http://flintknapp.com/where-would-someone-begin-to-learn-stone-carving.html Your Source for Flint and Supplies Wed, 13 Jul 2011 06:18:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://flintknapp.com/where-would-someone-begin-to-learn-stone-carving.html/comment-page-1#comment-444 Neil S0121 Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:50:33 +0000 http://flintknapp.com/where-would-someone-begin-to-learn-stone-carving.html#comment-444 Your local stone mason (generally by a cemetery - headstones etc), I did and they were very helpful, they suggested techniques and equipment and the best stone to use for different projects and effects. You could get yourself some pieces of soap stone and practice on those - soapstone is so soft you can almost cut it with a knife, white alabaster, lime stone (nice and cheap) or get a cinder block/ breeze block and practice on that. To start carving stone you will need basic safety kit - goggles (bits tend to ping off), mask (you don't want to inhale the stone dust) and gloves. Then a few simple tools - needle chisels, surforms etc. If you are in the UK you can get them from a company called Tiranti's, if in the states Montoya Sculpture & Supply is similar. Both have web catalogues and will post although I would source your own stone (cheaper). Your local stone mason (generally by a cemetery – headstones etc), I did and they were very helpful, they suggested techniques and equipment and the best stone to use for different projects and effects.
You could get yourself some pieces of soap stone and practice on those – soapstone is so soft you can almost cut it with a knife, white alabaster, lime stone (nice and cheap) or get a cinder block/ breeze block and practice on that.
To start carving stone you will need basic safety kit – goggles (bits tend to ping off), mask (you don’t want to inhale the stone dust) and gloves. Then a few simple tools – needle chisels, surforms etc.
If you are in the UK you can get them from a company called Tiranti’s, if in the states Montoya Sculpture & Supply is similar. Both have web catalogues and will post although I would source your own stone (cheaper).

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