calybos
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2023
Posts: 8
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Post by calybos on Sept 1, 2023 13:06:03 GMT -5
Hi, folks. I have an embarrassingly ignorant question: Where do you actually get the material for carving?
Not the tools, they're easy to find. I'm talking about blocks of actual stone. I've checked around "rock for sale" businesses near me, and they're all for residential/garden or even industrial use. They sell by the truckload or ton, not small blocks and certainly not softer materials like soapstone or alabaster. After my fifth "You're talking about countertops?" call, I got frustrated. Where do carvers get their material?
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Post by aDave on Sept 1, 2023 13:19:32 GMT -5
Welcome to the Forum.
I'm not a carver, but a quick search on Google for either "soapstone rough" or "alabaster rough" produced links from Etsy. Drilling into those links produced quite a few results. I don't know if the prices are good or bad, as I've never purchased the material before.
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Post by Rockoonz on Sept 1, 2023 13:55:05 GMT -5
Welcome from AZ.
I assume by the mention of Alabaster and Soapstone that you are planning to carve softer materials with Riffler files, sandpaper and the tools you might use for wood. As Dave said, they are pretty plentiful online. If you are looking for a local source perhaps searching the online sellers by location may get you a seller close to you.
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Post by Rockoonz on Sept 1, 2023 13:56:30 GMT -5
Pipestone is also a good softer material if you didn't already know...
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calybos
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2023
Posts: 8
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Post by calybos on Sept 1, 2023 15:37:08 GMT -5
OK, I'll give that a try. Thanks!
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Post by pebblesky on Nov 14, 2023 18:15:06 GMT -5
I don't have any sizeable pieces, but if anybody is interested in carving on small pieces/slabs of Shoushan Jade/Stone (mohs hardness of 2-3, still harder than the soapstone), I can send you some given that you pay the shipping. I mainly got some of the pieces for tumbling purpose without realizing they are maybe a bit too soft to polish. The colors of the pieces I have look like this (picture stolen from Amazon):  |
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Post by liveoak on Nov 15, 2023 7:53:34 GMT -5
I don't have any sizeable pieces, but if anybody is interested in carving on small pieces/slabs of Shoushan Jade/Stone (mohs hardness of 2-3, still harder than the soapstone), I can send you some given that you pay the shipping. I mainly got some of the pieces for tumbling purpose without realizing they are maybe a bit too soft to polish. The colors of the pieces I have look like this (picture stolen from Amazon): I'd be interested, if you still have some. Maybe there's a turtle to be found in there ?
PM sent
Thanks,
Patty... who likes turtles
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Post by victor1941 on Nov 17, 2023 9:18:53 GMT -5
Calybos, what size and color are you looking for? What kind of carving are you doing?
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calybos
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2023
Posts: 8
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Post by calybos on Nov 19, 2023 20:47:24 GMT -5
I was just looking for small blocks, about hand-size, to get started with a sense of how carving works with the simplest tools. Small shapes and figures, basically, or even just rounding/polishing found items.
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iamchris
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2023
Posts: 722
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Post by iamchris on Nov 26, 2023 12:12:42 GMT -5
I don't have any sizeable pieces, but if anybody is interested in carving on small pieces/slabs of Shoushan Jade/Stone (mohs hardness of 2-3, still harder than the soapstone), I can send you some given that you pay the shipping. I mainly got some of the pieces for tumbling purpose without realizing they are maybe a bit too soft to polish. The colors of the pieces I have look like this (picture stolen from Amazon): I'd be interested, if you still have some. Maybe there's a turtle to be found in there ?
PM sent
Thanks,
Patty... who likes turtles
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Post by liveoak on Nov 26, 2023 13:22:00 GMT -5
Geez Chris, iamchris I really hope I'm not THAT bad. I was thinking of a smaller version of him:
Patty
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iamchris
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2023
Posts: 722
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Post by iamchris on Nov 26, 2023 17:55:26 GMT -5
I can't hear/read those 3 words in sequence and not think of that kid. Sorry for the hijack! 😆
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Post by Mel on Jan 24, 2024 12:02:17 GMT -5
Depending where you are (I'm Canadian), I'd be willing to send you some chunks of material suitable for carving for the cost of postage. I don't carve so it's no use to me except as shelf filler!
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Post by 1dave on Jan 25, 2024 16:22:42 GMT -5
Hi, folks. I have an embarrassingly ignorant question: Where do you actually get the material for carving? Not the tools, they're easy to find. I'm talking about blocks of actual stone. I've checked around "rock for sale" businesses near me, and they're all for residential/garden or even industrial use. They sell by the truckload or ton, not small blocks and certainly not softer materials like soapstone or alabaster. After my fifth "You're talking about countertops?" call, I got frustrated. Where do carvers get their material? Soap Stone is metamorphic rock, found everywhere. You can probably find some in the wild of your area. |
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller 
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,625 
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Post by RWA3006 on Jan 25, 2024 20:17:04 GMT -5
How about some Picasso marble? PM me if you need a source.
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ThomasT
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2022
Posts: 616
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Post by ThomasT on Jan 27, 2024 12:08:23 GMT -5
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