sandblasting my stone carvings

["John VanCamp" <jvcstnwrks@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

  I probably carve 99% of my work with air tools now.

Hi Jeff.  Occasionally I run into a carver who thinks that using
an air hammer is not really carving.(!#%$ traditionalists), but
personally I believe Michelangelo would have been using one if
he had one to use.  It is my understanding that the first
Italian pneumatics started showing up in the 1860's, and the
Dallet hammers date back to the 1880s.  Like you, I started out
with the hand chisels and hammer, but I too do most of the work
 from rough in to finish with my air hammer.  The hand chisels
only come into play for the most intricate of detail work.  As
for the sand blasting, it can be an effective tool for some
things, but not finishing the surface of a carving.   Have you
tried the diamond hand pads available from several sources.
I've been using the grits from 50 to 220 a lot, particularly on
the Indiana, and have them to 3500 grit which puts a great
finish on marble without buffing compounds etc.
John VanCamp