Top products from r/metalearth

CHP-170 Micro Cutter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FZPDG1K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_NYI1AbCK4Y43D

This one works perfect for me. Never tried much cutting with the tip but never overlaps and cuts pieces out perfectly, and a very tight fit when closed. Not expensive, in fact an add on item u have to purchase with a larger order, but might be able to find the same as a stand alone. Have gotten one for my gf and brother both and they have never had overlap issues. They are flush and I highly recommend.

Edit: they say flush in the description but might be the same as the other poster u/bluetrombonium linked to idk. But they work for me well and seem sharp, but again don't use tip cutting for anything.

Edit2: I think they are exactly the same but with red handles. Also 3 dollars cheaper for some reason but out of stock on the other site, but seem to have exact same specs. Probably this is your best bet lol https://www.hakkousa.com/products/chp-tools/chp-hand-tools/cutters/chp-170-d.html

A few things to get you started:

1. A small pair of needle-nose pliers to use for bending the tabs and gripping the parts.
   
   
2. Nippers - no need to spend a lot of money here, just something basic to cut the pieces out of the sprues
   
   
3. Bending tools. These are optional but make things easier when bending long pieces. 7pcs Edges + Tabs + Cylinder Cone Shape Bend Assist Tools For 3D Metal Puzzle Assemble Model Kits https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MY984WY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_nXznDbHNAS6SK
   
   
4. Additionally, something you can use to bend round and cylinder pieces. I like to use a drill bit kit since it has a ton of different sizes and I can usually find the right one.
   
   Medal Earth makes a pretty solid beginner kit that would be a good place to start Metal Earth 3-Piece Tool Set - Clipper - Flat Nose Pliers - Needle Nose Pliers https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MNQ2TUI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_HUznDb94F45T2

I enjoyed it. I'm pretty much due for 1 mess up on each build. Sometimes it requires glue to fix. This one is glue free!!

I had the first piece (yes, #1) on upside down when I did 2 and 3. Fortunately, it was something I caught pretty quickly and was able to fix without further incident. I use gauge needles to form the cones so it went pretty well.

I have seen some builders use model scissors to cut pieces out with great success. I use wire cutters and try to cut as close to the part as possible. This has worked well for me but the finer the cutters the better. The only problem with going fine on cutters is that they will misshape if too fine so you have to find a good balance. hope this helps :)

Not anymore, as I’m a perfectionist, and I didn’t like the way a number of my domes had appeared on previous builds, so I invested in a doming kit like this one on Amazon. I got mine at Harbor Freight.

It’s useful for builds like this, as well as for builds with spherical elements. For example BB-8 or the Death Star. It also helps make the final product look more round versus having sharp corners on seams or inconsistent bends. I’ve got those two builds posted here on r/metalearth and can be found on my profile also if you want to take a look, and maybe you’ll find that you might want one as well.

Nice! Something you could add instead of the black backer is this:

Magnetic Project Mat Showpin Large Size Small Parts Work Mat Peg Board with A Board Marker - Preventing the Small Screws from Getting Lost and Unorganized - Great for Writing Notes(9.8x11.8 inches) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F58KL96/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_P1p0BbQE834MB

It is magnetic and dry erase. It keeps your parts together and has made repetitive assembly so much easier for me. It won't work for the gold pieces which aren't magnetic for some reason, but it is awesome! It might be better because bumping into the case won't scatter everything

I got [these lights] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HSF65MC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) with [this power adapter] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DKSI0S8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) from Amazon. The lights are sticky on the back. What I did was run it up the front corner on the left, across the top, and down the front corner on the right. It does a pretty decent job of lighting everything up. I can take a picture when I get home if you like.

Advice I got from this thread, pick up one of these when you can, great little twister.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GXGNMV2/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awdo_t1_4VNvCbM29TDAC

Personal advice, always twist 90° and always twist clockwise. That way you know which way and how far when you need to untwist it.

Also (learned from other resident experts) an exacto knife (something like this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005KRSWM6/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awdo_t1_PZNvCbZ40WD5) is great for getting under those tabs when you need to pry them up. You can dull the edge a little, or live dangerously.

