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tungsten for granite working

Stone Conversations : Archive 5 : Message 00051

From: "Simon Brown" <moonsong@zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz>
Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2004 06:55:17 +1000
Subject: tungsten for granite working

I'm having trouble getting good tools for working granite. The project I am
doing at the moment is making 1' granodiorite balls from rough boulders, and
the new set of punches I bought last year are breaking. I know there are 3
types of tungsten- hard, medium and soft, and I asked the tool manufacturer
in Melbourne to make heavy-duty punches especially for hard granite.

The tungsten is held in place by silver solder which gave way first causing
the embedded tip to rotate, then after a few more hits, the tip broke on one
punch, and at least 2 others I've used have cracks around the tip.

I have 2 old punches which I have used for about 20 years on granite and
granodiorite, and I just can't kill them. I think they were made in Germany,
but I have not been able to find replacements that are comparable quality.
They are worn to bullet points, I never sharpen them for fear of cracking
the tungsten. It makes them slower to work with than the new chisel-edged
points, but I know I can rough-work granite full-force all day and the tools
remain unchanged.

Can anyone share experience of granite tool manufacturers? I need to replace
the broken punch, and I can see that there will be more following.

Simon

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