Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2012 13:27:34 GMT -5
These are the tools that I use the most now for detail work. Some of them I use the side of the point as much as I use the end. The chisel points drug sideways and the exacto blade pulled backwards will make fine lines and shave down small areas. Most of them are high end clay modeling tools that I have sharpened to a razor edge or ground narrower. When doing the detail carving almost all of the carving is done by pulling the tool instead of pushing it. That way I am just shaving tiny layers off so I do not cut too deep or chip an edge of the stone. The second four are opposite ends of some in the first photo.   Hope this helps anyone carving the soft stone. Jim |
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unclestu
Cave Dweller 
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
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Post by unclestu on Apr 28, 2012 17:51:16 GMT -5
Dam Jim those look like the tool thst my dentist used on me last week LOL
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Post by helens on Apr 28, 2012 18:16:19 GMT -5
Fantastic, thanks for showing us Jim!!! I can't believe that you can actually carve alabaster with metal tools, that's awsome:). Will try some dental tools on that piece you sent when I get a chance, thanks for that and posting the tools, it gives me a much better idea of what to use:).
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Post by digdug on Apr 28, 2012 19:07:49 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing this. Would you be able to carve ivory with the tools shown?
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rockingthenorth
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2012
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Post by rockingthenorth on Apr 28, 2012 20:20:28 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing
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Post by kk on Apr 28, 2012 20:37:18 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing this. Would you be able to carve ivory with the tools shown? Absolutely, although you would need finer/smaller ones. If you work Ivory, get started with a woodcarving set you get in your hardware or hobby-shop. Jim, thanks for showing your tools, hope everyone who will give it a try, understands that any tool is only useful when personalized to the individual carver. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2012 23:06:44 GMT -5
KK- Thanks for the assistance. I would have had no answer on the ivory question.
Kurt is correct about tools suited to an individual. My tools would work for anyone but some people might come up with something that would work better for them. The old "personal preference" rule.
Thanks again for all your comments.
Jim
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Post by gingerkid on Apr 29, 2012 14:44:14 GMT -5
 Thanks for sharing your tools with us, Jim! Interesting that you pull the tools toward you while working. Have you ever carved any tagua nut? I have a large tagua nut that I won at an auction for my collection.
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
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Post by peachfront on May 1, 2012 7:15:11 GMT -5
I too have a bag of tagua nuts. I have taken that crucial first step, procrastination, and the bag of nuts has now been "aged" for 15 years, so I hope they're ready to work without too many concerns about shrinkage. I ground the rind off one of them and then got stalled again -- hopefully for not another 15 years. But I'm trying to think of a design that would look good if the carving does continue to shrink over the years, as other carvers have reported. So...if I did a face, an old wrinkled face, ha ha. Or maybe more of an abstract...
Suggestions for what to do/how to carve are welcome!
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Post by jakesrocks on May 1, 2012 8:08:39 GMT -5
I don't carve, but I do prep fossils from time to time. Clay modeling tools are great, but don't overlook dentists tools. Often your family dentist will have worn out hand tools that they'll just give to you. A little careful grinding to reshape them and you have perfectly useable scrapers and detail tools.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2012 8:51:36 GMT -5
peachfront - I have heard of those nuts and I believe they carve them in China also. Show us some pics and maybe we can come up with some ideas.
Don - Thanks for the reminder. Dentists are a great source for tools for carving stone the hardness of alabaster. Plus it is one way to get back a little from what they charge. Some of them may have a better grip so you do not need to wrap them with string to make it easier on your fingers.
Jim
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Post by jakesrocks on May 1, 2012 9:02:06 GMT -5
Lots of dental tools on ebay, at fairly good prices too. www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=dental+toolsThe dental probes are great for soldering jewelry too. Lots of uses for these tools. Unfortunately, most except for some antique tools that I've seen have small shafts. They'd have to be wound with something like you've done, or I suppose a person could build the shafts up with something like Bondo, and sand them to a comfortable size and shape. |
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Post by jakesrocks on May 1, 2012 9:32:17 GMT -5
Another useful item would be a good set of Swiss needle files. Also a selection of pattern makers riffler files. The rifflers come in many shapes, and are great for getting into tight spaces. www.ebay.ca/sch/i.html?_nkw=riffler+files |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2012 12:24:15 GMT -5
Thanks again for the reminder Don. I used rifflers when I was doing abstracts and that is another thing that got left in China and I had forgotten about them. The really course ones work good for soap stone and the finer ones are good for alabaster. The finer ones will clog real fast so you need a wire brush to clean them.
Jim
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Thanks for sharing your tools with us, Jim! Interesting that you pull the tools toward you while working. 
