Handy Tools

Having the right tools for the right job helps things go a lot smoother.  I'm sure there are a lot of tools and tricks that help make float building a lot easier that I don't know about.  But I will tell you about the ones we used that helped.

Hog Ring.  This tool helps you attach things together.  It was especially helpful in attaching fabric and festooning to pencil rod.

This tool is a little pricey so try to find someone in your stake that already has one that you can borrow.

Curry Comb

A curry comb helps you shave and shape styrofoam sculptures.  Again try to borrow one.

A rasp helps with more detailed shaping of your foam sculptures.  These are fairly inexpensive tools.

 that you can find at home improvement stores.

A styrofoam cutter is a heated tool that melts styrofoam.  It is about $20 at the craft stores.  Don't forget to take a coupon with you!  This tool works best on 1" foam or smaller.  Works great on lettering!  You can also use a bandsaw or reciprocating saw but they are harder to use.

A sawzall, bread knife, reciprocation saw and hot knife work for thicker sheets of styrofoam

Get a sanding block from home improvement stores to sand figures smooth.

If you go to the float classes they will explain all of this to you in greater detail!