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EYE PIN

If you are still looking for eye pins, 2mm pins are available in the jewelry making section of our local Walmart. A pack of 100 are about $3. I've found many items in this section of the store that can been used for model building. The scrapbooking section is also useful. I found stick on plastic gems which were perfect for the warp engine nacelles on a small scale Romulan War Bird.
Happy Modeling!
 
These pins are so easy to make by yourself. Why should one buy them? I make as many and of any size I need in minutes. Here is an example and even with iron rings installed. I use round nose pliers. I recall @Jimsky had wonderful tutorial on this topic.

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Fletch Dog said:
I am hopeful someone can help me find an eye pin that is made of 0.5mm diameter wire with a 2.0mm OUTSIDE diameter eye? I've looked and I am unable locate any. Plus there doesn't seem to be a uniformed way of describing the sizes on various websites and that makes it more difficult. HELP please.

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1. Pound a nail into a block of wood and bend the wire around the nail with pliers.
2. Buy the needed size wire/nail or reduce the size of a larger diameter wire/nail.
3. It is easy to make hundreds of eyes in an hour.
 
bill36 said:
1. Pound a nail into a block of wood and bend the wire around the nail with pliers.
2. Buy the needed size wire/nail or reduce the size of a larger diameter wire/nail.
3. It is easy to make hundreds of eyes in an hour.
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Can we reduce the wire size with regular drawplate Found AT Amazon?
 
Fish&Chip said:
Can we reduce the wire size with regular drawplate Found AT Amazon?
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It’s hard to say for certain. The drawplate should be made from high-speed steel (HSS), or at least have tapered holes lined with it. That said, if you're working with copper or brass wire, it should still get the job done.
 
Fish&Chip said:
Can we reduce the wire size with regular drawplate Found AT Amazon?
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1. No!
2. Actually, you can. If. you want to spend a ton of money for special wire, tools, etc.
3. The only tool you really need with the "setup" I described is a good strong pair of needlenosed pliers.
4. There is one really good rule you should learn and apply.
Namely, virtually "ALL THE TOOLS YOU WILL NEED TO BUILD MODELS ARE BEST MADE BY YOU IN YOUR OWN SHOP"!!! Almost all the tools you really need are special purpose, special size, special application, etc. and dirt cheap if you build them yourself. This also means that if you screw up a tool, scrap it and do it again: the lost cost is minimal to nothing. Also, as you make these tools you will build up an inventory of gadgets that you will find a use for in the future. Buy nothing that you can make yourself other than high quality hand tools that you will use to make other special purpose tools. This is how I approach all the model building problems. Hope this is helpful.
5.
 
bill36 said:
There is one really good rule you should learn and apply.
Namely, virtually "ALL THE TOOLS YOU WILL NEED TO BUILD MODELS ARE BEST MADE BY YOU IN YOUR OWN SHOP"!!! Almost all the tools you really need are special purpose, special size, special application, etc. and dirt cheap if you build them yourself. This also means that if you screw up a tool, scrap it and do it again: the lost cost is minimal to nothing. Also, as you make these tools you will build up an inventory of gadgets that you will find a use for in the future. Buy nothing that you can make yourself other than high quality hand tools that you will use to make other special purpose tools. This is how I approach all the model building problems. Hope this is helpful.
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I appreciate the enthusiasm behind the idea of building your own tools, and there's certainly a lot of value in creating custom jigs or fixtures tailored to specific tasks. However, I’d like to offer a different perspective, especially for those newer to the hobby or working in limited spaces. Saying that "all the tools you will need are best made by you" might not hold up in every situation. Here's why:
  1. Precision tools like calipers, micrometers, or small saws are manufactured to tolerances that are difficult to replicate in a home workshop. When working on small scales, even minor inaccuracies can add up quickly.
  2. For many hobbyists, time is limited. Making tools from scratch takes effort that could instead go into the actual model. There's nothing wrong with prioritizing building the ship over building the tools.
  3. Not everyone has a fully equipped workshop. Many modelers work in apartments, on kitchen tables, or in shared spaces. A drill press or lathe isn't always an option.
  4. Toolmaking is a craft of its own. Some enjoy it, but it shouldn't be expected as a prerequisite for model shipbuilding. We want to welcome newcomers, not overwhelm them.
  5. Sometimes building your own tools costs more, not less. Mistakes, material waste, or time spent experimenting can make a simple store-bought tool the better choice. And poorly made tools can even pose safety risks.
All that said, I do agree that there are some handy shop-made tools (jigs), especially for repetitive tasks or specific shapes. Simple jigs, sanding blocks, planking clamps, or even a keel holder can be great weekend projects and add real value to your workspace. But perhaps the better rule is this: build what makes sense, and buy what works. There’s room for both.
 
paul ron said:
cut the shafts of a fishing hook. they come in a huge varity of sizes, colors, and styles. the metal is hard n shapes are consistant.

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Ach Du Lieber how clever using cut off fish hooks for eye pins without having to bend ... I am a Fly Fisherman and have plenty of sized hooks/pins... Thank you...

Ahoy...
 
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