Cutting Knife/Stanley Knife

These knives have retractable blades and are used for cutting dense materials, wood, foam, carpet. Replaceable or break off blade types are available. Available from a hardware store. Smaller varieties are useful for light materials.

Tweezers

Fine bent nose tweezers with non serrated jaws are the most useful as you can use them to reach into awkward spaces. Non serrated jaws keep the tweezers from marking soft materials. Some miniaturists also like using very fine modeling or electronics tweezers. Available from cosmetics departments, hobby stores, craft stores, electronics suppliers.

Dental Tools

Useful for placing small items, filling small holes. Ask your dentist if he has any worn tools you can have, or check with hobby shops or online.

Paint/Glue Tray

Plastic flower trays are useful for mixing paint, laying out small parts, and setting out glue which needs to be applied with a pin or toothpick. If you use acrylic paints, buy a cover which fits your tray, it will keep the paint from drying out for one or two days. Inexpensive, available from art supply stores and some craft stores.

Task Lights for Miniatures

Small folding portable natural fluorescent lights are useful at club and show workshops and as task lighting at your main miniature work site. A larger, natural daylight lamp is essential if your work involves working with color. Portable, table and floor models are available online or through hobby, needlework, and art stores.

Magnifying Headband

These flip down over your glasses or eyes when you are doing very close work. They are available with changeable magnification, with or without lights. Essential if you are working with very fine detail. Check the fit and design if possible before you purchase. Some headband styles tend to slip more than others, depending on the angle you prefer to wear the band, and your hair style. Available from craft and hobby stores, needlework shops, art stores, gemstone and jewelry supply stores as well as some optical suppliers.