Introduction
Whether you’re crafting custom heroes for your D&D campaigns or repairing a battle-worn miniature, the right tools can make all the difference.
A well-stocked hobby toolkit not only makes your work easier but helps you achieve cleaner, sharper, and longer-lasting results.
Here’s our guide to the tools every miniature hobbyist needs — plus where you can grab them!
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🛠️ Must-Have Tools for Miniature Hobbyists
1. Hobby Knife / Precision Scalpel
What it’s for:
Trimming, cleaning up mold lines, repairing breaks, and precision cuts for kitbashing.
Recommended:
Excel Blades K1 Knife — durable, sharp, and affordable.
2. Super Glue (Gel Formula)
What it’s for:
Bonding parts quickly and cleanly.
Gel glue gives you more control than liquid types, so no messy overflow.
Recommended:
Loctite Super Glue — a strong bond perfect for both plastic and resin minis.
3. Pin Vise (Mini Hand Drill)
What it’s for:
Drilling tiny holes for pinning parts together — vital for heavy or awkward joins.
Recommended:
Hand Drill Pin Vise Set with Micro Bits — includes multiple bit sizes for flexibility.
4. Hobby Files
What it’s for:
Smoothing surfaces, cleaning up rough edges, and prepping broken parts before gluing.
Recommended:
Craft File Set — premium quality files perfect for delicate miniature work.
5. Fine-Grit Sandpaper
What it’s for:
Softening joins, prepping bases, smoothing green stuff repairs.
Recommended:
Sandpaper Assortment — perfect for smoothing rough edges, prepping miniature surfaces, and cleaning up joins before painting or gluing.
6. Green Stuff (Two-Part Epoxy Putty)
What it’s for:
Gap filling, sculpting custom details, and fixing damage invisibly.
Recommended:
Green Stuff (Epoxy Putty) or Milliput Epoxy Putty — essential for serious kitbashers and repair jobs.
7. Paint Brushes (Detail Set)
What it’s for:
Painting your minis with precision and style.
Smaller tips = cleaner lines.
Recommended:
Army Painter Wargamer Detail Brush Set or NicPro Miniature Paint Brushes — excellent brushes for fine detail work.
8. Cutting Mat
What it’s for:
Protecting your workspace (and your miniatures) while you cut and glue.
Recommended:
Self-Healing A4 Cutting Mat — durable and perfect for hobby desks.
9. Tweezers
What it’s for:
Handling tiny parts during assembly and repairs without gluing your fingers together.
Recommended:
Precision Hobby Tweezers Set — includes different tip shapes for tricky jobs.
🧙 Bonus Tools for Next-Level Hobbyists
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Magnifying Lamp — Helps reduce eye strain and spot tiny details.
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Dremel Rotary Tool — Great for cutting, sanding, or modifying resin and metal minis.
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Army Painter Wet Palette — Keeps your paints workable for longer.
Conclusion
Getting the right tools isn’t just about making life easier — it’s about unlocking your full creative potential.
With these essentials at your fingertips, you’ll be ready to build, paint, repair, and customise miniatures like a true master crafter.
Stock up your toolbox and let your imagination (and your minis) run wild!
✨ Quick Pro Tip:
If you're just starting out, you don't need to buy everything at once. Focus on the basics first — hobby knife, glue, pin vise, and brushes — and build up from there!