How To Make Soapstone Carvings
The stone varies somewhat in the amount of patterning and white veining but overall it is a very consistently colored stone.
How to make soapstone carvings. Use a dust mask and safety glasses during the cutting portion. We will be applying the oil by hand and will use the heat of our hands to help with the absorption process. Before you begin oiling your soapstone saturate a soft clean lint-free cloth microfiber towel or sponge with a mild soapy water solution and use it to go.
Use soapstone if you are making. Make It Your Own. Clone and gather supplies for your small soapstone sculpturependant.
Draw the basic design of the pipe onto the soapstone using a soft pencil and make simple lines to outline the bowl and stem. Place a few drops of mineral oil onto a soft dry lint free cloth and rub it all over the surface of the carving. Begin cutting the pipe shape using carving tools.
Be sure to cover the entire carving. Soapstone is a soft-and-beautiful mineral that is popular for hand carving. Dont worry about making a detailed sketch.
High temperatures will not hurt the stone Soapstone can take temperatures of 1700 º F without any ill effect but the beeswax will evaporate at 300 º F. It also comes in many colors like grey green and black. If you want to take your soapstone to the next level consider one of our custom carving and inlay options.
All varieties of true steatite soapstone are gray. Soapstone also called steatite is composed of the soft mineral talc which is one of the softest minerals known. Soapstone is so soft that you can carve it with harder rocks you find in your backyard.