The Syren blocks are 3-D printed and really beautiful. That is probably the future of making the blocks.Great looking blocks! I agree that the "right tool for the job" is a "pearl tweezers," or something like your shop-made equivalent.
I would also add that for the sort of work addressed in this thread, a modeler would find the use of a "jeweler's" or "watchmaker's" bench most helpful. Such benches are designed for working with a short viewing distance to the work and with design features which minimize the "escape" of small parts, as well as keeping essential tools handy. When we have a block the size of a pea go flying into the ether, we're out a few cents or a bit of time to replace it. When a jeweler has a flawless cut natural diamond the size of a pea go flying into the either, it could be $25,000 or more, so they've figured out a dedicated type of bench that provides for working close in (without back strain) on small parts with a catch tray or cloth catch "net" when parts do fall. The characteristic "U" shaped cutout in the front of these benches serves to allow sitting close to the work so the user's body blocks falling parts and directs their fall into the catch tray or "net." These benches usually also have some provision for forearm and/or hand rests which greatly reduce fatigue and maximize steadiness of hand. (See bottom photo.) Online there are lots of plans for DIY construction of full benches and partial bench "boxes" that sit on top of a regular table or bench.
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Note arm rests extended and metal catch tray and working surface. The "bench peg" is used for sawing with a jeweler's saw, as well as any other task requiring a sacrificial cutting surface. The wooden "fork" of the pin is easily replaceable when it gets too chewed up. The back surface of the bench pin style shown is a solid metal for use as an anvil.
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Jeweler's anvil and bench pin holders with wooden pins start around $20. These along with their companion jeweler's saw and blades are basic tools that should be part of every modeler's armament, although it appears few are unaware of this standard jeweler's essential tool. Note that it can entirely replace the relatively expensive "self-healing cutting mats" that seem to be used by so many ship modeler's. (Note in the picture below the wooden pin is inserted in the holder upside down from usual practice, although there's no reason it can't be used in that position at the user's convenience.) https://www.amazon.com/Bench-Jewelers-Jewelry-Making-Workbench/dp/B07KGJBP7C/ref=sr_1_10?adgrpid=1337006710146854&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.XVh2Wo8v_VQC93LwX8wFlyAtUo7h-RqNiVjfCpMJK_HjaKw8luDfz0pHCCkV4u6fnuZQoX17FFU1LpQKXbCmJxV_JtBS7J0Ekn5TTO39WsUK783QW7XeZzbqJ2lQ4CbKkzrNpHUHrFqKj-XDlHTlBzmhIF1m74eFB1OQC7-U7trL2IgHl0wgbTs5c-kWfN4dYjVoKTPfOivvbHi0XudvDhzUd67eBemv38v8xRwg0ZBVxxXgcsHSCT6oCwOgkyw5yxTCj0jiXLa4gnTZtVacIjLV3pl7WBVzbbx0n_jUgjM.3uE7VDNtP2ZhMM0L2djesZlmxvPVsKCxGtF9Dli3HfQ&dib_tag=se&hvadid=83563068434875&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=88716&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-83563277995347:loc-190&hydadcr=24656_13493410&keywords=jeweler's+bench+pin&mcid=f425877f71e5375b91e3569cec40a305&msclkid=bb4c38edc4a413b4061450d115493140&qid=1748816379&sr=8-10
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So, how do you make such good-looking blocks?
I have long thought about how to mass-produce good looking blocks with a minimum of tedious hand finishing. Everybody is familiar with the old "whittle them out of a stick" method, but in addition to being very time and labor intensive, producing uniform sized and shaped blocks is a further challenge, although not insurmountable. Short of CNC machining, how do you do it? I recall there was once maybe ten years or more ago on another modeling forum a thread that described a jig system that enabled making a lot of blocks at a time, but I stupidly never saved it and have never been able to find it again. I'd love to see some folks who make their own quality blocks show us how they do it.
Thanks in advance!
Rob