The #1 Loop Tool
This is the first iteration of the Number 1 Loop Tool, made in November of 1995. Historic note: the handle is simply a piece of pine one inch by 0.75 inch, and was cut from one of the stakes I made in 1984 from scap lumber for my first form.
Note the large screws. They were what I had, regular wood screws.
The #1B Loop Tool
I was making some other tools and decided to put a better handle on this one. I had an idea for a Universal Carving Tool, and this handle shape was an experiment related to that. The wood is pine taken from a wood shop's trash bin.
The handle didn't work. It's designed more for a pulling stroke, and this tool cuts on a down stroke. The bumps at the handle's end were very uncomfortable and I almost stopped using the tool.
Detail
Side view of handle.
The #1C Loop Tool
I finally got tired of the lousy handle. By this time I'd scrounged some oak from the same trash bin for the handle. I made it bulge so it would be easy to hold onto, and made all the edges rounded for comfort. I mortised the blade into the wood so that it wouldn't interfere with my grip.
This was a great tool. Very strong, it could dig in anything witout worrying about it breaking. It was heavy, strong, confidence-inspiring. Unfortunately when I sharpened the blade as part of the rebuild I sharpened both sides, and right back to the handle. No more pushing on the top!
Note the holes left by those big screws. Removing the rusted ones was a real job. By the time I did this rebuild I'd discovered stainless steel hardware. I decided to drill new holes and use stainless screws of a more reasonable size.
I lost this tool on the beach when hauling sand for the 2002 New Year Day sculpture. I have no idea where it went.
This image was captured from still-frame video. I'm sorry it's of such poor quality but the tool got away before having a more formal portait made.
The #1/2 Loop Tool
After I lost the #1C I did a couple of sculptures and realized just how much I missed this tool. Replacing it became a priority, and I decided to try some improvements. One is that the blade is narrower, and thus lighter. I also sharpened only the lower edge so I could push on the upper one, which led me to make the handle assymmetric so that my hand would know where the edge is.
The handle is walnut this time, provided by the same carpenter's trash. He threw out a bunch of walnut scraps and I scavenged all of them. Walnut smells good and is pretty, and I thought I'd be making all of my future tools from it. Then I discovered cherry.
Note the grey marks on the handle. These come from rubbing against other tools in my tub as they rattle around in the tub on the way to and from the beach.
This tool is an improvement on the old one. It's lighter, more maneuverable, and quite strong enough.
| < Return to About Tools page |
| Library | Human Touch Museum | ||