Carving with torches

["wayne" <sleblanc@zzzzzzzz>]

Greetings to the group,

I have to add my two cents worth (1.33 Canadian) to this flaming
discussion, first, it only works in stone that has a high quartz
content, the stone "spalls" In the quarry industry you use a thermic
lance; compressed air, fuel oil, and a steel pipe, you use this to cut
your "slot", very much like the exothermic torch someone had mentioned.
You need three free sides to remove a block with explosives, (detonating
cord, I use 100gm.) The first three-five inches of stone is ruined, due
to the thermal cracks, same as the blast side.

You put a "flame finish on some granite tiles, to make them slip
resistant, this also weakens them. Someone in Quebec was experimenting
with using a Plasma arc to flame finish granite tiles, has anyone tried
using a plasma arc on removing excess stone? {Plasma arcs are used in
the cutting of stainless steel; it just vapourizes it!} Thanks, guys and
gals, BE CAREFUL! This technique/method has a lot of sparks, hot stone
and metal, and noise, not to even think about what is in the stone!
Arsenic, lead, cadmium, cesium etc. etc.???

Tim Bunton
Orem, Utah
USA