hemostat tweezer thingys, the kind like surgical clamps that can lock closed (got some really Cheap ones, £1 a pair for mini ones at one of those cheapy shop places that has a £1 section)
and a piece of brass clamped into them, I just used a scrap and filed the edges. this makes a great flat surface, I used this for when I had some trouble using a reichenbach pink on a graphite marver, it chilled it too quick.
I guess you could cut and bend the brass to any shape.
I also had a little flaring tool that was basically a triangle of metal in one of those exacto knife handles, I wanted different angles of flare so I cut up some more brass and made different sizes
off to take pic...
these are what I'm on about ...
various re-purposed tools, nail pullers/pincers i use for breaking stringer, a selection of knives and spoons, for shaping and a giant spoon thats a spoon rest.
and this is a pea scoop, I use it to fish around in the vermiculite for things that aren't on mandrels(wearing a mask of course!)
hope this inspires anyone to see anything(well almost anything) as a tool(my local kitchen shop always asks 'what are you going to use
that for?' knowing I dont want to use 3 ice cream scoops for ice cream...)
I also have a stainless steel tray(from a charity shop) sat on kiln posts ontop of my kiln for drying frit or leaving just joined together rods or prewarming or whatever.
Madeline