What tools do sculptors use in their professional activities? What is stone, clay, wood treated with ? The answers to these and other questions can be found in our article.
Sculpture machine
The basic tool of the sculptor, regardless of the specifics of the activity, is a sculptural machine. It is a kind of stool with a rotating work surface. There are options with adjustment according to the height and the change in the degree of rigidity of rotation around the axis.
Preference should be given to metal sculptural machines. Such devices include bearings that facilitate easy rotation of the working surface. The screw thread on the tripod makes it possible to easily adjust the height. Among other things, metal machines have more weight compared to wooden counterparts, which ensures stability during operation.
Stone Tools
The main tools of the sculptor, who works with stone, are a chisel, a hammer and a file. Similar devices can be purchased as a kit. They are sold in art shops.
Beginners are advised to pay attention to light hammers, whose weight is from 600 to 900 grams. The tool should have two flat surfaces that are wider than a conventional nailing tool. This feature is due to the need for frequent strikes on the chisel. At the same time, a heavy hammer will allow you to cope with work faster. However, an inept craftsman may have too large chunks of chips removed from the workpieces.
The sculptor's main tool for stone is a flat chisel. Some varieties contain pointed hooks, vaguely reminiscent of a miniature fork. Such elements are optional when working with stone, but are able to significantly facilitate the threading of the material and ensure that the fine details are shaped.
Another stone sculptor’s tool is a file. With its help, the sculpture takes on a complete look. It is desirable that there is a whole range of such devices. It is necessary to stop when performing work on the option that most corresponds to the dimensions of the product.
Finished sculpture must be polished to eliminate traces of rough processing. For these purposes, it is advisable to use sandpaper 220. Only with this approach will the product look sophisticated and complete.
Clay sculptor tools
Obviously, fingers are the best tools for working with clay. However, when finalizing the product, one cannot do without a set of special devices. So, what tool is used by which the sculptor processes the surface of the clay sculpture? The following should be noted here:
- Metal or wooden stacks - make it possible to cope with rather rough processing of the workpiece.
- Compass - required for measuring models and performing drawings.
- Pantograph - is used if necessary to reduce or increase the size of the model.
- Mernik - makes it possible to determine the parameters of individual elements of the sculpture, protruding above the planes.
- Square and ruler - make it easy to measure the length of vertical and horizontal lines.
- Brushes - serve to sweep surfaces, eliminate clay crumbs from products.
- Syringing is necessary to moisten models.
Woodworking tool
The sculptor's indispensable tool that creates woodwork is the pattern. This drawing device, which provides the ability to transfer the desired lines to the surface of the workpiece.
Knives-jambs are used for artistic carving. Such tools contain a cutting surface with a slope. With their help, the contours are trimmed and ornaments are made.
The geometric thread is complicated in the absence of cutting knives. They are convenient to perform all kinds of rounding. In addition, such a sculptor's tool for wood provides the ability to create items with curved lines.
Among other things, masters often use the so-called "Tatyans." Similar knives are used for power threads. Most often they are involved in creating figures of animals and people. "Tatyanka" provide easy processing of soft wood, because the elongated handle transfers maximum force to the surface.
The required set also includes all kinds of chisels. The latter make it possible to grind models and create various kinds of indentations.
Security
Stone carvers and wood craftsmen recommend the use of respirators. However, the advice is more about professionals who use an electric tool and do a lot of work. For beginners, a regular gauze bandage or a cheap paper mask will do.
For safe operation, it is important to use safety glasses. It is better to purchase products that do not fit too tightly to the face. In this case, the lenses will not fog up during the processing of the workpieces.
The greater the experience of the sculptor, the less often he rubs corns. However, beginners can not do without tight gloves. Such hand protection will prevent skin rubbing, as well as cuts in contact with tools and materials.
Finally
As you can see, there are a whole host of special tools for working with individual materials. Beginners do not have to have all these devices. After all, most of them are required only by professional masters. First, some basic tools will come in handy with which you need to make friends, and only after that move on to more complex tasks.