How to Use an Emery Cloth Sculpture Tool

There are many tools sculptors use to perfect the intricate lines and curves of their art. One of the tools that a sculptor uses to put the finishing touches on a piece of sculpture is an emery cloth tool. An emery cloth tool is similar to sandpaper and is used to smooth the surfaces of the sculpture and to add fine details. It usually comes in a roll and is formed into a strip.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Piece of sculpture
• Emery cloth

1. Emery cloth comes in different levels of coarseness just like sandpaper. Choose a rougher grade for doing large amounts of shaping and finer grades for smoothing. Start with the rougher grades and work your way down to the finer for finishing the piece.

2. Sanding in one direction, rub your emery cloth tool across the area of the sculpture you are working on. In order not to remove too much of the sculpture, frequently take the emery cloth away and inspect your work.

3. From time to time, you will need to brush the plaster away from your emery cloth with a stiff brush.

4. To reach crevices and creases, fold the emery cloth in half and work the edge into the crease.

5. Sand with a light hand, as you could cause lines to be etched into your piece if you are pressing too heavily on any one area of the emery cloth.

6. For your finishing sanding, use the finest emery cloth and wet it with water. Sand lightly over the entire area to give it a final polish.