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Transferring design

Stone Conversations : Archive 6 : Message 00310

From: Bill Marsh <bmarsh54@zzzzzzzzzzzzz>
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 2004 14:52:39 -0400
Subject: Transferring design

Karen Bereza wrote

Quoted text begins.Does anyone know if melting beeswax onto soapstone (or slate for that
matter) would have longer durability than say linseed oil, or would that
need re-doing every year too?
End of quote.


Karen,

I melt beeswax into black soapstone, and it seems very tough. Never
done any studies on its outdoor longevity, but my impression is that it
would last longer than any oil, because it actually solidifies inside
the stone.

I take the finished piece and soak it in a tank of very hot water for
about 15 minutes. As soapstone holds heat very well, the piece remains
quite hot for quite a whlie. The hot stone makes it much easier to
apply the beeswax, using a propane torch to raise local areas of the
already hot stone to the wax's melting point. Melt the block of wax
with a quick pass of the torch, wipe a cloth across the melted part,
smear it on the stone, and drive it into the stone surface with a pass
of the torch. The wax just sinks right in. When it cools enough to
touch, it can be buffed off to remove excess, and achieve a shine (if
the underlying surface is sanded to 1200-1500 grit).

Hope this helps.

Bill Marsh

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