Tools for Making Miniatures

You don't need much in tools to model a doll house miniature. These miniature making tools should get you going.

I'm sure you heard or read that "When you buy tools, get the best you can afford. You won't be sorry." Well...yes and no. When I buy tools for making miniatures I lean more towards getting what will work just fine to model a doll house miniature and look for the best price. I would much rather get a few more miniature supplies, then get a tool that cost twice as much as what I need.

Don't get me wrong. There is a difference between brands. Those differences may become important to you as you progress. In the full miniature dollhouse tools section I discuss the various brands and additional types of tools in more detail. For now let's get started with what works to model a doll house miniature.

Craft supply stores and large department stores with a crafts area will have most everything you'll need. There may even be an area for dollhouse tools.

Slicing and Dicing...

Without a doubt the most important tool is an X-actoŽ style knife. I recommend that you start with a small set. I use the Xacto knife for cutting wooden miniature furniture parts and a good portion of the paper or cardstock items I make.

You don't have to go overboard. This set is more then enough to get started to model a doll house miniature.

Although I use the knife for most of my cutting, the X-actoŽ saw is a convenient tool to have. It will save time when having to cut many of the miniature wooden dollhouse furniture pieces you will be making.

Keepin' It Square...

When I assemble dollhouse miniatures, particularly the miniature furniture, I use this carpenter's square to keep things square and most often vertical to the work surface as I glue things together.

I like the heavy, all metal type the best. When you remove the ruler portion, the frame is heavy enough not to move on the table top as I push and align the miniature furniture parts for gluing.

Clipping and Trimming...

The little guy shown I use for all the little bits of trimming that I end up doing. I use them to clean up edges and make small inside cuts on a miniature doll house accessory. Its spring loaded in the open position. I like it because it gets my whole hand close to my work. If you're like me you don't use a hedge trimmer to clip a few roses off your rose bush. The same is true here. You hold the cutting scissors right in the palm of your hand. This gives you much more control over the tips of the scissors for those fine mini cuts.

Just a Pinch...

I use several types of tweezers. The three I use most are shown here. I bought each of these separately, at different times to make each of my modeling tasks easier.

The black pair was next. I bought these in the makeup department of a department store. The broad tips work well to hold the larger miniature furniture pieces straight while placing them into an assembly. The part doesn't spin and slide around because of the larger gripping surface.

The red pair last. Yup, in the makeup department again. They have a real fine tip. They come in handy to get into some tight little places. I use them most when I'm working with miniature flowers. I also use them to carefully poke something into place while I'm creating a miniature flower arrangement.

How Big? Soooo Big...

The reason I use a clear ruler is so I can see the miniature parts through the ruler when I'm measuring. I also like the bevels along the measuring edges because you can clearly see the distance marks. Try to find one with crystal clear markings. You will save a great deal of time when all your miniature furniture parts are marked and cut to the correct lengths.

Putting the Squeeze On...

The pair on the left has a flat, squared off end with a wider gripping surface. The pair on the right is quite pointed but not as sharp as the tweezers. They are both only 5" overall, and fit comfortably in your hand. I use them to twist wire or hold items a little tighter, then the tweezers, when I have to apply extra pressure on a miniature assembly.

You want the type that spring open. These two guys are quite old and they're springy's have sprung. (Soon to be repaired, he keeps telling himself.) The pair on the right is at least 30 years old and should probably be hung on the wall in a place of honor.

A Stroke of the Brush...

There are as many types, styles and price ranges of paint brushes as there are types of paint. For most of my basic miniature furniture painting or staining I really only use two brushes. A number "0" liner and a number "2" flat - and they came out of a package of inexpensive brushes. Let me clarify that these are for the basic miniature furniture pieces that I make. For some of the fancier pieces, I use a better quality brush for the final coat of paint or clear polyurethane.

To get started you can buy a set from $5.00 to $8.00 (US) and have enough of a selection to work with. I do recommend soft bristles. When you work with the thinned down paint as I do the stiff bristle tends to make things streaky (if that's a word). The soft bristle allows the paint to flow more evenly providing a more uniform coating.

Protect your working surface...

I have is a self healing cutting mat. Mine is 18" x 24". This is my actual miniatures construction zone. The cutting mat is handy when cutting paper with the razor knife. The mat also helps the razor blade tips last longer.

You can get away with cardboard to prevent cutting the surface underneath. A small cutting board or old chunk of plywood will work too. In fact I have a small 6"x 8" plastic cutting board (A dollar store item used in the real world kitchen) handy for when I use the razor saw.

Ok! That should be it for start-up tools. Let's move on to supplies. These will be things like glue, paint and sandpaper - what I call consumables.

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