I used to have that problem as well. There are small clippers that work well for this purpose; you can get a look at them here:

https://www.amazon.com/Tool-Kit-Metal-Earth-Models/dp/B00MNQ2TUI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503058205&sr=8-1&keywords=metal+earth+clippers

The pair I'm talking about is on the far right of the item pic. I bought my pair from Aliexpress for $4~ with free shipping; just search for "metal earth" and the clippers are often one of the options when you are looking at a listing that offers lots of different models. Downside of Aliexpress: it takes 2-3 weeks for that free shipping to get from China to the US. But I wasn't in a hurry so the wait didn't bother me. Hope this helps!

Good Luck! I am also using Crab Spoon and metal Madler.
(https://www.amazon.com/HIC-Lobster-Japanese-Stainless-8-Inches/dp/B0041HRJVQ/)

Here is a pretty good starter tool kit that has some decent cutters for getting the pieces out successfully.

I have this (or something very similar to it). I've enjoyed it very much.

https://www.amazon.com/Magnifying-PHIVE-Magnifier-Adjustable-Workbench/dp/B07MYXSW5V/ref=sr_1_11?keywords=desk+adjustable+magnifying+lamp&qid=1567711345&s=gateway&sr=8-11

But I also used these for quite a long time and for 10 bucks its worth a try.
https://www.amazon.com/SE-Illuminated-Dual-Flip-Magnifier/dp/B003UCODIA/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3VAS1BS7X2RI7&keywords=jewelers+magnifying+glass&qid=1567711408&s=gateway&sprefix=jewelers+m%2Caps%2C192&sr=8-5

Oooo, something like this? I hadn't considered, but now that I'm thinking about it, this would definitely help catch those tiny parts that tend to jump around.

Michael's has coupons for one item at 50% off from time to time so I was able to get the cases for $30 each.

Here is the light strip that I got:
https://www.amazon.com/Flexible-Non-waterproof-Christmas-Decoration-Daylight/dp/B00HSF65MC/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1500094562&sr=8-5&keywords=led+light+strip

This is enough to do both cases. For the power since I do not have them hung up where I would like them to be yet I just got a battery pack. This is the one that I am using now:

https://www.amazon.com/Octopak-2-s-Tm-Battery-Supply/dp/B00LH31OC2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1500094692&sr=8-3&keywords=led+light+strip+battery+pack

I then bought the a Y adapter so that I could power both strips at the same time.
https://www.amazon.com/ESUMIC-Power-Female-Splitter-Adapter/dp/B00G6G5DJ0/ref=sr_1_fkmr3_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1500094769&sr=8-2-fkmr3&keywords=led+light+strip+battery+pack+splitter

For those looking, search amazon for metal shaping tools.
for the specific balls on a stick, https://www.amazon.com/Dapping-Doming-Jewelry-Making-Forming/dp/B00FBP2HGO/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&qid=1518492859&sr=8-18&keywords=metal+shaping+tools

Thanks so much! It was quite a learning experience. I think I need to buy some sort of drill bit set for rounding. I bought this but it doesn't really help when you have a long piece you need to round off.

I use flush cutters to snip the parts out of the sheets for the most part. Here is an example.

For bending tabs I use a precision plier set and sometimes small tweezers.

For the lazy

$16 in Canada :| https://www.amazon.ca/Hakko-CHP-170-Stand-off-Construction-21-Degree/dp/B00FZPDG1K

I got it on Amazon.com, as a roll of magnetic tape. I had to cut it up into appropriate length pieces, then lay it out flat and put some heavy books on it to get it to stop trying to roll back up. And then it still tried to, so I keep the sheets stored face-down when I'm not using them, and that's gotten it to flatten out better.

Here's the link to the specific magnetic tape I bought:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005HYDC68

What about a small magnifying stand? With or without the helping hands. I don't think I'd include this in a tool kit, but sold separately.

http://www.amazon.com/Carson-MagniLamp-Magnifier-Inspection-GN-55/dp/B0001X09FM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452877518&sr=8-1&keywords=magnifying+stand

http://www.amazon.com/SE-MZ101B-Helping-Magnifying-Glass/dp/B000RB38X8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1452877518&sr=8-2&keywords=magnifying+stand

They've leveraged their brand to sell tapes and other adhesives, but this is actual gorilla glue https://www.amazon.com/Gorilla-Original-Waterproof-Polyurethane-Bottle/dp/B0001GAYRC

That stuff expands into a foam and hardens. It would destroy your model.