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How old masons kept their tools sharp ...

Stone Conversations : Archive 1 : Message 00727

From: "Steven McGahey" <stevenm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2000 11:45:02 +1000
Subject: How old masons kept their tools sharp ...

Quoted text begins.The document you are working on interests me a great deal. How
far back will you take this investigation? Are you concerned only with
iron/steel tools?
End of quote.


Not at all - I'm interested in anything and everything. <grin> Heck, I've
even been giving the ol' technique (I first heard of it being used by the
Egyptians) of heating up a rock face and then dousing it with cold water,
effectively removing the surface of the stone and exposing (from what I
understand) a nicer stone face.

Quoted text begins.However, some of the finest granite work has been done without
the benefit of metal tools.
End of quote.


I did not know THIS! How is that possible? I mean, looking at things,
granite is one of the hardest stones to work - right? So, how were they
worked without metal tools? Did they use other stones, or was it actually
(gulp) wooden implements?

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