r/diamondpainting • u/Background_Kiwi_8313 • Jan 05 '26
Tips / Tricks / Tools New to diamond painting - anyone else only use the single placer?
Hello, sorry for bad quality photo. I took this on my iPad cause my phone is charging
This is lighthouse on bluff from DAC and I only found out after I bought it that it’s probably AI 🥲
You can see in the top left where the diamonds are uneven is where I was using a multiplacer but they get more even when I started using a single placer and doing the checkerboard method.
It takes more time and probably more strain on my arm but it’s so relaxing and satisfying.
I’m still deciding whether I like a flat surface or a tilted surface better. The only problem with tilted is I can’t get the canvas sheet to stay in one place and I try to tape it but it eventually falls.
If anyone has any advice I’m all ears!!
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u/mereseydotes Jan 05 '26
I prefer a single placer. DP is an enjoyable hobby, why would I want to go faster. Though, I do use a vacuum pen, which speeds things up. I'm not sure really, how much faster I would go with multi placing anyway, as that means you have to be good at lining up the drills in the tray
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u/Less-Orchid8676 Jan 05 '26
Could I ask what a vacuum pen is ? How does it work and why do you like it better?
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u/mereseydotes Jan 05 '26
It's a pen with either an integrated pump or a separate pump, so that the drills are picked up like a vacuum picks up dust. The suction is strong, but not stronger than the adhesive on the canvas. They make it so that you don't need to use wax/ putty/ glue dots and ABs aren't a problem. I used to post links to recommendations, but there's so many out there now, and everyone has different preferences. The Picmondoo is popular. Highly recommended.
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u/Laurashrti Jan 06 '26
Sorry, what is AB?
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u/Significant-Ad3692 Jan 06 '26
It stands for "Aurora Borealis." It's the designation they use for drills (or beads, crystals, etc) that have an iridescent coating.
I guess someone thought the iridescence looked like the northern lights.
The coating tends to stick to putty/wax more than other drills.
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u/Curse_10_3 Jan 05 '26
I used to think I would only ever single place but I’ve gotten comfortable with a 4 placer as well. I don’t plan on doing any more than that. The single placer and 4 placer are a good combination for me.
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u/Tricky_Feature_8819 Jan 05 '26
I was thinking of trying a 2 placer, I dont like a 6 placer because it looks so messy to me, I cant keep them neat when I place, and it drives me crazy
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u/Curse_10_3 Jan 05 '26
Same! I tried the 6 placer and was constantly fixing the drills. With the 4 I find I am able to place them straight and rarely ever have to go back and fix.
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u/Curse_10_3 Jan 05 '26
Also to add more info, I’ve tried using my light pad tilted but I find it hurts my wrists more than it being flat. I just take more breaks when working on them. I do think the combo of 4 placer and single placer is a good compromise for my wrists not hurting as much since I can do large sections a little quicker with less repetitive movement.
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u/Lopsided_Block2931 Jan 05 '26
I have been diamond painting for about 4 years and I have never even tried to use a multi placer. I am an angled tip single placer for round projects and needle nose tweezers for squares.
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u/RebaKitt3n Jan 05 '26
I have an electric placer, but can’t get used to the angled tip. So I’m back to my regular manual one by one.
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u/lbunny7 Jan 05 '26
whenever I try to use a multi-placer I wind up having to fix all the drill positions slightly anyways. so I feel like it winds up being the same amount of time 🤷♀️ but I’m not the best placer to begin with
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u/throwawayjaynee Jan 05 '26
I am a single placer for squares and a multi placer for rounds. My squares always look haphazard if I try to use a multi placer. I also like the satisfying snaps of placing individual squares in the checkerboard method. lol
As for the tilted surface, my husband and I use light clamps to hold our canvases to our little tabletop draft tables. For smaller canvases, I usually keep them flat on the table.
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u/Desirai Jan 05 '26
I prefer single placer. It is more therapeutic for me. However, I have a very large one in going to work on soon, I am going to give multi placer a try on that one
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u/SherryD8 Jan 05 '26
I use 3-drill and 6-drill attachments when I have a large section that is all one color. I have a straightener tool that came with one of my kits and neaten all of the rows with it so you can't tell exactly where I used a multi-placer. (I keep forgetting to include the straightener tool on posts where people will ask DP'ers "What are your indispensable tools/items?")
