Chisel query

["Patrick Hill" <patshill@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

To: Stephen West regarding carbide tipped chisels;
    Trow and Holden Co.
    Barre, VT
    1-802-476-7221

To: Julie Glavin regarding stone chisels;

All of the limestone carvers can take a lesson from the granite carvers
regarding chisels. In ALL granite shops, there is a bench grinder next to
the work space. This is because granite carvers sharpen their chisels at
least once a week. Because the bench grinder is so handy, we are used to
making and shaping all kinds of chisels. But when you sharpen or change the
bevel on STEEL chisels, keep a bucket of water handy. Stick the hot chisel
in the water occasionally to preserve the temper. DO NOT immerse carbide
chisels in water.

But be careful; I grew up in the same shop as Seamus Murphy in Cork, Ireland
and occasionally we used to teach the pawnbrokers a lesson for taking
advantage of stone carvers. We used to make a bunch of chisels out of pig
iron and take them to the pawnbroker and sell them (the money was used for
the pub on a Friday afternoon). Of course, when any one who was a competent
carver picked up these chisels and struck them on a piece of steel and heard
the low THUD, then they knew they were worthless. A good chisel makes a PING
when struck.

To: Books about carving

Seamus Murphy (and everyone else) learned about sculpture from the John
Henry Foley and his assistants. John Henry Foley was the principal sculptor
for the Albert Memorial in London among other works. You can read about Mr.
Foley's work in this book:

Victorian Sculpture
Benedict Read
Yale University Press

Seamus O'Mahoney
patrickhill@xxxxxxxxxxx