Dan's Tool Works
Dan Does It 4.5
Sculpture Tools /Plaster Working Tools
We show you how to make your own sculpture tools or you can buy your tools fresh from our toolshed. Either way, you'll be satisfied. If you make the tools yourself, we know you'll make the best tools possible. If you buy your sculpture tools from us, you'll know we sell you the best tools possible.
A perfect job for a lazy afternoon. It's not everyday that you get a chance to take raw steel into your bare hands and turn it into the most useful sculpture tool in your toolbox. Well anyhow this project beats sitting around and watching the chickens peck the dirt. If you're not inclined to spend the day filing a chunk of steel to make your own tool, you can purchase a store bought set from our toolshed below.
Here's what you need. See if you can scare up some of those old metal working files granddad left you. They may be out in the toolshed. A good flat file and a couple of rat tails (files not rats) should do the job. If you don't have any files on hand maybe you can find some half way decent ones at a yard sale.
If you have a bench grinder and a vice you are practically ready to open up your own tool works down the street from me. If not, c'est la vie. You get to work longer but think of it you get twice as much fun and satisfaction from this same project. You'll also need a piece of rod approximately 1/4" to 3/8" in diameter. Mine is 8" long. Just about any metal rod will do as long as you can file or grind it into shape.
I found this perfectly fine piece of metal
that someone threw out in the trash. Can you believe it? It may formerly have been part of a piece of farm equipment or an obstetric tool. I haven't figured out which yet.
Anyway, it made a formidable sculpture tool. It is the very same tool used to
carve the lettering in the Dan Does it IV episode.
Enough blabbing
Grind or file the end of the rod at an angle (note you can grind both ends of the
rod to make a double ended tool with different size scraping ends.)
Step 1 Photo.
This is how your rod should look after grinding the end at an angle.
Do not use too much pressure if you are using an electric bench grinder, you'll burn the steel and make it weak. A telltale blue discoloration shows that you've used to much pressure. You can dip the tool in a can of water as at warms up otherwise it may become too hot too handle. Wear safety glasses and a sturdy pair of work gloves.Trust me, getting a steel splinter removed from your eye is not all as glamorous as it sounds.
Step 2
Carve the concave side of the tool.
Bring the concavity down just slightly farther than the convex side you
ground previously. Make a nice thin blade.This is the critical part of the
tool. The angle and thinness of the blade determine the degree of ease and
comfort this tool will posses in use. Too thick and clumsy a blade will not cut into the
plaster you are carving. Too straight of an angle will cause unnecessary hand and
arm strain. The angle shown will dig in and cut well.
Step 3 Give the shank a nice sexy hourglass shape.This will make the tool more
comfortable to use. A well balanced , well shaped tool is a joy to work
with. This shank still needs to be reduced quite a
bit. Back to the grinding and filing!
This
tool is coming along nicely. Notice the different shaped ends that will leave different
shaped cuts when carving. It will still need some final refining that can be done
with hand files little by little as the tool is used. Polishing with fine sandpaper will
give it a smooth finish that will be easy to keep clean. Always clean your tools
immediately after use and give them a light coating of oil before you put them away.
This is the finished tool. It took a bit of work but there's nothing
like having a tool you made yourself to use on a work of art you are making
yourself. I think we did a pretty good job.
Well the chickens have gone to roost and the shadows are getting long from the fence row so I think I'll kick back in the rocker on the porch and watch the sun set. Maybe I'll dream about making some beautiful tools and carving some fantastic art work. Sounds like paradise!
I was out back in the toolshed and rounded up this neat bunch of basic sculpting tools. I've been using mine for 25 or 30 years but you can get this same grouping of tools from Sculpture House by clicking on the icon below to go to our secure ordering page. This is a good set of tools for the Dan Does It IV plaque project or you can pick out your own set from our Sculpture House website. For your reference, Sculpture House Tool numbers are in the pictures.
Basic Tool Set A: $88.50 + Shipping
