Let me preface this by saying I’m not a paid spokesperson for any of the companies I list here. All logos, trade names, etc. are property of their respective companies.

I would also highly recommend you support your local craft and hobby stores by purchasing what you can there, rather than ordering online.

Over the years, I’ve used and accumulated a lot of tools. Now that I’m working on a model railroad and building cardstock models, there are a few tools that I use all the time.

Hobby Knife

The Xacto #1 knife has been around for many years. Since it is no longer under patent, many companies sell variations of them. My personal favorite is from a US company called Excel.

Their K30 model has a hard rubber padded grip and a hexagonal shape on the back end that keeps it from rolling off the work bench.

SHARP Blades!

Nothing replaces a sharp blade. Shop around and experiment until you find a good source of #11 blades for your hobby knife.

Steel Ruler

A foot long, stainless steel ruler will save lots of time. They are available from many companies and can be found at craft, hobby shops and art supply houses.

Self-Healing Cutting Mat

Self-healing cutting mats are made from a unique composite PVC vinyl material, designed for both rotary blades and straight utility blades. These cutting mats provide a long-lasting surface that can be cut without showing marks or cutting lines. They are sold almost anywhere there are sewing, art, or other craft supplies.

Arlee’s Tacky Glue

This wonderful white glue comes in a Fast Drying Glue Pen and is available in most craft stores.

Pigma Brush Pens

I’ve been using these for fine detail work where you would normally use a brush. The Pigma Brush Pens from Sakura can be found in most art supply stores.