00F-20 Report: #20 Loop Tool

Here's the complete set of Matt's tools. From right to left they are the C-Shell Scoop; the Shaper Family with Papa, Mama, Baby and Uncle Bullnose; and the Sand Wedge Hoe.

For my rather idiosyncratic sand sculpture I found the Shaper Family to be most useful. Which one I pick up depends upon the size of the opening I'm working on. If the surface is broadly convex I'll use one of the straight-edged Shapers, and also if I'm making a sharp step. For concave curves and softer transitions, Uncle Bullnose works well. These are delicate, lightweight tools and it's very easy to make very light cuts with them.

The C-Shell Scoop was a disappointment. I've been thinking of making a tool like this for a couple of years but couldn't figure out how to do it short of buying some expensive tools. I still think the idea is a good one, but this particular design doesn't suit my working style. I tried to carve with the edge of the blade and it wouldn't dig in, I think because in cross section it's about 180 degrees so the edge parallels the sand to be cut. It just won't dig in. For other purposes, such as digging out the top of an arch, and removing waste sand, it works well.

The Sand Wedge Hoe will be much more useful to people who don't pack their sand so hard. I had to use quite a bit of pressure to make this tool dig, which made the handle flex and when it found a slightly softer place in the pile it would suddenly dig in. Washboard effect in sculpture tools is something I have to fight in my own designs and attaining rigidity with lightness is an interesting balance. I like the idea: a scraper on the end of a handle. Perhaps the blade of this tool needs a bevel so that it won't dig in so aggressively and can be controlled better.

These tools are unique in being applicable to any kind of sand sculpture. Other tools are designed for more specific purposes, as in architectural details such as columns. For sand sculptors who want to make everything, a very nice kit of tools would be made by combining Matt's tools with the set sold by Sandy Feet. And for those who want to explore the inside of a pile of sand, I recommend my own #1 Loop Tool, custom-made for each user.

Matt's "Can You Dig It Sand Tools:" www.sandtools.com/
Sandy Feet's tools and instruction book: www.sandcastlecentral.com/