Non stick sculpting tools??

[Einion]

Mike, let me approach this from another direction: what do you want to do with it/them? If your technique runs more to drawing tools across a surface then the softer ones may be the right choice, if you\'re more of a presser then the firmer ones I think would be better.

Which putty/putties will you be using? Obviously the firmer the material the less useful the softer ones are for general work.

Personally, so far I think these tools are a bit of a gimmick and could easily live without the one I have, but maybe it\'s just because I haven\'t found the one thing where they come into their own.

Einion

 

[hakoMike]

Originally posted by Einion
Mike, let me approach this from another direction: what do you want to do with it/them? If your technique runs more to drawing tools across a surface then the softer ones may be the right choice, if you\'re more of a presser then the firmer ones I think would be better.

Which putty/putties will you be using? Obviously the firmer the material the less useful the softer ones are for general work.

Personally, so far I think these tools are a bit of a gimmick and could easily live without the one I have, but maybe it\'s just because I haven\'t found the one thing where they come into their own.

Einion

I\'m looking to do green stuff sculpting. Jeremie mentioned mentioned how much he liked colour shapers during his Chicago visit, and I thought I would give them a go.

My main problems with sculpting have been the putty sticking to the tool and not the intended surface, and the tool leaving hard edges in the putty. I thought the colour shapers might assist with making the softer curves and more natural shapes.

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by hakoMike
My main problems with sculpting have been the putty sticking to the tool and not the intended surface...

Well they\'ll definitely help with this.

Originally posted by hakoMike
...and the tool leaving hard edges in the putty.

Well sometimes you want hard edges

But not getting them when you don\'t want them is mostly a matter of using the right tool(s) in the right way(s) to do certain things, i.e. practice and experience. Some sculptors can do stuff with just a craft knife and a couple of cocktail sticks that you look at and go \"No way!\"

Originally posted by hakoMike
I thought the colour shapers might assist with making the softer curves and more natural shapes.

Hair, drapery (cloaks etc.)?

Einion

 

[Larre]

I found those colourshapers VERY effektive! I have three of them, and to be honest I use them lots more than I use my \"metal\" sculptingtool.. not much need for licking that way xD

// Larre

 

[Shawn R. L.]

Went to a plastic supplier today and got a few blocks of High Density Polyethelene. Supposedly very similar to teflon in the \'non stick\' aspects. I\'ll let you know how it works.

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by Shawn R. L.
Went to a plastic supplier today and got a few blocks of High Density Polyethelene. Supposedly very similar to teflon in the \'non stick\' aspects.

Yeah, HDPE does have a certain \'greasy\' feel. But I suspect that after you shape your tools you\'ll have to polish the hell out of them for the material to live up to its potential.

Einion

 

[Shawn R. L.]

Was easier to work the stuff than I thought. A dremel tool and some fine sandpaper and I was done within 10 minutes. Now, to try them out sculpting.

 

[mickc22]

On my Orion

I mostly used clay shapers and occasionally a shaped blade with veg oil as lubricant.
Finishing with a light smoothing with a color shaper and a light brush over with plastic weld
no problems with subsequent layers adhering

 

[Shawn R. L.]

The high density polyethelene worked GREAT. Did some real delicate sculpting today and it worked real well. There was NO sticking to the tool. There was a tiny bit more \'pull\' when drawing out a section but nothing that is a problem.

Go to your local plastic store and get some. Well worth the effort and it was easy to shape into the tool tip I needed.

I\'m not going to do this for hundereds but if you cant find it and really think you will use it I\'d be willing to send you some. PM me.........Only if you\'re serious.

@mick22 - great work and good suggestions. Thanks

 

[mickc22]

thanks Shawn

you could also try cookery shops some do PE chopping/cutting boards

I think I\'ve got an old chopping block made out of PE, think it came from a £ store, I was just using it to cut on

I\'ll have to have go at making some tools now you\'ve proved its worth, surprising no one\'s done this commercially yet, or have they?

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by Shawn R. L.
The high density polyethelene worked GREAT. Did some real delicate sculpting today and it worked real well. There was NO sticking to the tool.

Excellent

Originally posted by Shawn R. L.
Go to your local plastic store...

Because there are so many of those here lol

Don\'t make me list all the common stuff you can\'t get here (the UK isn\'t much better).

Einion

 

[Shawn R. L.]

Originally posted by mickc22
thanks Shawn

you could also try cookery shops some do PE chopping/cutting boards

That could work. I did a little web searching for stuff with Teflon and one that came up was shielded cable...I think it\'s the kind that connects to your tv, also you could get some rod on Ebay quite cheaply.