WORKING WITH SOME STONE

Paul Douglass

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S E Washington State
Missed my lathe while I was sipping wine at the ocean so I got busy this morning and started on my shaving set. This is what I have done so far on the soap holder. This is Soapstone. I have to make a jam chuck now so I can work on the bottom. I have the Knot to make the brush and the razor blank. I'm a little concerned how well the Knot will stay epoxied in the brush handle. I don't know if epoxy and soapstone work well together.

Not a fancy turn, but I'm new at this stone stuff so I'm going simple.
 

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Thanks for the nice comments. I to am anxious to see the rest of it done, but when you go on a vacation there is much to catch up on when you return.

Soapstone is very soft and easy to turn. I cut the blank with the band saw and turn it with wood turning tools. I turn at a slow speed under 500 rpm. Sand with regular sandpaper and finish with micro mesh. When you turn it it produces a fine powder like talc. Need to wear a mask, I sure much of it would not do you any good. I have no idea if this is the proper way of doing it, but so far it has worked. There is lots of info on the Internet. I purchased my stone from here: http://www.stonesculptorssupplies.com/ There are many other places that carry it. I got great service form these people. I just picked them at random.

I also have some alabaster I plan on trying some day.

Good article I just found:

http://www.woodturningonline.com/Turning/Turning_content/turning_soapstone.html
 
Guess I didn't post this on this forum, but this was my first attempt at turning soapstone. Makes a nice pen, but I don't think you'd want to drop it. I love the feel of soapstone.
 

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