Keeping your tools in good working order: You can find them at sewing stores and I sell them in my classes. It is essential for this kind of carving (where your finger is in the path of the gouge). It has a little metal piece in it to protect my finger from the gouge. I'm wearing a leather thimble in the picture. The folded towel raises the height, as well. This will give you more control over a curved piece. To carve a curved shape (bracelet, curved pendant), fold a towel (or use a pine pillow) into a square and nestle the object you are carving into the towel. While you're at it, flex your back and your hands, as well. Observe the 20/20/20 rule: Every 20 minutes raise your eyes and focus on something 20 feet away to maintain 20/20 vision for as long as possible. Don’t do it! Raise the piece you are carving use a dictionary, or a few phone books to raise the height of the piece you are carving so that you can work with a straight back. Nothing spoils an activity quite as quickly as an aching back. To do this they round their backs and bend their heads down toward the desk. Technique: Most people want to get close to what they are carving. They are called, Josei Moku Hanga To and are available down to 1mm in size, the smallest “U” gouge I’ve found.

Ĥ) Carvers from Japan An elegant (and expensive) alternative are the beautiful carving tools imported from Japan and sold at McClains Printmaking Supplies. Unfortunately the 3-packs I purchased recently were dull and not worth using. When they first came out a few years ago these tools had a sharp edge. The 3 tools in this set are a 1mm “V”, 2mm “V” and a 5mm “U”. Unfortunately they do not have a good edge and so are not very useful for carving unless you have the tools and the skill to sharpen or hone the edges of a gouge.ģ) Staedtler MasterCarve Tool Set a more recent addition to the market. To do so, e-mail me at Speedball linoleum gouges: These inexpensive tools are an art store staple and have been around since I was in Kindergarten (forever). Mail order suppliers that sell polymer clay sometimes carry these tools. Therefore it is more economical to purchase the tools individually. The sets do not contain a group of useful sizes for jewelry scale carving. It is important to note that these tools, when found in wood carving supply stores, are sold only in sets. I use the following sizes:ġ.5mm and 2mm“U”, 1.25mm “V”, and 2mm “V”. They are very sharp and suitable for harder materials like silver, bronze and copper clay, as well as for polymer. This will allow you to lower the angle of the tool.ġ) Dockyard Micro Carving Tools are wood gouges that are available in very small sizes. To lower the angle it may be necessary to move the polymer plate so you can drop the heel of your hand off the edge of the table. It should be held at a low angle, not perpendicular to the work surface. Dull tools may be another cause for chipping and rough edges.The angle the carving tool is held is very important. Properly cured clay won’t chip when it's carved. The tool should move smoothly and easily through the material. There is a certain amount of subjectivity when choosing carving tools because everyone's hand is a little different so what's comfortable for one person might not be for another person.Tips on carving polymer clay: To make carving easier, try warming the polymer clay slightly under your desk lamp. Josei Moku Hanga To: I think these are the best tools available for the price. My favorites are the versatile 6.0 mm 'V' gouge and the big 10.5 mm 'U' gouge for clearing large areas of wood or lino. My favorites are the 6.0 mm and 9.0 mm 'U' tools. I prefer the 'U' gouges over the 'V' gouges. Power Grip : you can get a nice set of Power Grip tools for between $20-$50. One downside of this tool is that it's best used on linoleum and soft 'rubber' carving blocks (like Speedy Carve and MOO Carve), not wood. I find the small 'V' gouge indispensable. Speedball Linoleum Cutter: While some printmakers might consider this mearly a beginner's tool, I love it and use it all the time when carving linoleum. It includes a Speedball Linoleum Cutter, a couple Power Grip 'U' gouges and numerous Josei Moku Hanga To tools of different sizes. My preferred set of tools is an assortment of different brands that balance cost and quality.

Josei moku hanga to