By Shawn Merrell
Austin Armor Builders Society
June 4, 2005 

Another article in our series on building models using inexpensive materials, this article covers the uses of the lowly toothpick (or wooden matchstick or even bamboo skewer, as applies). These items can be obtained using coins found under the cushions of almost any couch, and the modeler should never be without them.

Toothpicks, Matchsticks, and Such 

Possible and probable uses include::

1. Glue applicators: This is the most common tool used for this purpose. One fine point that many modelers may miss is the ability to sharpen their applicators using any sandpaper in order to place smaller quantities of adhesive on the surface to be glued. 

 2. Burnishing tool: Used to smooth down applications of foil glued to a surface, removing bubbles from underneath such material to make a smooth metallic appearance to such items as hose clamps, etc.

3. Shovel, Pick, and Axe Handles: Using a Dremel tool as a lathe to turn toothpicks and matchsticks into smaller diameter dowels is useful for making real wood tool handles. These can then be roughed up a bit with an Xacto blade and given a wash of thinned burnt umber oil paint to bring out the real grain. Finally, they can be “shellacked” with clear yellow paint. Even the ball on the end of a German shovel handle can be replicated with enough patience using the Dremel tool and an Xacto blade. Safety goggles should always be worn when a Dremel tool is in operation, to prevent eye injury due to flying debris. Ocular splinters are simply not consistent with sound modeling practices.

4.  Paint stripper: Toothpicks will bend or break before significantly marring the surface you are trying to strip, which makes them ideally suited to removing a stubborn misapplied finish, at least in hard to get to or smaller areas of a surface, leaving the larger portions to other methods.

5. Zimmerit trowel: Sharpened, sanded toothpicks glued together side by side can be used to score your favorite putty into a zimmerit coating on German tanks. Although there are commercial zimmerit trowels, this one is practically free.

6. Rifle butts / stocks: Depending on the scale, rifle butts could be fashioned from matchstick wood, and could be finished using the same methods as the tool handles in number 3, above. Even 1:35th scale rifle stocks are possible, using fireplace match sticks.

7. Part handlers: Toothpicks and matchsticks can be super glued to smaller parts that need painting. The nice thing about this is that once paint is applied, the other end of the toothpick can be stuck into a mound of clay or similar substance to hold the part in free space while the paint dries. Also, it is easy to remove the toothpick and residual glue once the paint is dried.

8. Assembly jigs. Have you ever seen a house under construction where the walls are temporarily held up by angled two-by-fours nailed diagonally from the top of the wall to the floor? This same principle can be used to jig parts until the glue has dried.

9. Cleanup after drilling: Self explanatory, the advantage being that the wood is soft enough not to dig its own contours into your carefully drilled holes.

10. Chipping paint: This is something that should be done during the first twenty minutes after applying the top coat, while the paint is still a bit tacky. Care must be taken not to overdo this. Best accomplished with a bare-metal base coat, then a coat of Future, then the top coat(s). 

These are ten uses for something even cheaper than Q-tips. Many others must surely abound. If none of this is crazy enough for you, have a look at what Bob Shamey, of Ligonier, PA, is doing with toothpicks. Visit http://www.shamey.com/tooth/tooth.htm. There are examples of workable tools and a nine car model railroad carved from a single toothpick!

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