Hello Everybody, I have read some of the emails concerning carving chisels. I don't know how many people know what I do about shaping and altering old chisel, etc., to a new life for carving marble. I have been exposed to marble all my life in one form or the other. I never had the opportunity to have standard tools, etc., they was just not available to me. So I have always just done with what I had and made my own. I learned a lot through the years though. So to the people who might not know, I wanted to past a little of this on. What I do and have done is rework old cold chisels, screw drivers, etc., anything that will harden and temper into the chisels I needed, it works too. What I do is this, using a small propane torch from the hardware (sometimes two at a time) I heat the metal to red hot and let it cool slowly. This softens the metal so it can be filed and worked. When I have it shaped like I want it, grooves filed etc. I then use the torch or torches (depending) to heat the working end only of the chisel to red hot again, then dip it in to cold water. This hardens the chisel, (you may need to change the water if it get to hot before the next chisel) then sand or polish the work end to a shine. Then apply heat to the chisel behind the shined part, watch the temper colors run toward the cutting edge when straw to bronze color reaches the end, cool the chisel. You may need to experiment with the metal. But, usually straw to bronze will work. I know this process is as old as metal but, to someone who might not know I think it could be very helpful. good luck, Billy ........................................... FAQ info and help on using this list is on http://www.learningstone.net/lslstfaq.html To unsubscribe, send a blank email to leave-stone[AT]lists.spunge.org
