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Post by mohs on Sept 19, 2012 12:46:16 GMT -5
Hi Rock Carving Guys  This is really a trick heart box I thought it was made from serpentine but its much to soft for that About 3 on the mohs scale —so it must be some sort of soapstone The owner doesn’t know its origin but I can tell it was hollowed on drill press and that lattice work is a mystery  Some sort of manual drilling? Anyway the person would like me to make a lid O that will be fun I plan on using a piece of green onyx so that hat material is not real hard But I’m not sure how to rabbet the edge of the heart lid ? so that it when it fits into the box it won’t be sliding off ? Any suggestions ? Thanks Ed |
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Sept 19, 2012 13:00:03 GMT -5
could you cut one heart to fit the outside of the box from 1/4" thick material for the lid then cut one heart from 1/8 or less thickness material that fits the inside then epoxy those together?
Might be cheating but just an idea
Chuck
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2012 13:04:23 GMT -5
You can also get diamond router bits that are used for granite countertops. Should work even without water on something that soft. You might also consider using soapstone instead of the travertine (softer and workable with woodworking tools).
Chuck's idea would also work, though I'd probably get glue all over the place and an uneven gap.
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Post by NatureNut on Sept 19, 2012 13:15:03 GMT -5
I'm picturing something along the lines of Chuck's idea. You could use wood or something other than rock if you like for the smaller heart.
Jo
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Sept 19, 2012 13:19:28 GMT -5
now that I think about it I guess I would get the inside thin heart to fit good then glue that to the thicker raw slab and set it on the box and trace, cut and grind the top piece so the outside would line up perfect.
Chuck
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Post by gr on Sept 19, 2012 19:57:51 GMT -5
I agree with Chuck in post #4. You don't want to make up both pieces and then glue-up.
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Post by Toad on Sept 20, 2012 10:29:45 GMT -5
Neat looking box
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Post by mohs on Sept 20, 2012 11:32:54 GMT -5
Thanks Guys !
I like the double heart idea
and that will be the first one I will try
This isn’t a one shot deal
so I’ll probably craft a couple different lids
over time
stay tuned
Ed
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colliel82
has rocks in the head
Member since November 2007
Posts: 664
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Post by colliel82 on Sept 20, 2012 12:26:13 GMT -5
Can hardly wait to see the finished lids.
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Roger
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since August 2005
Posts: 1,775
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Post by Roger on Sept 25, 2012 14:19:29 GMT -5
Real cool project.
Roger
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Post by gingerkid on Sept 27, 2012 12:54:38 GMT -5
 Hi, Ed!! Is it soapstone??
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Post by mohs on Sept 27, 2012 22:04:12 GMT -5
Yes it is soapstone
and its really neat stuff
as mentioned above diamond router
must have done the profile of the heart
after seeing this work
I'd like to try some carving
I have a big chunk slab of soapstone
now I have an idea of what to do with it
need more time to grind Ha Ha
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hubrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2011
Posts: 1,563
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Post by hubrocks on Oct 2, 2012 0:43:07 GMT -5
Hey Ed, just caution, I didn't realize this till latley, but another word for soapstone is asbestos, be sure to wear a mask. Maybe the carvers know more about it!..........Hub
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Deleted
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Member since January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2012 13:56:31 GMT -5
Hey Ed, just caution, I didn't realize this till latley, but another word for soapstone is asbestos, be sure to wear a mask. Maybe the carvers know more about it!..........Hub I cannot find anything to support this. Soapstone seems to be a derivation of talc cameochemicals.noaa.gov/chemical/25063The chemical formula 3MgO-4SiO2-H2O is different from "asbestos" chrysotile Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 and is not fibrous. Soapstone is commonly used for kitchen and bathroom sinks. If soapstone was "asbestos" that would never happen. FWIW "asbestos" is at least six species of amphibole - a solution series cummingtonite-grunerite - crocidolite - tremolite - actinolite - richterite - winchite en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AsbestosThere is so much bad information about asbestos. Because of the health related problems related to asbestos, we always seem to go what I call "worst first". That is we overreact to the worst case even when it is not rational to do so. This "worst first" is so prevalent in society we all usually do not even see it. I hope this was useful. |
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Post by johnjsgems on Oct 3, 2012 9:40:42 GMT -5
You mean like tiger eye, the deadly killer? About the soap stone, we used to by undercut soapstone carvings from India. They had several carvings inside each other like an elephant with holes like your box and at least another smaller elephant carved through the holes inside. Someone once told me he was India recently and saw one of the workshops. According to him the carvers used foot powered rotary tools to carve the figures and when they screwed up they would toss the reject over their shoulders. Each carver had a pile of rejects behind him. I never verified any of this but it sounded reasonable. I tried to carve some of the soapstone piled by the tracks at Field siding. It carved easily with rasps and riffler files. Unfortunately it kept breaking up so my 12" eagle ended up just a head before I gave up. And yes, I think talc is about right.
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Post by mohs on Mar 12, 2013 22:05:36 GMT -5
Hi Rock Carving/Grinders  I finished the lid !  It cleaved from onyx Its a large surface area and onyx/calcite is softish stone. My finish is O.K. on such a large surface area some scratches are evident. I have some contamination (lots of my belts are outside ) that is contributing to less than a stellar finish. Just minute scratches that can be fixed down the heart road. But it well formed, cleaved well, & sit atop the box nice & sturdy Thanks agrn for looking in! Ed |
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Mar 13, 2013 5:53:01 GMT -5
Looks great.
what method did you end up using? did you glue a thinner smaller heart underneath to hold the lid in place?
Chuck
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Post by Noosh9057 on Mar 13, 2013 6:57:46 GMT -5
Great job. it looks very good.
Roger
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Post by beefjello on Mar 13, 2013 8:12:05 GMT -5
Nice job Ed!
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Mar 13, 2013 8:48:28 GMT -5
Very nice! I little hand rubbing with very fine (2000) grit wet/dry will fix that right up |
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Hi, Ed!! Is it soapstone?? 
