A set of eight Cernit modeling tools covering the shaping jobs that fingers cannot do cleanly — scoring, smoothing, hollowing, texturing and tidying edges. Buying the set is the cheaper way in if you are starting out or filling gaps, since eight tools bought singly cost considerably more.

Sculpting tools are personal, and most people find two or three in any set become the ones they always reach for while the rest wait for a specific job. That is the argument for a set rather than against one: it is how you find out which two or three are yours.

Keeping them usable: wipe them before the clay cures on them, and store them so the shaped ends are not knocking against each other — a dinged tip transfers its ding to every piece it touches afterwards.

• Cernit reference: CE906C
• Contents: 8 modeling tools