Soft materials sculpting tools ideas

Hello all.

I've got a favor to ask all you artsy folks, especially those of you that sculpt with soft materials.

I am making a large set of tools and would love to know what you think would make the ultimate kit.

Things like:
   How many items do you truly use? (12, 24, 36, 48,?)
   What type of wood should they be made of? ( hardwoods, softwoods, bamboo)
   What metals would you use? (aluminum, stainless steel, mild steel, tempered steel, tool steel)
   Any cutting wires? (what gauges, piano wire, stainless, galvanized)
   What kinds of polymers? (Teflon, abs, acrylic)
   How would like them organized or packaged? (roll-up pouch, box, case they can clip into, pencil holder)
   Anything else you can think of? (skies the limit)

Just as important is what should be avoided?

While listening to a couple of friends complain about there is nothing of quality made anymore I told them to make what they wanted. They replied why don't I do it and sell them.

LIGHTBULB !

They are right. So step one is product research and design. This is why I ask for input from the folks that use the tools. Who better to ask?

Thanks a bunch for your constructive input,
David  

I'm a full-time woodturner.  I've been looking for quality crochet hook cases made of leather to sell in my store.  Everything out there is so cheesy. I'm looking for the tool-roll type.   Fiber artists are a great group to make tools for.  You can check out the website Ravelry with over a million subscribers.  It's not just grandma crocheting, knitting, and sewing, there is a pretty big resurgence of interest.

There are too many "wood tools," that are used by the various fiber artists, to list but it's worth doing some research if it interests you.   spinning, dyeing, crocheting, knitting, weaving, nail binding, sheep shearing, etc. etc.  There are also big fiber festivals you can attend to hawk your wares.  

I would avoid making woodturning tools as the market it pretty saturated.    One thing that is big in Europe is the pole lathe.  These are tools that could be smithed but I'm not sure of the market.  I've been wanting to build a pole lathe (I use an electric Powermatic)  to turn some rustic bowls on.  You can do a youtube search on the pole lathe.

Green wood carving is also big right now.  Sloyd knives, chip carving etc.

That's all I have...I would say start making some stuff and eventually hyper focus on one thing and get really good at it.  It's really tough to be the jack of all trades.  

I find inspiration from John Neeman tools he makes Axes, knives and the sheathing.

And Scott, you just made me do Kaching.

Soft leather (untooled, gloving or split suede), tooled leather, and do you want leather inside or can it be some sort of fabric inside.

I am in negotiation to get a professional quality Pfaff upholstery sewing machine early next month, then I have to make it run. (I have taken repair classes and am mechanically inclined so expect to do this by the end of September)

Should we talk further? I will be glad to share my email via PM (Purple Mooseage)

Deb Rebel wrote:And Scott, you just made me do Kaching.

Soft leather (untooled, gloving or split suede), tooled leather, and do you want leather inside or can it be some sort of fabric inside.

I am in negotiation to get a professional quality Pfaff upholstery sewing machine early next month, then I have to make it run. (I have taken repair classes and am mechanically inclined so expect to do this by the end of September)

Should we talk further? I will be glad to share my email via PM (Purple Mooseage)

We can talk for sure!  If we could come together on a design and a price point I would let you put a link on my website, for a cut of the profits.

Most of my business is coming from made to order so my Etsy site is pretty bare bones.    You can check out my websites if you want.  Adzewoodcraft.etsy.com and adzewoodcraft.com