What power tools do you recommend to the novice whiffer?

[McColm]

Hi Guys,
Are there mini-Sanders available or engraving machines for the modeler that buys plastic kits?
I'm used to hand sanding, but on my kitbashed designs there is a fair bit of filler/putty used.

[NARSES2]

I've never used them in modelling but am told that If you go down the mini drill route, then get a tool that has variable power and a very slow speed setting. Most power tools are way to fast for plastic and melt it !

Be very carefull before splashing the dosh

[Thorvic]

For what you want a Black + Decker Mouse might do the trick for sanding large surfaces, otherwise a Dremel with a variable speed is the best for finer shaping with its various tool heads however as these tools are intended for metals and woods so have a high speed where as plastic with its low melting point will soon distress from friction heat so its needs a much slower speed so you need to be very careful as you try it out (use a scrap hulk to practice with before touching an active build )

[Dizzyfugu]

I can highly recommend a simple engraviing drill - its a smaller version of the Dremel Tool kind of machine that you can actually hold in your hand while working. AFAIK there are even nail carving and polishing devices of the same size around - check a drugstore, just see that it is compatible with a generic mount for any kind of drill bit and other accessory.

I LOVE mine, esp. with cutting blades, carving and sanding heads, small drills and a diamond cutter for steel works. I got mine years ago from a discounter as a private label product, but later found out it is actually a normal branded good, just relabeled. It has speed choice and features a very good Mabuchi motor - a company that, among others, fabricates electro engines for model railroads. Considered it as a luxury thing at first, but now I won't miss it, since it makes even major surgery very convenient!

For sanding, though, I rely on classic hand work, with (wet) sand paper or sometimes, for really huge areas, sanding pads.

[kerick]

I have found a benchtop disc sander useful when working with a large piece. A little too fast for plastic so just use a light touch. Best power tool so far is the little battery operated paint mixer from micro mark tools. It really works and saves a lot of time mixing paint that has settled out in the bottle.

[Weaver]

I've never used them in modelling but am told that If you go down the mini drill route, then get a tool that has variable power and a very slow speed setting. Most power tools are way to fast for plastic and melt it !

Be very carefull before splashing the dosh

Indeed, and unfortunately it's the cheap ones that have cheap speed controllers that don't go slow enough. I've now got a rechargeable Dremel that's useful, but I could only afford it because it was seriously discounted in a sale.

Engraving cutters and drills are the best tools to use in a Dremel. Having said that, plastic is so easy to drill that nine times out of ten, I use a hand drill instead.

Kerick is right that the paint mixers are good, but don't pay over the odds for "modelling" ones: they're exactly the same as the "cappuchino frothers" that Ikea and discount stores sell for a couple of quid.

[McColm]

Thanks for the advice.

[Dizzyfugu]

I've never used them in modelling but am told that If you go down the mini drill route, then get a tool that has variable power and a very slow speed setting. Most power tools are way to fast for plastic and melt it !

Be very carefull before splashing the dosh

Indeed, and unfortunately it's the cheap ones that have cheap speed controllers that don't go slow enough. I've now got a rechargeable Dremel that's useful, but I could only afford it because it was seriously discounted in a sale.

Engraving cutters and drills are the best tools to use in a Dremel. Having said that, plastic is so easy to drill that nine times out of ten, I use a hand drill instead.

Kerick is right that the paint mixers are good, but don't pay over the odds for "modelling" ones: they're exactly the same as the "cappuchino frothers" that Ikea and discount stores sell for a couple of quid.

...and if you want/need a slow speed mini tool, make sure its engine has good torque. Those small engravers/nail polishers might lack that, even though you can compensate this through the tools -  e. g. a saw disc with small teeth instad of a coarse one. But it really depends on the material you want to cut or drill.

[zenrat]

If you get a "dremmel" then it's worth splashing out for the flexible drive.
These make it a lot easier to do delicate work as without one you have a lot of weight sitting behind your hand plus the gyro effect of the spinning motor doesn't help.

[NARSES2]

Kerick is right that the paint mixers are good, but don't pay over the odds for "modelling" ones: they're exactly the same as the "cappuchino frothers" that Ikea and discount stores sell for a couple of quid.

Do you mean things like this Harold ? Always had the impression they were to speedy ? At these prices though I'll get one and try it on an old Tamiya jar filled with water, and blame you if I get soaked 

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/9059289.htm
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/30100041/?query=Milk+Frother

[Radish]

I use none.

A "Bowie" knife....otherwise known as a Stanley Knife....never use a scalpel unless I'm bodging holes.
Glue....Hunbrol Liquid.
Humbrol Filler.
Sanding sticks (useful for polishing my nails )
Always Hand/brush painted, but usually prime first.

[Rheged]

Best powered equipment for a modeller??   Coffee maker,  fan heater,  CD and/or DVD player to keep Madame happy whilst  you model.

[kitnut617]

You will quickly find out that power tools are not the best option for cutting/sanding plastic.  Even using a very corse grade of sandpaper and sanding by hand you'll find the plastic starts to melt as you're sanding.

I bought a nice little scroll saw just for cutting models up, but even on the very slowest setting it was still too fast and the plastic melted and then jammed up around the blade.  It's not been used since -----

[Weaver]

Kerick is right that the paint mixers are good, but don't pay over the odds for "modelling" ones: they're exactly the same as the "cappuchino frothers" that Ikea and discount stores sell for a couple of quid.

Do you mean things like this Harold ? Always had the impression they were to speedy ? At these prices though I'll get one and try it on an old Tamiya jar filled with water, and blame you if I get soaked 

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/9059289.htm
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/30100041/?query=Milk+Frother

Well at least you won't end up RLM 81 Brunviolet......

I've got an Ikea one but I must admit that I havn't tried it yet.

[rickshaw]

Wasn't there some bloke, a German IIRC who used cheap, disposable electric toothbrushes to sand models with?  He cut out little disks of sandpaper and glued them to the brush head  IIRC.