susan09
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2013
Posts: 19 
|
Post by susan09 on Aug 21, 2013 18:41:34 GMT -5
I have a question that perhaps someone that knows how to carve rock could help me with. It's not really carving as in carving art in the stone but not sure where to ask it. I am attempting to make clocks out of some slabs that are 3 to 4 inches thick. My rock is puddingstone and it is very hard...MOH 7. I don't want to go all the way through because I think they would look so much nicer if I didn't. I have the correct diamond core drill and have used it correctly but because I am trying to drill a blind hole I am left with the core that I cannot for the life of me remove. I have attempted to put a screw driver in and turn it but the inset hole is too large and my core too strong. Hopefully I haven't ruined this one but if so it will be my learning piece;)
Any ideas how I can I carve the core out? I tried drilling a few small holes in the core but it made no difference and I burned up a small diamond bit even though I drilled under water. Would a pneumatic carving chisel tool work for my project? I tried a chisel and hammer but know that is never going to work for me....I don't have the strength to do that. It did crumble the core a little though so i see i was making a dent even if very small. I am trying to show two pictures so you can see the problem but the site won't let me. I will try to upload another way.
Any ideas would be most appreciated! Thanks for reading.
Sue
|
|
susan09
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2013
Posts: 19
|
Post by susan09 on Aug 21, 2013 18:56:47 GMT -5
I tried to put picture in photobucket hope it shows...  |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2013 19:26:51 GMT -5
Do you have any smaller core drills? If you stepped down smaller and smaller it may break up pretty easy. Or take a small core drill and drill a lot of holes in it and break them out. I have made clocks out of slabs but have never tried a big project like that. How do you hold the stone? I use a drill press vice or clamp down on a brick under water for all of my core drilling. With the unevenness of your stone it looks like holding it would be tough to do. I hope you get it done and show us. It looks like it could be great.
Jim
|
|
susan09
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2013
Posts: 19
|
Post by susan09 on Aug 21, 2013 20:01:57 GMT -5
Actually I put it in a pan (think square cake pan) with a piece of flat wood under then fill over it with water. The weight of the rock holds it steady. It is flat on the backside. I have a drill press and the core drill that fits my insert clock perfectly. I pumped slowly letting the drill get water in and was working like a charm. It took me awhile to drill it but it was crisp and perfect. I since have found out i should have drilled at a slower speed...not knowing about drilling rock it was on 3200 and so that is what I drilled at. ooops. Drill is still ok:)
It was cake until i tried to pop out the core. Put my screwdriver in...turned slightly and nothing. Tried prying and i started to ding up my outer rim....core not moving. Went back to google and Youtube and found that if you drill little holes in it you would weaken the rock and you could chisel the core out. That's when I burned up my smaller diamond bit. After drilling 4 or 5 holes I guess she gave way. So i took a chisel and hammer and tried to chip it out by hand. Felt like i was on the chain gang;)lol ... I have seen these done and they are beautiful but i just can't figure out how i get the core out.
Back to google and found something about a pneumatic chisel and wondered if anybody had used one for something like this or knew how i could get the core out.
Thanks Jim for your suggestion. I will post a picture if i ever get it figured out...wish me luck!
Sue
|
|
|
|
Post by Jugglerguy on Aug 21, 2013 20:30:05 GMT -5
I have no idea how to remove the core, but if you host your pictures on Photobucket or flickr you can post a link here. I like flickr because they let you have almost unlimited space for free now. On the bottom right under your picture, there's a little rectangle with an arrow coming out of it. Click on that and then the option that says, "Grab the HTML/BBCode". Copy that to your message here. Photobucket works in a similar way.
|
|
|
|
Post by kk on Aug 21, 2013 22:05:16 GMT -5
Yep, it might be best to get one or two more coredrills and then it should break down quite easily. The one thing that I do not understand tough: The core is loose, and moveable (even only slightly)  ?? |
|
|
|
Post by vegasjames on Aug 22, 2013 1:26:46 GMT -5
I agree that drilling more holes towards the edges of the center piece and the actual center first is a great idea. This will take out a lot of support. Then you can use a small rock chisel to break the walls between the center core holes first, then tap the edges of the center piece inward towards the big hole you created in the center. You can then use barrel sanders to smooth the circle you cut.
|
|
susan09
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2013
Posts: 19
|
Post by susan09 on Aug 22, 2013 5:50:10 GMT -5
kk, no the core itself is hard fast, stuck...it is too solid to move. I see what you're saying now is do a smaller core drilling in the center. (like a bullseye?) Then drill holes that segmenting the rings you have created. They would be easier to chisel out. That sounds like it may work. Thank you all for your help! I will order a few smaller core drills and give it a try:)Will post an update picture if it works!
