Small chisels for carving

[dondougan@xxxxxxxx]

Greetings;

I too will add my use of woodcarving tools for marble (even
better for alabaster or limestone).

I keep a number of woodcarving chisels specifically for use
on stone -- relatively heavy-bladed mortising chisels are my
preference over the thinner butt chisels, but I use those
too. They do need to be sharpened more often than you would
sharpen them for wood, but they don't need to be razor sharp
like I keep my woodworking tools -- and I don't use my good
woodcarving tools for stone!  I go by the local pawn shops
and pick through what they have - since the chisels will
usually need to be re-ground anyway, I can pick-up ones that
nobody else wants really cheap.

I also use old files and tool-steel blanks for making my own
when I need something odd.  You do need a small hand-held
propane torch for hardening, annealing and tempering the
steel, and some kind of grinder.  A bench grinder would be
better than a hand-held grinder, though if you have a good
stout vise a portable grinder will work.

Good Carving to All;
Don