A scoring tool is used to partially cut a flat object, creating a groove for folding or snapping. It includes a guide and score and requires even pressure. Scoring tools can be used on various materials and a bending tool is recommended for folding. Different tools are needed for different materials. A dead ballpoint pen and ruler can be used as a substitute for paper projects.
An engraving tool is a piece of equipment designed to partially cut a flat object, creating a deep gouge. The object can either be folded along the groove or it can be snapped together, whichever it is, creating two hard-edged segments. Many people use scoring tools on things that should be creased or folded, ensuring that the crease line is crisp and clean and preventing potential damage to the rest of the item. Both art supply stores and hardware stores sell scoring tools designed for use on specific materials.
Typically, a scoring tool includes two parts: a guide and a score. In some cases, a scoring tool is sold in the form of a standalone scorer, which should be used with a ruler or similar guide for best results. To use the scoring tool, someone sets a guide along the line to be scored and then runs the scoring tool along it to create a groove. An even and precise pressure is required to ensure that the groove remains uniform; most scoring tools are blunt, so it’s hard to cut all the way through.
Once something has been scored, it can be folded along the score if desired. To bend along the score, it’s a good idea to use a bending tool, a piece of burnished material that will create a neat crease without scratching or otherwise damaging the material. In the field of paper arts, polished bone is the preferred material for folders, and many companies produce folders from genuine bone. You can also find “bone” folders made of plastic and other materials.
Scores can also be created in things like sheet metal, making it easier to bend the metal into shape. Scoring tools can also be used to cut glass, quartz, marble and other minerals; typically the user creates a deep score and then gently taps the material to encourage it to break in half. Scores are also incorporated into things like candy bars and medications to allow people to break them into smaller, more uniform pieces.
If you’re working on a project that requires a scoring tool, make sure you get the right tool for the job. Engraving tools designed for metal, for example, are very different from those used for paper. If you’re working on a paper project and don’t have access to a scoring tool, try using a dead ballpoint pen and ruler. Make sure your pen has no ink left before you start, otherwise it may leave marks. Simply hold the ruler along the line you want to mark and then drag the pen firmly along the ruler line to create a groove.
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