Box Cutting Knife/Stanley Knife
Box cutting knives have retractable blades and are used for cutting dense materials, wood, foam, carpet. These can be used instead of a hobby knife for cutting many simple shapes from a variety of materials. Replaceable or break off blade types are available. Available from a hardware store. Smaller varieties are useful for light materials.
Tweezers
Fine bent nose tweezers with non serrated jaws are the most useful as you can use them to reach into awkward spaces. Non serrated jaws keep the tweezers from marking soft materials. Some miniaturists also like using very fine modelling or electronics tweezers. Available from cosmetics departments, hobby stores, craft stores, electronics suppliers.
Dental Tools
Useful for placing small items, filling small holes. Ask your dentist if he has any worn tools you can have, or check with hobby shops or online.
Paint/Glue Tray - Flower Tray
Plastic flower trays are useful for mixing paint, laying out small parts and beads, and setting out glue which needs to be applied with a pin or toothpick. If you use acrylic paints, buy a cover which fits your tray, it will keep the paint from drying out for one or two days. Inexpensive, available from art supply stores and some craft and dollar stores.
Task Lights for Miniatures
Small folding portable natural fluorescent lights are useful at club and show workshops and as task lighting at your main miniature work site. A larger, natural daylight lamp is essential if your work involves working with color. Portable, table and floor models are available online or through hobby, needlework, and art stores.
Magnifying Headband
These flip down over your glasses or eyes when you are doing very close work. They are available with changeable magnification, with or without lights. Essential if you are working with very fine detail. Check the fit and design if possible before you purchase. Some headband styles tend to slip more than others, depending on the angle you prefer to wear the band, and your hair style. Available from craft and hobby stores, needlework shops, art stores, gemstone and jewelry supply stores as well as some optical suppliers.
Here's a review of the lightweight and interchangeable lens style of headband by MagEyes - one of many reliable brands.
