Miniature Tools

Start with the Tools You Use Most

You do not need every miniature supply at once. Start with accessories that make everyday painting and preparation easier:

• Painting handle: Provides a steadier grip and keeps your fingers away from freshly painted areas.
• Wet palette: Helps keep acrylic paints workable while layering, blending, or painting for longer sessions.
• Model nippers: Useful for cleanly removing miniature parts from sprues.
• Sanding tools: Smooth seams and excess material before painting.

If you assemble miniatures regularly, nippers and sanding tools are useful early additions. If you mainly paint pre-assembled models, a painting handle and wet palette may be more useful starting points.

Choose Miniature Supplies Based on Your Painting Style

The best tools depend on what and how you paint, especially as you move from basecoating to more specialized techniques.

• Fine details and layering: A painting handle, wet palette, and brush cleaner support precise painting and easier brush care.
• Tabletop armies and batch painting: Magnetic clip sticks can hold small parts, while a larger wet palette keeps colors workable across multiple models.
• Drybrushing: A drybrush texture palette gives you a convenient surface for removing excess paint before working on armor, stone, fur, and terrain.
• Basing and dioramas: Basing sets, cork, grass tufts, and other scenic supplies help create bases that suit your miniature and setting.

Build Your Miniature Hobby Setup in Stages

A useful setup does not have to be complete on day one. Start with the miniature painting supplies that solve your current needs, then add specialized tools as your projects become more demanding.

A simple progression is handling → paint control → preparation → finishing → organization.