Advanced Tools For Dollhouse Miniature Making - Life in a Dollhouse

If you have all the basics to get started creating miniatures, and you've already read by blog post, "Must-Have Tools For Getting Started in Dollhouse Miniatures", and want a fun new tool to advance your mini making, this blog post is for you!  I've been creating miniatures for 5, almost 6 years and along the way, I've come across some helpful and exciting new tools for my mini making that I'd love to share with you!

1. Resin 3D Printer

I’ve tried about 3 different PLA 3D printers before I finally discovered a Resin 3D Printer. All of the items I 3D print are tiny, and include multitudes of small detail, which was difficult to capture with a PLA printer. The Resin 3D Printer and accompanying Washing and Curing Station from ELEGOO has been a game changer. There is a learning curve to figuring out the new machine, but with the help of a few youtube videos and trial and error, the prints you will make will be exquisitely detailed and beautiful! The ELEGOO Saturn 8K MSLA Resin 3D Printer and ELEGOO Mercury XS Bundle with Separate Washing and Curing Station come together, and are sleek, and space saving. 

You might be wondering what the difference between PLA printers and Resin printers are.  PLA 3D printers use a plastic filament, that is heated up and then extruded onto a build plate to create your desired print.  In contrast, a Resin 3D printer uses a liquid resin instead of solid plastic.The liquid is in a well at the bottom of the printer, and the build plate is suspended from the top, upside down.  To build your object, the build plate is lowered into the liquid and lights are exposed to a light, one layer at a time, that cures the liquid resin into a solid.  This process is repeated over and over agin until enough layers are completed. The best way to see the difference between the two is to look up on Youtube videos comparing and contrasting the two based on your needs.  There are also some quite satisfying videos out there of a print being completed. 

The only downside I've discovered about Resin 3D printers are the smell of the resin, and the alcohol needed to clean the prints. Fortunately, there is a solution.  There is special resin that is water washable, eliminating the smell! ELEGOO Water Washable 3D Printer Resin is the same brand as the printer itself and comes in many colors. 

2. Popsicle Stick Cutter

Popsicle Stick Cutters, or otherwise known as Miter Shears are the perfect tool for when cutting through small, soft pieces of wood such as popsicle sticks of balsa/base wood. Another convenient feature is that you can cut many different angles of cuts using this tool. 

3. Mitre Box Set

For thicker pieces of wood that cannot be cut through with a popsicle stick cutter, like base molding or door trim, a Mitre Box Set is immensely helpful. This tool can cut base molding at perfect 45° angles. 

4. Pin Nail Gun

If you are like me and have tried to put together a dollhouse kit with just tape, wood glue, and a dream, you know how difficult it is!  Using a small pin needle nail gun is the perfect solution. This tool will be a bit of an investment as you'll need an air compressor along with the nail gun itself, but if you put together dollhouse kits frequently, it's worth it to save yourself the headache. This Arrow PT23G 23 Gauge Compact Pneumatic Pin Nail Gun is perfect for pinning together wood pieces while the glue dries, and adds stability, and ease to the building process.