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u/CuriousData9129 Jan 05 '26
I’m a single placer with the vacuum pen, total game changer. No need to stop & refill the pen. If there are a lot of color blocking, I multiplace 8 or 10, but find that I need to go in an straighten as I go!! Happy DP’n
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u/Violetlimebuttercup Jan 05 '26
Single placer here. I have a toddler and I need diamond painting to slow me down not speed me up.
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u/OpeEndor Jan 05 '26
I’ve only recently started using both, but previously I loved single placer because it required no thought or effort allocation to “how many beads get picked up this time”. Having the hobby be enjoyable and slow made for really gratifying final projects (mostly do custom 45x60cm). I recently cleared out some round-drill backlog from when I first got into the hobby using multi-placers and it was frustrating to use but faster. I’ll likely stay using single for my next batch of big ones.
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u/misquoted_mind Jan 05 '26
I use multiplacers for large areas of color but use single placers for some as well. My best suggestion is I use a combo of both by single placing ones evert few spaces and then using my multi in between so the single placed help line up the multi.
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u/troybarnes3005 Jan 05 '26
i use a single placer for squares, but i use a multi placer and one of those steel diamond art grids for rounds!
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u/CuriousData9129 Jan 05 '26
If you don’t have a straightening tool, def get 1. Especially with squares. The drill field is so close, that you need every single drill to be straight & lined up in the respective place. It’s looking good!!
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u/SmellMyMangoes Jan 05 '26
I hate lining up the drills in the tray ! Im a perfectionist and I can never place them down perfectly with a multiplacer!
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u/LadyLizzita Jan 05 '26
I use tweezers and do one at a time too. But I also only do square diamonds.
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u/Hafnic Jan 05 '26
I find multi placers much easier with round. I use 3, 4 and 6. For squares I tend to stick to single unless it's a big block of colour.
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u/HighlyJoyusDragons Jan 05 '26
I have an angled single placer bit that I use most (it was a game changer for me and definitely reduces wrist strain).
I'll use a 2 drill placer for larger blocks, more because I get bored of doing the same colour for too long than anything else. I find for me anything larger is more work and I'm way more likely to have wobbly lines. I also have a line correction head which I find helpful when things get wonky.
The canvas I'm working on right now has been weird spacing wise so I've used the line corrector a lot.
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u/mnth241 Jan 05 '26
I use a single placer. 👋 i found there was a learning curve. Sort of, with the multi placer and i decided it wasn’t worth it. With a single placer, i am checking the alignment of so the surrounding drills.
Like others, it’s not perfect but it is relaxing, why stress out using an annoying tool? 🧐❤️👍
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u/Large-Storage-3186 Jan 05 '26
If you don’t have clamps to hold the painting when tilted, I’ve been using giant binder clips.
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u/Background_Kiwi_8313 Jan 05 '26
I just realized I could probably use some clips for chip bags I have
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u/Sinnfullystitched Jan 05 '26
I do! I find it relaxing to use a single placer and just zone out while listening to YouTube or a movie. Tbf I haven’t tried a multi placer yet but I am a creature of habit so will likely stick to single placing
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u/IndigoTrailsToo Jan 05 '26
I used a single placer for a long time, until I figured out if I liked it.
Then I bought a 4-multiplacer pen and a light pad and a cheap organizer kit and that's all i bought!
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u/coolpug420 Jan 05 '26
I'm also new and I only know how to use the single one never tried the ones that do a bunch at a time
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u/Tricky_Feature_8819 Jan 05 '26 edited Jan 05 '26
Me! I find when I use multiplacers my placement isnt nearly as nice and neat.
Also to keep it in place when tilted I use binder clips!
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u/Megsfloofs Jan 05 '26
When I first started, I also only did single placing! But now I usually like to use my three drill placer. It’s a little easier to use than the larger ones in my opinion. I do still mostly single place on square drills though
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u/ndmh9512 Jan 05 '26
I used to be an only single placer. But now im working on a piece with over 120k drills sooo yeah. Im a multiplacer now 😂
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u/TheChiarra Jan 05 '26
I just started and I do single placement as well. Tried multi, but feel like it's so much messier than single placing.
