Stone carving

Stone Carving

    The reduction of a block of stone to a finished state using a variety of tools is to be
 considered carving. Prodedures of carving processes can be used to create masonry for 
construction or for decorative purposes or both combined. Stone Carving has evolved 
slowly, many of the same techniques have been used for millenia. The recent trend to 
modernization of tools, the use of airguns, computer controlled cutters etc., cannot yet 
improve upon works finished by hand. Anyone able to swing a hammer and and hold a chisel 
at the same time can attempt to carve. The tools required to start are relatively 
inexpensive and few, and yet to obtain a complete array of tools to run a full size 
workshop would cost several hundreds of dollars.

    The stone used is a wide in variety, from igneous to sedimentary, hard to exceptionally 
soft. The most common stones carved are granite, sandstone, marble, and limestone. Others 
such as basalt, soapstone, alabaster are also occasionally carved. With certain stone care
 must be taken not to breath the resulting dust, especially sandstone and granite 
which releases silicates that destroy lung tissue. Other stones may contain other 
dangerous minerals such as asbestos, for example Tigers Eye.
 
   The choice of stone is predicated upon the necessity of durabilty, weatherability, color,
 availabilty, cost and ease of carving.