Question on drilling alabaster

["Rob & Kat" <kreese@xxxxxxx>]

Well, an alabaster pen would fall under the catagory of a novelty, as, while
one might suceed on some level at proving one could do it, this is not a
stone that, once finished, improves with human handling. The word
"alabaster" originally refered to a sort of stone vial to contain oil: I
have made a few, as well as snuff bottles and other small necked vessels,
the most delicatly formed never held up in use. Power tools were never
needed. There is one tip I can give you based on my experience making stone
tube beads and pipes, and that is: do the drilling as early in the preform
stage as possible to benefit from the greater strength inherent in a little
extra mass, as well as increase your "fudge" factor.
 Pros seem to favor drilling on the lathe with a fixed bit. Lubricating
coolants that won't taint (i.e. water, you could experiment with vegetable
oils to add an element of beauty-my surviving oil vessels have become very
lovely indeed) the stone reduce vibration of this delicate material.
 It is hard to mount, as on chucks or lath plates, because of the way it
bruises. The sort of dop wax used by gem cutters works if you use enough not
to peel away the materials surface.
 Heat destroys alabaster.
  Oh, and failed pens are still potential beads!
  Good luck, Robert