Making crafts can be fun and exciting; however without the right tools it can also be extremely frustrating. Depending on what type of craft you are planning to make will definitely depend on what tools you will need to purchase, or borrow if you know someone that has them. With so many different types of Native American crafts to make you are going to have several tools to choose from that will make it easier to craft. Here are some of the different Native American crafts and tools you might need to construct them.
Native American wood crafts: Many of the most authentic Native American crafts have been carved out of wood. Crafts such as Totem poles and rain sticks are two things that need to be carved from wood and require some special tools to do so. As with any other wood carving project there are tools you can purchase to help make the craft a little easier to finish:
• Chip carving knife- This is probably the first tool that every carver needs. It is used for whittling and chip carving and is great for making gouges.
• Gouges and V-gouges- Gouges are designed to take large chunks of the wood out. You can also purchase spoon gouges which are designed to get into the tight spots that straight gouges will not.
• Palm tools- If you are creating small carvings in soft woods then palm tools will generally work fine.
Native American beaded crafts
The beaded jewelry crafts among the Native American culture are probably the most popular type of craft to make. With such a wide variety of crafts to create from necklaces, bracelets, and even earrings, jewelry has truly become a work of art. Here are some tools that will help make it a little easier:
• Pliers- There are several different kinds of pliers you can purchase when it comes to making jewelry; needle nose pliers, rosary pliers, ring form pliers, crimping pliers and even round square pliers. Each has a different job and are used for different thing so it’s important to ask someone which will work best with your particular craft. You can sometimes even buy pliers that have them all tucked into one tool.
• Awl- An awl is a beading tool that is used for knotting. It makes it easier for you to make consistent tight knots, which can be fairly important when tying off beads.
• Bead board- A bead board has a groove with a measuring scale along the side with compartments for the bead to sit while you are working. This helps keep everything in place and you a lot less frustrated.
• Wire cutters and scissors- These will both come in handy as you will be cutting different types of string as well as wire, depending on what you decide to work with.
• Hammer- You can use a hammer to flatten the wire you are working with which makes it much easier to work with.
• Adhesives- Some people totally forget about getting glue when they’re making beaded jewelry. The right adhesives are important when it comes to beading. Resin based glues work the best with metal and glass, while an all purpose, clear adhesive will work with most non-metal items like wood.
These are just a couple of examples of tools you need to make Native American crafts. So much will depend on what type of craft you want to make, so that should be your first priority. Once you decide on a craft, go down to a craft store, look online, or ask a friend what tools you will need to complete your craft.