Applying fillers and putties to small areas can be, well, less than enjoyable. I made myself a special tool to make the job easier and more precise. I started with a Tamiya keyhole saw blade that was past its prime. Being careful and wearing all appropriate safety gear, I used a Black & Decker RTX Moto-Tool and a sturdy cutoff wheel to grind the saw’s teeth off. I ground that side flat and straight. I ground a gentle, sweeping curve shape into the other side. Deburr all edges with sandpaper or a honing stone, but don’t sharpen anything. Insert your new putty applicator into any standard hobby-knife handle.
Big bonus — the same tool can also safely remove raised panel lines or details! Hold the handle at about a 45-degree angle, with the blade turned sideways in relation to the raised details. Using light to medium pressure, simply pull the tool towards you. The top of the raised detailing will be gently scraped off. Stop there if you only want to simulate worn areas, or repeat a few times to remove more.
The spring steel used in these small saw blades bends in a very helpful way. It almost feels like you’re using a firm paintbrush when applying putty. The springy metal won’t let you use too much pressure while scraping details off, making it much harder to accidentally gouge or mar the surface. I won’t be in any hurry to go back to lesser tools!
Tip submitted by:
Ward ShrakeRaton, New Mexico