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Carve Native Soapstone by Vicky Smith
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Carve Native Soapstone |
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Business
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The term "soapstone" was first used in 1681 to describe stalactites that were greasy to the touch and hard like suet, reports the Oxford English Dictionary. Soapstone is rated a "1" on the Mohs scale of hardness, which means it is relatively easy to carve, according to the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies. Its softness, however, means that soapstone tile can't take a great level of detail without crumbling, so sculpting simple forms is recommended. Because soapstone may also contain silica and asbestos, according to McCann and Babin in "Traditional Sculpture Hazards," you must use protective goggles and a respirator when working with this material. Instructions as follows: Firstly, decide on a basic sculpture shape to carve out of the soapstone. Since intricate details are hard to execute in this material, choose a simple shape that doesn't consist of too many fine details. Some simple shapes might include a four-legged cat with a thick tail and thick angular whiskers around a pointed nose, a snowman or snowman body with ragdoll-like appendages or an abstract design with spirals and geometric shapes. Secondly, draw the shape you wish to carve onto the soapstone with crayon, using a crayon color that is in good contrast to your soapstone (such as white) so that the drawing is easier to see. The crayon marking will serve as a reminder for the shape you want to carve to obtain the desired finished design. After you start carving, the chisel can sometimes get away from you, so you need guidelines around the shape where the notches and grooves should go. Thirdly, press a coarse file against the crayon marking at about a 45-degree angle and drag the file away from your body along the crayon line to the desired depth to carve into the stone. If you feel confident with your carving skills, use a hammer and chisel to hollow out center pieces or to hack out notches as desired. Continue to carve in this manner until you complete the sculpture. Fourthly, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. While the oven heats to temperature, sand the entire sculpture with a fine-grit sandpaper to smooth out any jagged marks from the file. To sand to a finer polish, add a mist of water to the surface of the cubic stone while sanding. Fifthly, heat the peculiar stone for about 15 minutes to warm it. Pull it out of the oven, and, quickly, while the stone still retains heat, rub neutral shoe polish into the stone to provide a protective layer and to add contrast to the sculpture. Allow the sculpture to cool. Tips & Warnings If you are concerned that your soapstone contains silica or asbestos, spray a layer of water over the stone with a spray bottle before you begin working. Keep the surface wet as you carve to minimize dust. Always carve away from your body and position your hands behind the tool (not in front) to avoid self-injury. Using a chisel on soapstone (especially smaller pieces) can result in fractures and fissures in your sculpture. Experts recommend using a file to carve your soapstone until you have mastered the texture and feel for sculpting in this material. In short, as an eminent business E-platform of promoting stone industry, we are in possession of a powerful technology group and high-efficiency operations management system. If you are interested in us and want to consult us freely, you can also see diamond or become a loyal follower of us by @ https://twitter.com/stonebtb.
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