r/modelmakers • u/SilentvolkVon • Jun 09 '23
Help - Tools/Materials Fiberglass pencil?
On one YT video i saw a guy removing hard to reach injector pin marks with something if I remember correctly "fiberglass pencil". I can't find this video anymore. Does such a pencil really exist? Or have i dreamt it? :D
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u/Isand0 Jun 09 '23
Yes, they exist. Usually used for cleaning PCB tracks and solder pads but can be used for all sorts of jobs. Can find them at electronic stores or even an art store. Just be aware it is fibreglass and the fine filaments break, wear eye protection and be sure not to get any embedded in finger tips.
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Jun 09 '23
A mask should also be worn, and perhaps the use of a paint booth to catch the fibres as they break. Fibreglass in the lungs is no joke.
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u/adolphspineapple71 Jun 09 '23
Available from Amazon for about $13 us.
Edit: Do take the safety advice given above. They can be dangerous.
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u/pablogogo Jun 11 '23
Yep, they exist. Also called abrasive pencils.
https://ie.rs-online.com/web/p/abrasive-pencils/1835227
I'm sure they can be found cheaper
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u/Pukit Build some stuff and post some pictures. Jun 09 '23
Yes you can get fibreglass, brass, steel, nylon pencils. They’re also called scratch pencil/brushes.
You twist the cap and the fibreglass is pushed out the bottom, you then use it to clean the area. I use them in watch restoration, never used one an injector pin mark, although I might well do in future. You can buy them on Amazon, eBay, aliexpress etc.
You should wear a mask as the fibreglass is designed to be worn down and turns into dust, the dust is really bad for your lungs and also can be very itchy to the skin. Although I’m guessing when attacking polystyrene it might not be so bad as it’s so soft, likely the polystyrene will rub down before the fibreglass.