Power Tools

• Most wet-carved concrete requires little in the way of power tools. However, for some applications, you may wish to use a power drill to create drainage or decorative holes in the sculpture. A rotary tool or other polishing tool also works well to smooth and polish carved concrete once it has cured. For large sculptures, finishing may require a power grinder or other more powerful polishing tool. Take care when using power tools to remove material, since they can quickly grind away too much of the sculpture's surface.
  
  

Saws and Blades

• Hand saws and hacksaws are useful for removing large chunks of concrete. Cut finer detail with saw blades not attached to the saw. Hacksaw blades work well for small areas, while band saw blades can be used to cut curves. The Sandpudding Studio website recommends asking for old blades from woodworking and metal fabricating businesses, since blades that no longer work for these industries are still good for concrete carving.
  
  

Brooms

• Keep a small broom or whisk around to deal with dust and scrap pieces of concrete that could adhere to the final sculpture. Allow these types of debris to dry, then sweep them up. A small broom also works well for brushing debris directly off the sculpture, but take care not to damage any existing carvings. Use only soft brushes and brooms to avoid scoring the surface. Old paintbrushes work well for this purpose.
  
  

Makeshift Tools

• Many concrete carvers use a wide variety of makeshift tools for their carving. According to the Concrete Construction website, kitchen spoons and table knives work well on concrete sculptures. Washington State University recommends using an awl or nutpick to clean out fine detail, and a melon baller or metal teaspoon to open up depressions. A bent knife works well to remove material from hard-to-reach nooks and crannies.