Carving

Stone has been used for carving since ancient times for many reasons. Most types of stone are easier to find than metal ores, which have to be mined and smelted. Stone can be dug from the surface and carved with hand tools. Stone is by nature more durable than wood, and carvings in stone last much longer than wooden artefacts. Stone comes in many varieties and artists have abundant choices in colour, quality and relative hardness.

Soft stone such as chalk, soapstone, pumice and Tufa can be easily carved with found items such as harder stone or in the case of chalk even the fingernail. Limestones and marbles can be worked using abrasives and specialist tools. Granite, basalt and some metamorphic stone is difficult to carve. Carving these stones often requires the use of tungsten carbide tipped tools are used, although abrasives still work well.

We are available for subcontract work in this area and we have access to extensive sources of natural stone that we can organise supply from.