Painting handles

I've designed and printed my own painting handles to help hold the miniatures that I recently started to paint.

When I used to do this, 30 years ago, I awkwardly held the bases, because I didn't know any other way. More recently I tend to fix things that I want to paint, on to bits of timber, often using sticky tack  (Blu Tack, White Tack, etc..)

Catching up with modern trends, I see most people using a comfortable looking handle with the miniature clamped or stuck in place.

There are a number on the market or available as 3D print files, of various shapes and sizes. Some with added features, like finger rests and clamps. I have bought a Citadel handle and that is great for miniatures with some shapes of bases but it is not really versatile.

There was no one handle that stood out as being exactly what I wanted. Of course, that led me to come up with my own.

I've now had the opportunity to use my own take on a handle and it was exactly what I hoped for. In use, I did not think about the handle and was easily able to move the model into the position I needed.

Versions

I've only used the flat top stick-on version, so far, but I've designed and printed 3 variants ready for different situations.

Magnet Variant

A holder using a 16mm diameter x 5mm deep magnet, held on using a countersunk M3 nut and bolt. [Update Feb., 2026: I'm not sure how useful the magnet handles will be now that I've added magnets to the bases of the miniatures.]

Cork Variant

A version that fits a cork, so wire can be pushed into it.

Flat Top Variant

The one I expect to use the most, a flat top for sticking things to it.  [Update Feb., 2026, I have added steel discs to the top of all my flat top handles to accommodate models with magnets in their bases.]

All three variants are designed to print unsupported on either a resin or a filament printer.

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Update April 2025:

I've added a couple of versions to hold larger models.

Download:

Painting Handles STL and STEP files (zip)

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Update Jan 2026:

I prefer a slightly heavier feel to the handles. In resin they have a nice weight because without any changes, the result is solid. I've now printed some from the filament printer deliberately using a solid infill. I prefer these to those I originally printed.

Update Feb 2026:

I have started to add magnets to the bases of all my miniatures to make them easier to transport. I've added steel discs to my painting handles. This makes mounting and swapping the models much quicker.

The discs are attached using superglue (CA.)

The magnet holds the model sufficiently to paint, but I need to steady the base when dry brushing. This is still much more convenient than mounting the model using sticky tack.

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