Sculpting tools, what do you use???

[almitysufx]

I posted a Gene Wilder Wonka head in the works in progress section and in the description I mentioned that my "tool of choice" is a toothpick. That seemed to wow a few people but it's really all I've ever used. In all honesty, it is a modified toothpick, I break off the tip on one end and sand it round and smooth.
So all you other custom makers, what are your tools?

[polyester]

i use clay shaper tools, a pointed purple knitting needle, a couple of rounded pointed rods, and a really pointed sharp metal rod. The clay shaper tools are made out of silicone and work pretty well for smoothing. They have curves, points and angles on them and come in different sizes.

Probably the purple knitting needle is my favorite tool.

[thunderbolt]

I use some dental tools I found at a dollar store in the mall a long time ago.

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

I use a scalpel and x-acto knife, a set of wooden clay shaping tools, a set of custom sculpting picks I got on ebay for a couple bucks, an x-acto saw and mitre box, and a set of tiny jeweller's files.

Don C.

[jessica]

I posted a Gene Wilder Wonka head in the works in progress section and in the description I mentioned that my "tool of choice" is a toothpick. That seemed to wow a few people but it's really all I've ever used. In all honesty, it is a modified toothpick, I break off the tip on one end and sand it round and smooth.
So all you other custom makers, what are your tools?

that's my favorite tool, too, and a #11 exacto.

[piecemaker]

The first few sculpts i did,i used only the leather shaping tool on the left.Recently i've been experimenting with some other tools.I bought some wax sculpting tools,the second and third ones,an exacto knife,ground down steel rod and the lighted earpick,one of the attachments i going to grind down some.I also bought a very small Dremel bit that i use for shaping hardened Sculptey.

[Fire Marshal Bill]

Keep in mind that i have yet to sculpt anything ....... but i bought the Sculpey 5-in-1 tool kit at my local hobby store for around $15. I worked with some clay this weekend and the tools seemed really helpful to me.

[johnmiic]

I used to use a Revlon Cuticle tool. I found it very good for sculpting. One end had a knife-like beak and the other end had a paddle. The Beak end was very good for sculpting the face and hair-which is the part I really enjoy doing. I used to use the paddle to rub fingerprints off things I sculpted, push the sculpey evenly over the proto-head and create the shapes of the eye-sockets. I guess I was too rough with it and it broke in 1/2. I'll have to find another one.

So I bought mini-clay shapers with soft silicone tips. I have metal clay scrapers, the kind with the wire loops. I also bought some sculpey long blades at an art store. They are long flat pieces of metal, one has a washboard pattern, which are not really sharp enough to cut skin. I have not been happy enough with my results to offer anything publicly. I guess I want too much perfection. I should probably practice more because from the stuff I worked on a few years ago it looks like I was heading in the right direction.

Examples of my work can be found here:

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[TrueDave]

rubber tipped clay shapers and popsicle sticks cut to a point.

I first learned how to customize using my dads toothpicks, my brothers testor paint and my plastic Indians.

[yokaijohn]

My trusty exacto knife and my fingers,mostly.