- To
carve soapstone:
- Decide on what the stone is
"speaking to you", what it wants to be.
- Draw your basic shape with
crayon on the stone.
- Use coarser files for the large
surfaces that need to be shaped, and finer files for the details.
- Soapstone, because of its softness,
cannot take a lot of detail without breaking. Breaks can be
glued with epoxy glue for stones.
- When you complete your carving
use coarse to fine sand paper to erase the file marks and make
it smooth. You can go down to .20000 ott sand paper wetted to
put on the smooth finish.
- Heat the rock to around 350
degrees and rub on neutral Kiwi shoe polish while it is hot.
- After cooling, polish with a
soft cloth.
- Remember the carving is very
soft and will scratch even with a fingernail very easily.
- Enjoy your masterpiece and display
it with pride.
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