Your advice on carbided tipped chisels, please

Quoted text begins.Can anyone advise me on how to keep these expensive tools from
breaking? (I only strike the chisel with the hammer once for every ten
seconds - and always move the chisel from the last place struck...)

What am I doing wrong?
End of quote.

Craig,

Could be a number of things..

Are the tools right for the job?

1) Are they the right size? Big tools for big work.

2) Granite chisels are generally oversize compared
to other stone chisels.

3) Carbide tips can be more susceptible to
shattering.

4) Are you using a 'flat' chisel for roughing out,
when you could be using a 'point'?

Granites vary, some are harder than others, some have a
finer grain . Do you know anyone else who carves this
particular granite? Go and see what tools they use, and
what technique they use.

Strolls