Rehashing the Tool Kit

Back in 2024, I put together a post called Lights, Camera, Prep - The 65 Dollar Tool Kit. One year later, the list still stands, but I now have an Amazon Associate's account to leverage. I will get this out of the way now. This entire post is one big ad for Amazon, and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. All links lead to Amazon. 

Let's review the list from 2024: 

• Cutting mat 
• Paper cutter
• 3 in 1 foam cutter
• Razor knives
• Glue
• Paint
• Tape
• Rule/Straight Edge
• Pencil
• Pen
• Marker
• Brushes
• Sandpaper
  

Let's start by laying out some rules because Amazon has some. I don't want to name prices like I did last year. Such things are subject to change, and I don't want to seem like I am guaranteeing a price point. I will share if I can get into the ballpark from last year. The last rule is, I am reusing the images I have taken, not sharing images from Amazon. 

My suggested size was 17" by 12", but this year I found a 12-inch x 18-inch mat on Amazon for less than $10. That is a win. 

If you want to completely cross this item off your list, go with cardboard or a soft piece of scrap wood. I feel this is more about protecting surfaces rather than protecting you. Almost any thick piece of material would do this task. 

The soft, self-healing nature of the purchased products reduces slips. That is an observation of me (not "mine" as AI tells me); it could be pure crap for a lot of reasons. For instance, I could be a lucky dummy, and I am gearing up to cut myself later. 

I do firmly believe that having a dedicated space for cutting is critical, no matter what you are using. Look at my image: A large table with a wooden board with a cutting mat on top. I can move this anywhere, but I don't because the space is what I really need.  

The papercutter I found today, made by Firbon. is also a win. Prices don't change much on these. In fact, the product in the link has more features than mine does, so I feel this would be a nice upgrade at a great price. 

For the 3-in-1 foam cutter, I experienced the exact same issue as last year. I could pay as much as I liked for one. I see good-to-great products listed between $20 and $200. I can't really suggest anything above the $20 to $40 range because they are very simple products: A hot wire cuts foam like magic. I don't see why this has to be a $200.00 product for small tasks. If you know of a product that justifies that price point, let me know in the comments. 

The link I'll share is to a 4-in-1 foam cutter, within the original price range. Again, like the cutting mat and papercutter, the product has improved over time without changing prices too much.  

What has changed in my mind is the utility of this product. I now own a laser and rarely cut foam anymore because my materials of choice have changed. I feel like I need one, but I rarely use it. 

I would like to talk about 3 items in this next section because they naturally pair with cutting foam: hobby knives, markers, and sandpaper. The knives and sandpaper are rather obvious, but did you know that magic markers and flair pens will burn styrofoam? Usually, this is a problem, but you can add details to foam with them. That is handy. Any marker you have in your junk drawer would likely work.

I feel like you could remove markers from the list because they are so ubiquitous. But if you go with Sharpie Brand markers, I think you'll use them a lot around the house and not just your crafting projects. Everything from drawing to labeling food is easier with markers. This will bump up the price of your hobby kit by about $7 over what I said last year. I think that is a good trade-off for the sheer amount of things a marker can do. 

Sandpaper... has issues. You can go to a dollar store and get a pack for a buck twenty-five. The issue I have with this choice is, it doesn't last. One project and it's toast. I also didn't put it on my list last year. If you pay a bit more for your sandpaper, say $5.00 more, you get a better product that will serve you in more tasks than the cheap stuff. I selected a 3M product this year. 

Hobby knives are the bane of my existence, so I am removing them from the list. The problem I have with them is, you can grab them anywhere at a very low price. And being so cheap, they dull and break quickly. Instead, get a box cutter. It will raise your price point by about $5.00. Box cutters can handle more tasks than a hobby or utility knife. I selected a basic model here. 

Glue hasn't changed from last year. I really like the Tacky Glue. The only dynamic Amazon change is the amount of glue you get. Honestly, I can see having too much glue as a problem. You can still grab one bottle for cheap at various local places, but Amazon unlocks getting it in volume. 

I am going to remove the tape and
pencils from the list. You probably have some anyway. Instead, I would suggest a better ruler. This year, I'm suggesting a steel ruler with a cork backing. I have a zillion rules, but keep coming back to these steel products over and over again. They won't ding like a wooden ruler and don't bend like plastic. A good steel ruler will eat up the savings on tape and pencils, but that is a good trade. 

The last two items you'll need are paint and brushes. Last year, I lied about paints and brushes. You can get them for $1 a bottle and $1 a brush. But that really isn't good paint or good brushes. To start off, you can do that, but these will be the first things you will want to splurge on. 

Yes, I do paint Battletech models with the cheapest paints and brushes I can find. Sort of. Since I like to paint, my arsenal of tools is ever-expanding. I didn't need many paints to get started, but I also didn't simply stop at $10.00 worth of paint. The same for brushes. I am going to leave the price point at $12.00, but again mention that Amazon unlocks volume pricing. This set is a smidgen more, but per bottle is cheaper. 

I am totally pleased and shocked that if I needed to start over, the same $65.00 would get me better tools. And in assessing my own habits, maybe I could splurge on a favorite like paint, by doing away with some things I don't happen to use, like the foam cutter.