shadowhound
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2011
Posts: 19
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Post by shadowhound on Nov 28, 2011 12:59:40 GMT -5
since im new and don't have a tumbler one of the main things i wanna do is create beautiful stone carvings but im unsure how i should start if i need a tumbler first or just carv with i dunno what then use a tumbler
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Nov 28, 2011 13:06:53 GMT -5
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Post by johnjsgems on Nov 28, 2011 15:17:59 GMT -5
Simplest way would be to buy a Dremel or similar rotary tool and some diamond burs. Low tech carving can be done on soapstone, alabaster, and other soft stones using hand files and other basic tools.
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shadowhound
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2011
Posts: 19
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Post by shadowhound on Nov 28, 2011 15:33:24 GMT -5
answered a few but where do people find the rocks to carve ?
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Nov 28, 2011 15:38:46 GMT -5
I have small chunks of soapstone, alabaster, red pipestone - if you want a small flat rate box pm me with your address and I will give you a sampling to start off with
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skystone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2011
Posts: 171
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Post by skystone on Nov 28, 2011 21:21:54 GMT -5
Tumbling is tumbling & carving is carving, one has nothing to do with the other. F & Bs offer is probably the way to go for material to start. Those can be carved relativly easily to get started & see how you like it & if you have "the eye" for it. One big thing to remember in carving. GO SLOW once you take it off you can't put it back on LOL. The only way to start? Just start. That's the way most of us did.
Mike
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shadowhound
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2011
Posts: 19
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Post by shadowhound on Nov 29, 2011 18:30:07 GMT -5
thanks for your reply mike i really want to do carving as the beauty involved is amazing i have been chatting to F & B  so looking forward to getting into this hobby  and learning a lot i was saying to F & B how nice everyone around here is |
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Post by johnjsgems on Nov 29, 2011 20:05:14 GMT -5
The not nice people don't seem to stay around. You don't say where you are from but many areas do have soft rocks. Anything you can scratch with a knife would be pretty easy to carve. The Indians here in CA made lots of things out of serpentine. Many areas have some form of limestone or travertine. After you get into it and have power tools you will want to carve the harder stuff for the polish you can get.
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TByrd
fully equipped rock polisher
Have you performed your random act of kindness?
Member since December 2010
Posts: 1,350
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Post by TByrd on Nov 29, 2011 22:48:59 GMT -5
I have always loved stone carvings. They are beautiful. I am going to have to try it myself, try it very soon.
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Dec 1, 2011 9:07:54 GMT -5
One advantage of carving over tumbling is that you can find rocks or other items to carve just about anywhere, whereas you had better be very picky about quality if you want to tumble. I just visited the Catacombes in Paris, and one of the prisoners or workers (my French is non-existent) who was down there working on the Catacombes actually carved entire buildings in the limestone not worth taking out of the quarry. Some people have learned to carve by practicing on soap. You're looking for material that is solid/fracture-free but otherwise you are wide open as to whether you want to carve hard material or soft, or whether you want a bright mirror polish or more of a matte look.
When I get a chance to edit my photos, I'll see if I can post some of this guy's carvings; but you can probably google them on Google images, for an example of somebody who had no real training, was working with pretty crummy material, yet managed to carve something. If he can do it, you can do it. Or so I tell myself. My first carving, of a serpentine sand dollar, is just embarrassing... :-)
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Post by kk on Dec 1, 2011 10:21:50 GMT -5
Nothing embarrassing about it. Just keep trying.
I started with a few grooves on cabs just a few months ago,
and simply try to do a little better every time.
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Dec 1, 2011 10:27:46 GMT -5
its a lot of practice and developing your technique in getting what you see in the stone to come out, and did I mention lots of practice |
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chassroc
Cave Dweller 
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
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Post by chassroc on Dec 31, 2011 14:15:35 GMT -5
Sandy Cline is a master Canadian Rock Carver. Googal him and I'm sure you will see some amazing sculpture. His rough is Soapstone, which is a relatively soft (talc-like) rock. Soapstone is often used in wood stoves and gas stoves. My wife took a class of Sandy's at William Holland in Young Harris, Ga and these are typical student works. Soapstone can be carved with woodworking tools or even your finger nails. Many people carve Opal (much harder than soapstone but less than Jasper and Agate)   Charlie |
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so looking forward to getting into this hobby 
and learning a lot i was saying to F & B how nice everyone around here is 
