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CDHM The Miniature Way
Tools
August 2010, Issue 7

I like to work my polymer sculpts with multiple techniques, one which is to do my initial sculpture, smooth as much as I can with 90% alcohol, bake it, then go back in with a motor tool (like a Dremel) to tweak up the shapes by power carving them. The power carving can leave some tool marks or too 'crisp' an edge on organic shapes that need to be knocked down.

The size and shape of flexi-pads enable you to get into some pretty tight and curvy spots. The foam pad is also such an improvement over hard sanding sticks (although those do have their place!) because it flexes into contours rather than glide over the top.

The reason I love these sanding pads, also, is that I feel it can speed up my processes when creating mini's. Rather than spending hours trying to carefully blend out fingerprints or tool marks while the clay is soft, which can also lead to the accidental squish or mark on an adjacent area, I would rather bake the piece and go back in for about 30 minutes or less and carefully sand away any problem spots.

They are not limited to sanding polymer or plastic though as I use them in miniature woodworking almost as much. I also use them when I make my own metal sculpting tools to smooth out the coarse sanding marks made by my belt sander to create a smooth as glass finish on them as well.

Recently Micro-Mark also came out with "sanding twigs" which look to be trimmings from large sanding pads cut into skinny little twig-like sanding sticks. They sell them in counts of about 300 in a little plastic bucket.

They are six and a half inches long, and come in a variety of colors ranging from red to black signifying various grits. Economically priced, you can afford a couple of these buckets and have enough to last you for months.

Another genius item they carry is "polishing swabs," sold in 12-count sets in small, medium and large. Each of the the sizes come in 4000, 6000, 8000 and 12000 grit again in various colors like blue, green and purple to signify their grit. Rinse them in water and you can keep reusing them over and over again. With these you can put a smooth gloss finish on the skin of those delicate fairies or dolls, so smooth people will think it was glazed porcelain.

Micro-Mark carries so many types of sanding devices I find it difficult to list them all here. If nothing else go look at their website and see all the various tools and devices they offer the modern day miniaturist. I work in wood, plastic, metal and clays and I have always found these sanding sticks in particular to be most invaluable. Once you try them I can guarantee that they will become a permanent part of your tool collection.

Until next month,
John