Alright, let me tell you about this hot wheels clamp thing I rigged up. It’s not pretty, but it works, and that’s what matters, right?
So, the problem was simple: I needed a way to hold these tiny hot wheels cars steady while I was trying to paint some details on them. My hands are shaky enough as it is, and those little cars are just too small to grip properly.
First thing I did, I rummaged through my junk drawer. You know, the one where all the random bits and bobs end up? Found a couple of those spring clamps – the kind you get from the hardware store for like, a dollar each. They’re usually yellow or black, and they have those little orange or red tips. I grabbed two of those.
Then, I needed something to actually hold the car. I thought about using some foam, but I didn’t have any handy. What I did have was some old cardboard. So, I cut out two small rectangles of cardboard, maybe an inch wide and two inches long. I folded each of them in half to make them a little thicker.
Next, I grabbed some hot glue. Yeah, I know, it’s not the most elegant solution, but it’s quick and dirty. I glued the cardboard rectangles to the inside of the clamp jaws. I made sure to center them so the car would sit reasonably straight.
Now came the tricky part: getting the spacing right. I had to test fit a hot wheels car in the clamp and see if the cardboard pads were gripping it properly. I didn’t want them too tight, or I’d damage the car. I didn’t want them too loose, or the car would wobble around.
I ended up adding a few more layers of cardboard to one of the pads to get the right amount of grip. It was a lot of trial and error, honestly. Glue, test, add more cardboard, test again.
Once I was happy with the fit, I let the glue dry completely. Then, I tested it out with a few different hot wheels cars to make sure it worked with various sizes. It wasn’t perfect, but it was good enough.
And that’s it! A super simple, super cheap hot wheels clamp. It’s not something you’d see on a professional workbench, but it does the job, and it saved me a lot of frustration. Plus, it was a fun little project to tinker with.
So, yeah, if you’re looking for a quick and easy way to hold hot wheels cars for painting or detailing, give this a try. Just remember to be careful with the hot glue, and don’t expect perfection. Sometimes, good enough is all you need.