I'm sure we all have weird and wonderful things we use which are non-conventional, one of the tools I use is a pin lance for scratching away all sorts of things in hard to reach places, also useful for recessing panel lines which may be filled up with paint or scoring and scratching.
As model makers we use toothpicks all the time but despite their usefulness sometimes you need something with a stronger and finer point. Dress making pins are a good idea but they lack the necessary length to be used dexterously.
By combining the toothpick and dress making pin, we can make a lance that is easier to handle and has a sharper and stronger tip than a toothpick.
This tutorial shows you step by step how to make a pin lance with stuff that is easily available.
You will need the following materials.
1 x Toothpick
1 x Dress making pin
1 x Plastic cotton bud (Q-tip)
1 x Craft knife
Step 1
Cut one of the sharp ends off the toothpick
Step 2
Cut off a small section from the cotton bud, about 15mm in length.
Step 3
Cut a small nick into the toothpick about 15mm in from the tip. First cut down then cut across at a 45-degree angle so you end up with something like this.
Step 4
Offer the pin up to the toothpick and ensure the round end fits into the nick.
Step 5
Now take the small section of cotton bud and place it over the pin and the toothpick to create a sheath.
Step 6
Whilst holding the round end of the pin into the nick of the toothpick, push down the plastic sheath until it rests up against the exposed end of the rounded end of the pin.
Step 7
Finally press the completed tool down to ensure the pin does not move, the combination of the sheath and the nick should hold it tightly in place. If you like you can paint the end of the tool to make it easier to find in future. The finished result should look something like this
So there you go, that's how to make a pin lance.
As model makers we use toothpicks all the time but despite their usefulness sometimes you need something with a stronger and finer point. Dress making pins are a good idea but they lack the necessary length to be used dexterously.
By combining the toothpick and dress making pin, we can make a lance that is easier to handle and has a sharper and stronger tip than a toothpick.
This tutorial shows you step by step how to make a pin lance with stuff that is easily available.
You will need the following materials.
1 x Toothpick
1 x Dress making pin
1 x Plastic cotton bud (Q-tip)
1 x Craft knife
Step 1
Cut one of the sharp ends off the toothpick
Step 2
Cut off a small section from the cotton bud, about 15mm in length.
Step 3
Cut a small nick into the toothpick about 15mm in from the tip. First cut down then cut across at a 45-degree angle so you end up with something like this.
Step 4
Offer the pin up to the toothpick and ensure the round end fits into the nick.
Step 5
Now take the small section of cotton bud and place it over the pin and the toothpick to create a sheath.
Step 6
Whilst holding the round end of the pin into the nick of the toothpick, push down the plastic sheath until it rests up against the exposed end of the rounded end of the pin.
Step 7
Finally press the completed tool down to ensure the pin does not move, the combination of the sheath and the nick should hold it tightly in place. If you like you can paint the end of the tool to make it easier to find in future. The finished result should look something like this
So there you go, that's how to make a pin lance.
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