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| Tips, Techniques, and Questions -- Technical questions or tips |
2009-08-05, 6:08pm
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I fart diamonds
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Join Date: Jun 14, 2005
Location: Altamonte Springs, FL
Posts: 3,893
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Cheapest Best Tool Ever
The thread in the Family Room about Holly's paint spatula got me to thinking about all the really great cheap tools I have.
Best cheap tool #1: #2 pencil. Great for poking dots, flowers, etc. (glass doesn't stick to graphite/lead) $0.39 for a box of 12 and I'm still using the same one I started with 4 years ago.
Best cheap tool #2: Spackle knife. Probably my most used tool (I like it better than the razor blade tool). I use the sharp edge for "cutting" and the flat side for marvering. I recently sharpened the edge and now I'm really in love. I sometimes catch myself caressing it... (Just kidding!!!) I bought a pack of 3 from Harbor Freight for $1 about 4 years ago. I use the smallest one.
So what are your favorite cheap tools?
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-Shawnette the original "everybody get a grip" girl
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2009-08-05, 6:17pm
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da General
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Join Date: Oct 05, 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 13,002
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I received this from Maria Louisa as a gift but it's the best tool! For only 2,50 euros (about US$3.75), it's a steal. Not sure how much shipping is from the Netherlands to the US tho.
http://www.beadpress.nl/stempelwinke...roducts_id=325
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Hayley
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2009-08-05, 6:36pm
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I fart diamonds
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Join Date: Jun 14, 2005
Location: Altamonte Springs, FL
Posts: 3,893
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What is it? It almost looks like a scribe. If so, you can get those at Harbor Freight, too. (Yes, I am a total tool whore.)
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-Shawnette the original "everybody get a grip" girl
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2009-08-05, 7:18pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Feb 15, 2006
Location: In my Studio
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I took a 12" piece of brass strip, it measure 0.64x1/2" size , used my grinder to make brass knives for using on the Surf and Turf tut of Becky Mason and Diane Woodall tut that I bought. It was enough brass for 2 knives. Put a sharp edge on them . I paid $2.89 for the brass strip- got 2 knives. Added a handle , it works for me.
Found the brass at K&S Metal website. Love this website for making tools.
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2009-08-05, 8:06pm
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Ass-kicking Cephalopod
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Join Date: Jun 19, 2006
Location: Duh, Squidville
Posts: 9,523
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A little 99 cent bait knife that Kate Fowle Meleny passed out in her class. I LOVE LOVE it!
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DOG is my co-pilot
Cricket w/two 5 lpm oxycons - and sometimes a Minor.
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2009-08-06, 3:45am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jan 14, 2007
Location: Fullerton, CA
Posts: 4,834
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I bought a pack of wood carving tools for like $12. I use them all the time. There is a curved one, that you could use to make a smile on a face, but I use it to push glass over, when it's a curved design, like a dot, so you don't distort the curved edge of the dot as you're tucking in an edge or something. I also use this one for the lines on my elephant's trunks. There is one with a tighter curve, too. It came with some straight edge tools, too. I really get a lot of use out of them. They had a very thin coating (of something?) on them that burned off during the first use (I have good ventilation), but nothing since. There were about 6 tools in the pack.
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Patti T.
Fullerton, CA
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2009-08-06, 4:02am
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I fart diamonds
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Join Date: Jun 14, 2005
Location: Altamonte Springs, FL
Posts: 3,893
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JCollie
I took a 12" piece of brass strip, it measure 0.64x1/2" size , used my grinder to make brass knives for using on the Surf and Turf tut of Becky Mason and Diane Woodall tut that I bought. It was enough brass for 2 knives. Put a sharp edge on them . I paid $2.89 for the brass strip- got 2 knives. Added a handle , it works for me.
Found the brass at K&S Metal website. Love this website for making tools.
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A lot of hardware (Ace, True Value, etc.) and hobby stores have K&S Metal displays so you can most likely get stuff like that locally (including stainless rod and tubing for mandrels). I'm always in my neighborhood Ace.
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-Shawnette the original "everybody get a grip" girl
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2009-08-06, 6:19am
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ManBearPig
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Join Date: Jun 28, 2005
Location: Roanoke, VA
Posts: 8,540
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Gravity.
