How Do You Carve Soapstone

Do not apply heavy coats or the oil will become gummy and hard to polish.

How do you carve soapstone. If you havent tried soapstone carving or havent carved in a while your hands and arms will ache. 2 Ask the local colleges if they are going to have a stone-carving workshop. 3 Go to the library and take out a book on stone carving and use the resources at the end of this page to get your supplies.

Hold the carving in one hand wet the carving and the sandpaper in a container of water and begin sanding the carving with the sandpaper. Use a fine-grade sandpaper for repairing minor surface scratches. Carving and the sandpaper in a container of water and begin sanding the carving with the sandpaper.

Be sure to gently rub the sandpaper onto the carving at the exact location of the scratch to remove the thinnest layer of soapstone and buff out the scratches. If you want a finished soapstone work to shine it must be properly treated and polished using the right kind of oil and the proper techniques. Use a dust mask and safety glasses during the cutting portion.

1 Take an art class in college. Just the ramblings of an old man who has ingested too much soapstone dust. The tape will protect the soapstone from scoring as it is cut.

Polish the surface using smooth circular motions working your way gradually from one end to the other. This stone can be wet or dry cut but the dust will be prolific when dry. Put on all safety equipment and an apron.

Takes a couple of hours but then it will be all natural so to speak. Be aware that carving soapstone can lead to working with additional materials and you can see what experts do with material. Rub the oil into the soapstone with a clean dry cloth.