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u/issabellamoonblossom Jan 05 '26
I mostly single place though i recently got a new pen that came with a tip that can multiplace 2 at a time and I like that anymore then 2 and it becomes a mess. I prefer tilted so I use a table top artist easel it has a lip for the canvas to sit on if I need to I use a bull clip up the top or side to stop it falling forward
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u/DeepAccountant1441 Jan 05 '26
I’m a big fan of single placer. I enjoy the repetitiveness. And definitely like flat vs tilt
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u/Finally-Flourishing Jan 05 '26
I'm a single placer also.... When my body flares.... I can do a big section of the painting and just zone out. It is relaxing.
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u/Rude_Ebb9606 Jan 06 '26
I use a single placer. I don’t want to finish them any faster than I do normally 😊 I do smaller ones I buy on Amazon and I do about 1 per week while listening to podcasts or audiobooks. Just something to keep my hands busy
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u/Paranoid_RAZOR Jan 06 '26
I use the tweezers to place each square drill doing a 50×100 cms at the moment
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u/Vicemage Jan 06 '26
I used to single place only, mainly because I wasn't confident, but my personal serotonin hits are from finishing sections and full kits, so I worked up to a 4-placer and use that a lot now. I'm considering trying a 7, because I have a lot of 7 plastic tips that come with kits, but counting to 7 quickly isn't as straightforward as 4 :)
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u/Smart_Variety_5315 Jan 05 '26
I'm also a newbie. I'm a single Placer and checkerboard. I find it very zen like. Chronic pain issues so slow and steady for me.
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u/Kyoto-via-Shinkansen Jan 05 '26
I only use a single placer. I don't care to use the multi-placers. I'm just as fast with the single to be honest. (And I'm working on a big project. 80cm x 80cm)
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u/SouthernSwitch71 Jan 05 '26
I'm a single placer too....its therapeutic for me to place them one at a time
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u/dm_myring Jan 06 '26
me! it's just the most convenient way for me to place them. it always comes off crooked when I use a multiplacer
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u/Reasonable-Apple2581 Jan 06 '26
I’ve never got the multi ones to work. I see people use them so easily, but with one it truly helps zone the world out
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u/that-1-theater-girl Jan 06 '26
I’ve gone through a whole little evolution of processes but have recently landed on strictly single placing (with tweezers actually) for square drills but using 3 and 6 multi-placers for the majority of my round drill kits
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u/butterfly68za Jan 06 '26
Get those big clips to hold the canvas in place. I'm also a single placer. Multi placer is too messy for my liking.
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u/bridgetteblue69 Jan 06 '26
Yes !!! Ive done 4 huge DAC canvases all w/single placer. I refuse to use multi placers .... that makes the project go by to fast. I want to savor the process
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u/Velour_Tank_Girl Jan 06 '26
I'm a single placer. I've tried the multiplacers and did not care for it at all.
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u/icaquito Jan 06 '26
It took me 3 years as a single placer to try a multiplacer - I was hooked, it was an absolute game changer. I now use a range of multiplacers and my single placer and can enjoy all the scented putty too.
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u/Significant-Ad3692 Jan 06 '26
I find single placing more relaxing, but if I'm working on a larger piece and just want to make some progress I'll multiplace.
I have a double ended placer usually have a 6 place and an angled single on it. I'll use the 6 for 4-6, 1 for 1 or 2, and for 3 I use it whichever way I happen to be holding it.
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u/Mygirls9901 Jan 06 '26
Been diamond painting for 6 years and still prefer single placing over multiplacing. But also... I use tweezers for squares because a single placer pen doesn't get them straight enough for me 😅
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u/Sirena85 Jan 06 '26
I single place using tweezers. My DAC I started using the twist and pick applicator with putty and am considering joining that with my tweezers if I choose for a change back to pen. But my trustee tweezers are on the ready if I change my mind about the pen.
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u/Bagel_Bunny Jan 05 '26
Single placer here! I like the idea of a multi placer but enjoy the one by one process. I DP to relax not to be efficient. I have a high stress job that zaps my brain energy + chronic illness girlie here so the slow process is soothing for my mind and body.