Something different

[bigsteel15]

So I'm in a local "hobby" shop today. this place sells mostly beads and jewelry stuff but I've been driving past for years and decided to stop.
Turns out they also have a huge carving section.
In that of course is stone carving.
Now I know it's not wood but has anyone ever made any turned projects (pens, small bowls, turned boxes) from any kind of soapstone or other carvable stone?
Obviously a person can cut it with HSS tooling. Probably more sharpening required.

Some of the stone this guy had was very intriguing.

[bigsteel15]

New subject

Can't get to the "forum" directly so here is a good spot.

Went to the woodturners guild meeting here in town last night.
I may never turn another pen again.
Seriously though, WOW!!

This guy is the local guru. I've seen his stuff at the market and it is very nice.

http://www.onegoodturn.ca/index.html

They demod a couple of custom made boring bars last night. Man those work nice.
Great thing is that if I ever get a bigger lathe I have the capacity at work to make my own.

[vaking]

Brian,
I am not a specialist in turning but I would not dare to try turning such stuff with handheld cutter. I believe the stone (even soapstone) is reasonably hard, harder than some metals and would need metal-cutting lathe. Main difference is that cutting knife is supported not by a hand and is advanced at a controlled rate.

[jl]

Brian:

Here is a link to LV, about soap stone carving blocks. They say it is easy to carve and to cut. But do not mention anything about turning it.

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...,32712&p=32712

[Stytooner]

Back in art class in grade school, we had to do a sculpture using soapstone. We basically used hand tools and sometimes a small mallet. Its a little harder than sandstone and has a waxy feel like soap. That could be where the name comes from.
It is easily carved. I started with a 12" by 8" by 8" block. I was trying to do a mermaid on a rocky outcrop. This block has so many faults that I wound up making a hooded Eskimo ice fishing. That was what was left of her tail.
It is some neat stuff, though. The only worry I would have is it flying apart on the lathe. You might could turn real slow. I think handheld tools would do, but metal cutting would certainly be better.

[gerti]

The only worry I would have is it flying apart on the lathe. You might could turn real slow.

Flying appart would be my concern too, so with soap stone I definitely would not go beyond the size of a pen blank.

Alan Lacer likes to turn miniature tops, and needed a good base to spin them in. So he turned a rather good sized piece of slate. Kept it square, just turned one face concave to spin the tops in. According to him it wasn't much fun but it did turn.

As far as odd materials to turn pens from, I tried some engineered decking material. The smell wasn't exactly great but it turned well and I do like the outcome. I decided to not polish it, just sand it smooth. I really like the texture and feel of it. Don't recall the name of the material, it was stock from the BORG.

On the pen turning forum I saw people use stabilized corn cubs, or laminated the brass tubes with cut up jeans. The there is bone (brittle) and horn (stinks).

[bigsteel15]

The stone I bought is called Wonderstone. It is extremely solid and consistent. Basically it is silt that has been compressed over millions of years.
I tried turning it last night. WOW, beautiful. Fine dust comes off so a mask is necessary, no chunks. Polishes absolutely beautiful.
Might be heavy for a pen.
I will post a picture when I get it done.