Possible Clues:

• Person exploited, initially childlike, was apt to look silly
• Cast about on foot for someone else's tool (3'1-3)
• Cold tap was not normally one being used
• Tool, one of several Tom uses
• Knot used for attaching hooks (2 words)
• Knot used to attach hooks (2 words)
• Tool Tom's father wielded at first
• Swinger gets on well with stooge
• Hitch in musical? 'Chess' piece shortened