Can't beat free...
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2009-08-06, 7:26am
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Location: Cincinnati
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I have a set of embossing tools from Michaels that have different sizes of little stainless balls on the ends of them. They are hand for flowers, and nostrils, and other rounded indentations on beads. They were maybe $6 for a set of 4 or 5.
And using a metal hanger to make a free marble holder. I don't remember where I read it, but it works really well.
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Lynda
Cheetah, 5 lpm and 7lpm conc/generator (8-9 psi), natural gas (booster), started 11/06
"The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time." -- Bertrand Russell
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2009-08-06, 7:47am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 23, 2006
Posts: 5,540
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I LOVE my steal chop sticks that Donna at the Mandrel gave me. I use them to flatten tiny dots for the nose bridge of glasses on my fish and owls, and poke holes in flowers. They are not sharp but have a tiny little flatness to the tip.
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Cynthia
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2009-08-06, 8:15am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Aug 28, 2005
Location: Sanger, Tx
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dental tools from the local flee market. hmmm, just had a thought, I'm betting your local dentist is throwing some old ones out and would be glad to give them away instead. I'm guessing you could even sharpen them with a knife sharpener.
-D
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Donna Felkner -
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2009-08-06, 8:37am
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da General
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Join Date: Oct 05, 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 13,002
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shawnette
What is it? It almost looks like a scribe. If so, you can get those at Harbor Freight, too. (Yes, I am a total tool whore.)
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No, not a scribe. I don't know what metal it is made out of - it doesn't stick to glass as readily as steel so I use it to shape, to poke, to rake etc.
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Hayley
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2009-08-06, 9:38am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hayley
No, not a scribe. I don't know what metal it is made out of - it doesn't stick to glass as readily as steel so I use it to shape, to poke, to rake etc.
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If 'it doesn't stick to the glass as readily' I'm betting it's tungsten.
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Donna Felkner -
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2009-08-06, 9:56am
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RAH!
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Join Date: Feb 19, 2008
Location: England
Posts: 331
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I think my embossing tools, £3 off ebay for 4 different sizes- little stainelss steel sticks with balls ont he end. they're awesome for petals!
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2009-08-06, 11:38am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jul 01, 2005
Location: Ohio
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Metal cuticle pusher - they're getting harder to find, but one of my faves until Brian made me a new one in brass. 
Dental tools my dentist saved for me.
Harbor Fright pliers.
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"...living hopefully ever after..." -john lennon
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2009-08-06, 11:57am
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da General
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Join Date: Oct 05, 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 13,002
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Donna - it doesn't feel like tungsten but then I am no metallurgy expert.
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Hayley
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2009-08-06, 12:01pm
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Never give up
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Join Date: Dec 22, 2007
Location: Nashville , IN 47448
Posts: 949
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shawnette
A lot of hardware (Ace, True Value, etc.) and hobby stores have K&S Metal displays so you can most likely get stuff like that locally (including stainless rod and tubing for mandrels). I'm always in my neighborhood Ace.
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O.k. back the train up a little. Tubing for mandrels?? Your talking with the hole in it. Do you mind if I ask what size you use and what material they are?? I am really interested in making glass ornaments. Thanks
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Kim
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2009-08-06, 12:14pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Feb 15, 2006
Location: In my Studio
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Thanks Shawnette,
We have those stores here too. But the K&S Metal tubing and brass is more expensive. I have found K&S at my local hobby store owned by a elderly couple.
The tubing is the 1/4" size in hollow and solid and stainless steel. Great for the cored beads.
I still can get it cheaper off the website.
Thanks for sharing the info .
Janet
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2009-08-06, 12:17pm
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I fart diamonds
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Join Date: Jun 14, 2005
Location: Altamonte Springs, FL
Posts: 3,893
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Stainless steel. They have several sizes, from 3/32 on up. The most common size used 1/4" stainless tubes for hollow mandrels.