Sue
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2013 6:29:03 GMT -5
I am intrigued by this type of clock with a hole that large. The clocks I have made have a 3/8 inch hole and the clock movement is on the back. It looks like your clock movement is in the front. It sounds like you have it figured out. You can drill with a smaller drill then move over 1/2 of the width of the hole and drill again making a criss-cross pattern.
Good luck, and HURRY UP because I want to see that clock. lol
Jim
|
|
susan09
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2013
Posts: 19
|
Post by susan09 on Aug 22, 2013 12:09:47 GMT -5
 Patience Jim!lol It'll take me awhile (not my only job...just in trial and error phase with this one) I will definately show you when done. Thanks for your suggestions and all guidance is most appreciated. Sue |
|
|
|
Post by Peruano on Aug 30, 2013 17:51:35 GMT -5
If I understand you correctly that the circle is not drilled completely through, then I will guess that your removal of the stub, -= its not a true core because its attached across its entire base to the mother rock, --- will be a bear and even then is likely to leave you with a back side of your cavity that is rouch and hard to even out to your specs. I'd drill it all the way and consider epoxying a thin disc back in as a backing if that is desired. Even it that was wood you would have a hard time accomplishing what I understand you are trying to do. A for effort, so stay with it. Tom
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2013 23:02:18 GMT -5
you are using core drills. obvious choice, but not exactly what you hoped for.
Have you sought "boring bits" of the same size? I have zero clue if they exist, but you might be able to bore into the stone to the correct depth similar in fashion to a forstner bit boring a disk out of wood to put closet door pulls in.
|
|
susan09
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2013
Posts: 19
|
Post by susan09 on Sept 11, 2013 19:42:28 GMT -5
Thanks so much for your input and suggestions... I knew that I didn't want the big hole out the back end but never considered a disk/plug. If all else fails I think that may be the ticket. Definately will look for the boring bits also...I might have been overzealous. Chopping out of wood would be butter next to chopping rock;) Thanks again for posting! all suggestions are most appreciated!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by kk on Sept 27, 2013 5:48:54 GMT -5
Thanks so much for your input and suggestions... I knew that I didn't want the big hole out the back end but never considered a disk/plug. If all else fails I think that may be the ticket. Definately will look for the boring bits also...I might have been overzealous. Chopping out of wood would be butter next to chopping rock;) Thanks again for posting! all suggestions are most appreciated!!! So, how is it coming along? |
|
minerken
Cave Dweller 
Member since August 2013
Posts: 466 
|
Post by minerken on Sept 27, 2013 9:08:02 GMT -5
|
|
susan09
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2013
Posts: 19
|
Post by susan09 on Oct 4, 2013 14:28:51 GMT -5
It's on hold for the moment. I had to move on to things I could do;) I contacted everyone I could think of who might know about drilling my rock. The people at Bosch say no good. They don't have an answer...so I have all these pretty rocks just waiting to be worked on. I think the problem is cutting puddingstone with an MOH of 7 or 8. I can drill clean through it with a lot of time but to drill a blind hole is not easy. Thanks for asking and for your suggestions. I will look into the diamond burr, minerkin:) Would love to just router out the hole. I haven't been on in awhile so sorry if I have not answered. Life gets busy sometimes. Nothing I would rather do than play with the rocks.
Thanks again
Sue
|
|
jasperblue
starting to spend too much on rocks
Diggin' This
Member since August 2010
Posts: 141
|
Post by jasperblue on Oct 5, 2013 14:46:37 GMT -5
I agree with those that recommend stepping down the sizes of core drills. If you haven't already, use the same pilot hole and step down your hole sizes each time always going to the same depth, getting as close to the outside diameter as you can. Maybe experiment later, going from small to large and see if that works better. Just keep the same depth and eventually you'll get all of out. -Chris.
|
|
minerken
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2013
Posts: 466
|
Post by minerken on Oct 5, 2013 23:13:37 GMT -5
I think this is what you need the top 50 piece set. www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_3_11?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=diamond%20burr%20set&sprefix=diamond+bur%2Caps%2C207this is a recommendation that they had 3 of 3 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 stars Great buy!, August 12, 2010 By MBernadette "M. Bernadette" (Texas) - See all my reviewsAmazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: 50pc DIAMOND BURR SET- Ceramics Tile Glass Lapidary for ROTARY TOOLS (Tools & Home Improvement) I bought these diamond bits because I work with glass. It is very difficult to find a 5/16" bit with a 1/8" shaft for a hand held rotary tool. If you are looking for a way to drill a hole for a clock, this is the set. There are about 3 bits in this set that I can use for that task. As for the rest of the bits, I will figure out creative ways to use them in my pieces. The price was definitely right. |
|
susan09
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2013
Posts: 19
|
Post by susan09 on Oct 6, 2013 12:31:41 GMT -5
:)Thanks for the suggestions!
Will give it a try !!!
|
|
??
Patience Jim!lol 
