Tools and Materials

Check out the items I use in my hobby and crafting activities. This list includes tools and materials that I use to make projects while staying as frugal as possible. Note that Level 1 and Level 2 are relatively small investments as compared to Level 3 items. Some items you may acquire for free, like corrugated cardboard boxes, Styrofoam or clear plastics from packaging. A majority of these items, no mater how little or much the cost, usually lasts a long time unless damaged or lost. Feel free to start with the basics and add or remove items as your hobby and crafting journey progresses. Check back for updates.

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NOTE: These items may include affiliate links for which there is no additional cost to you, but I may receive a small commission to help support the website and to continue to provide you with hobby and crafting content. Thanks for your support.

Tools

Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
Scissors	Utility Knife	Hobby Knife Set
Ball Point Pen	Permanent Thin Point Marker	Refillable alcohol based marker
Wooden Pencil	Mechanical Pencil	Metal scribe
6 inch plastic ruler	6 inch metal ruler with metric	12, 36 inch metal rulers with metric conversion
Magnifying Glass	Wearable Magnifying Headset	Swing Arm Mounted Magnifying Glass with Light Source
Nail Clipper	Sprue Nipper/Flush Cut Pliers	God Hands
Low Temp Hot Glue Gun	Adjustable Temperature Hot Glue Gun	Cordless Hot Glue Gun
Basic Paint Brushes	Miniatures Hobby Paint Brushes	Airbrush Setup
Basic Hobby Kit	Hobby Toolset

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Materials

Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
Corrugated Cardboard (Mostly Free/Low Cost)	Foamboard (You can also buy from a dollar store for @ 1 dollar)	Insulation High Density Foam (Most home improvement stores have large sheets) / EPS (Expanded Polystyrene – found in most packaging, check recycling) / EVA Foam (ethylene and vinyl acetate – like rubber floor mats) / WORBLA / Chipboard / XPS Foam
Clear Tape	Painter’s Tape / Double-sided tape
Low Temp Glue Sticks / PVA Glue / Wood Glue PVA	CA (Cyanoacrylate) Glue and Accelerator	Contact Cement / Contact Cement 2
Acrylic Craft Paints	Buy as needed – including finishes like matte or gloss, metallics, etc.	Miniature Hobby Specific Paint Set
Wood Discs for Basing	25mm Round Plastic Bases / 32mm Round Plastic Bases	Hair Dryer / Heat Gun (Use with Caution – Risk of Injury, Fire, Death)
Clear Plastic Discs for Basing	Wooden Stir Sticks	Ballast (scale “rocks”) / Basswood Strips / Popsicle sticks (If you buy in bulk, it may last a very long time depending on usage)
	Handheld Hot Wire Cutter Set	Hot Wire Cutting Table

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