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-Shawnette the original "everybody get a grip" girl
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2009-08-06, 8:17pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 20, 2007
Location: buenos aires.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by truegem
I bought a pack of wood carving tools for like $12. I use them all the time. There is a curved one, that you could use to make a smile on a face, but I use it to push glass over, when it's a curved design, like a dot, so you don't distort the curved edge of the dot as you're tucking in an edge or something. I also use this one for the lines on my elephant's trunks. There is one with a tighter curve, too. It came with some straight edge tools, too. I really get a lot of use out of them. They had a very thin coating (of something?) on them that burned off during the first use (I have good ventilation), but nothing since. There were about 6 tools in the pack.
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After a tip about smilies (was it you?) I found a wood carving set for AR$7 (7 Argentine pesos = US$1.80)!! That was a bargain!! I'm just starting to play with them but I see lots of potential. Thanks for the tip!
A pencil!! That too is a good one. I even have drawing pencils with no wood on them.
You are all so clever!
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2009-08-06, 10:05pm
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It's all about the color.
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Join Date: Jul 03, 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,894
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I'd like to add a metal ice cream scoop to the list.
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Kay Powell
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2009-08-07, 12:23am
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Unmedicated since '62
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Join Date: Jan 18, 2009
Location: Hunter Valley, Australia
Posts: 5,907
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a set of dental tools i pinched from my DH tool box (he'll never miss em)
a razorblade tool i made by embedding a blade in the end of a piece of wooden dowel
a sharpened piece of fencing wire that just right for plunging flowers
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Deb
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- my 17yo sons first novel
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- download, get organised, enjoy
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2009-08-07, 3:30am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jan 14, 2007
Location: Fullerton, CA
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OMG I love the ice cream scoop idea!
Lynda, I bought a tool like the one you're describing and I paid about $15 and I only got one! It's two-sided, but still....
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Patti T.
Fullerton, CA
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2009-08-08, 2:58pm
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Never give up
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Join Date: Dec 22, 2007
Location: Nashville , IN 47448
Posts: 949
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PerfectDeb
a set of dental tools i pinched from my DH tool box (he'll never miss em)
a razorblade tool i made by embedding a blade in the end of a piece of wooden dowel
a sharpened piece of fencing wire that just right for plunging flowers
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Don't count on it. I borrowed my husband's, and darn if he didn't catch me. Might want to hind them. Ha Ha!
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Kim
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2009-08-12, 6:42am
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Location: Rochester, Michigan
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Okay...keep backing up that bus. Do I understand athat if I can find that K&S stand and they have 1/4" tubing it will be usable for my big hole beads and I will be able to core them also?
Sorry.....sometimes it takes me a few days to take this all in! 
Anne
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Anne
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2009-08-12, 6:48am
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I fart diamonds
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Join Date: Jun 14, 2005
Location: Altamonte Springs, FL
Posts: 3,893
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Yep! Make sure you look for the Stainless display. It's seperate from the copper, brass and steel and looks like this:
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-Shawnette the original "everybody get a grip" girl
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2009-08-12, 7:09am
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Senior Member
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Posts: 2,198
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Fav Tool
This is my fav tool. It is a Lead Dyke Knife for cutting lead came for stained glass. Good ones are hard to find now... I've had mine for about 8 years. What I like best about it is it acts as a paddle and has lots of blade so I can sculpt and push each time using a fresh spot so the balde never gets hot enough to stick. Adds a lot of speed if you work boro big and hot.
Ron Jr.
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2009-08-12, 7:16am
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Senior Member
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Location: Florida
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I learned this from Lucio.... A cheese cutter. I like the one on the right best....
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html...t_adv_XSN10001
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Heather Ferman Web site:
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Viking knit End Caps for sale:
[/url]https://heatherferman.etsy.com[/url]
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2009-08-12, 8:07am
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Booger #7
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Join Date: Jun 05, 2005
Location: Blue Springs, MO
Posts: 5,402
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my exacto knife and tweezers from walmart that have a scoop on the end. I use the flat part of the scoop to push down dot and the tweezers for flower petals!
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Sue H-K
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2009-08-12, 9:13am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Nov 23, 2007
Location: Portland OR
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hayley
Donna - it doesn't feel like tungsten but then I am no metallurgy expert.
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LOL! My computer translator reads the description as "Appetite pen with straight point".  Does it make you hungry?? 
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~Jenny
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"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice; in practice there is." ~ Chuck Reid
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