Tools

[blw]

There are always tool junkies in every modeling world...

One place that I really like is Otto Frei - http://www.ottofrei.com/home.php

They're a professional jeweler's supply house, so they have lots of things that modelers like. Some of the stuff is incredibly expensive - $37 tweezers, for example! They're priced that way because they're made of particular materials for specific jeweler's purposes that no modeler would care about (e.g., acid-resistant, magnetic-free, etc). But they also have GREAT quality stuff at incredibly reasonable prices. A really nice pair of curved, sharp-point tweezers in stainless steel beats the pants off the ones you get at the LHS because the jaws match perfectly, they're precision ground to a sharp point - and they're $2.75. They have other interesting things like metric dimension twist drills in sturdier cobalt steel, including sets with standard 3/32" shanks so they are easy to center in a pin vise - or especially a small drill press - and since they're tougher than the usual "high speed steel" they are a lot harder to break.

I found them when I was looking for high quality needle files for a brass scratchbuilding model railroad project. They were expensive, but surprisingly better tools than modelers normally find as they are finer cut, made of better steel, and don't clog anywhere near as easily. Clearly lifetime investment tools.

I have no connection to them other than as a satisfied ongoing customer.

[Rob Wood]

I'm a tool junkie, and I freely admit it. I love precision tools, regardless of whether we're talking about needle nose pliers or a milling machine. That link you provided is going to get me even deeper into debt!

The first thing that hit me is this:

http://www.ottofrei.com/Wolf-Belt-Sander.html

What a fantastic idea!

Thanks for starting this thread! My favorite power tools are my Proxxons, and I would have to say my micro mill is my favorite of those:



And you?

Rob

[blw]

I guess it takes one to know one?

I'm actually waiting for my X-Y table now, just ordered it in fact. It goes on my MicroLux/Proxxon drill press. I have my eye on a micro-mill, not so much for ship models as for railroading purposes. Am I missing a good reason to have one for ships too? Which mill do you have - MF 70 or MF 230?

I bet that belt sander would help folks who want to waterline the big resin full hulls.

[Bill Gormley]

Have you bought tweezers from Otto Frei before? They look great but I've purchased "fine" tweezers before (from Micro Mark) and been disappointed. Just curious which ones you got and how they've performed.

Also, another item they sell that might be useful is steel blocks in various dimensions. Might come in handy for bending photoetch.

[blw]

Yes, my current tweezers are from Frei. Later I'll post some pics. I like them much more than ones I got for higher prices from Micro-Mark, although admittedly the ones from Micro-Mark were purchased with different requirements in mind.

I don't really begrudge Micro-Mark's business model, which is to specialize in small tools. However, I usually find that I can buy the stuff that Micro-Mark sells from elsewhere for less, often significantly less. As an example, MM sells an airbrush cleaning station. It's an Iwata, and it works very nicely. It's $25 or so at MM, $13 elsewhere.

[wefalck]

Otto Frei, like most of today's jewellers/watchmaker supply houses is a dealer. I never dealt with them, as we such supply houses here in Europe too, but came across their Web-site in the late 1990s when looking for used watchmakers lathe accessories. I found them rather expensive. As they sell both, branded as well as no-branded products, it may pay to look around for other dealers that may sell the same product in order to compare prices.

Buying tweezers by mail-order is a bit risky, even when they are branded products. I think one needs to see them in order to be able to judge, whether a particular specimen is really good or not.

Re. bel-sanders: Proxxon make a self-contained one that cost a lot less than the one by Kate Wood on offer by Otto Frei http://www.proxxon.com/en/micromot/28526.php?list



wefalck
(another serious tool junkie)

[Bill Gormley]

I completely agree re: buying tweezers by mail order. Unfortunately, there aren't many opportunities for inspecting them personally. Vendors at model shows might have some on hand, but usually not a full range and usually not a super fine brand. Any suggestions - either a brand or specific tweezers - would be much appreciated.

[wefalck]

I have some Dumont, for instance, they are Swiss-made.

wefalck