Stone staining - AHA!

["George Graham" <georgergraham@zzzzzzzzzzz>]

Just a note on this subject.
I've carved a lot of Virginia black steatite which only looks jet black
after I put carnuba wax on. This is a hard paste wood wax that does not all
that well unless it is liquified (I use a torch) and quickly applied, and
then buffed. I've had to repair and recarve finished areas and can see that
the oil has soaked in 1\8 to 1\4 inch. This treatment has lasted for years,
indoors. I assume the oils would evaporate away if it was exposed to the sun
for a long time.
I don't want to get bogged down in an argument over the difference between
oiling, waxing or staining stone, but clearly the natural color of the stone
was brought out dramaticly by using carnuba wax. Placing small soapstone
carving in an oven and heating so a wax will absorb easily into the stone is
an old trick. Just keep the temp below the smoking point. Soapstone and
steatite does absorb oil as I understand it.
George Graham