marble carving tools

[BROPER3@xxxxxxx]

Hello Everybody,

I have read some of the emails concerning carving
chisels. I don't know how many people know what I do
about shaping and altering old chisel, etc., to a new
life for carving marble.  I have been exposed to marble
all my life in one form or the other. I never had the
opportunity to have standard tools, etc., they was just
not available to me. So I have always just done with
what I had and made my own.

I learned a lot through the years though. So to the
people who might not know, I wanted to past a little of
this on.

What I do and have done is rework old cold chisels,
screw drivers, etc., anything that will harden and
temper into the chisels I needed, it works too.

What I do is this, using a small propane torch from the
hardware (sometimes two at a time) I heat the metal to
red hot and let it cool slowly.  This softens the metal
so it can be filed and worked. When I have it shaped
like I want it, grooves filed etc. I then use the torch
or torches (depending) to heat the working end only of
the chisel to red hot again, then dip it in to cold
water.

This hardens the chisel, (you may need to change the
water if it get to hot before the next chisel) then sand
or polish the work end to a shine. Then apply heat to
the chisel behind the shined part, watch the temper
colors run toward the cutting edge when straw to bronze
color reaches the end, cool the chisel. You may need to
experiment with the metal. But, usually straw to bronze
will work. I know this process is as old as metal but,
to someone who might not know I think it could be very
helpful.

good luck,
 Billy