stone letter cutting tools

["Gordon Brown" <gordonbr@zzzzzzzzzzzzz>]

G'day Stonecutters.
In regards to the type of hammer or dummy to cut letters in marble I prefer
a hammer about 1 lb4ozs in weight, if cutting sandstone a heavier one about
2 lb, and for granite about 14ozs. I didn't start to use a dummy (1 lb) till
about ten years ago. In the mid fifties when I was serving my apprenticeship
I was taught to use a hammer. All the other lettercutters (about 16 in total
at 10 different firms) in our town of Lidcombe in N.S.W. Australia. cut the
same way ie. We were STABBERS as opposed to DRIVERS and cut our lettering
seated in front of the stone while the drivers (g'day Ian) usually cut with
the work laying down.
As for chisels, the best, cleanest cutting ones for marble were the old tool
steel ones that we used to use. I find that if you sharpen a tungsten chisel
too fine it is liable to crack and if too obtuse it bruises the edge of the
letter though they are OK for all you drivers out there. With hammers the
steel/iron ones are best for marbles & granites as the have a real crisp hit
while the lead or wooden mallets are great for sandstones
Regards to all, Gordon Brown.  {Inscriptor lapidum.}