Thread: Just finished in to time send for Christmas: soapstone handle, 24mm high mtn badger

Just finishing off the last of the gifts I've made for Christmas, hopefully soon enough for them to get to my family in time for Christmas. I decided this year that it would be as close to a 100% non-commercial Christmas as possible. So everything I am giving to my family is either in whole or in part hand made either by me or by someone else. So there's a candle holder and some napkin rings I forged in a blacksmithing apprenticeship course for my sister, a guitar strap for one nephew, a knife and sheath for my other nephew (I may now be hooked on leather work as well as blacksmithing...), some hand made shaving soaps, bowls, and brushes for which I made the handles for my Dad and Bro-in-law, and a teapot for my Mom made by a friend who is a potter out west. It is so much more satisfying than just going out and buying crap, but man does doing it this way it ever take up a lot of time!

Anyway, here's the most interesting of the brushes I made. Hand carved from soapstone and coated with beeswax. I like the look of it, and it feels *great* in the hand. I think I may have to make another for myself now. The knot is one of the High Mountain Badger knots I bought from Mr. Chen on AliBaba. I really like those knots, but one must be prepared for quite a wait to receive them.

Fantastic work,what tools do you use to carve the soapstone??

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Fantastic work,what tools do you use to carve the soapstone??

Thanks!

Anything that carves wood will work fine on soapstone. In this case there were some files, sandpaper, a couple of carving knives (one fixed blade, one replaceable scalpel-blade type with a hooked blade), a few chisels, and a couple of these guys:

Miniature Chisels & Scalers - Lee Valley Tools

It's beautiful material to work with, but you have to be aware of fault lines or you'll fall prey to some serious chipping issues.

I tried turning soap stone on the lathe. FAIL!!
My centers pushed right through it. Never tried it again.

You did an awesome job on it!!

Originally Posted by Cangooner

Thanks!

Anything that carves wood will work fine on soapstone. In this case there were some files, sandpaper, a couple of carving knives (one fixed blade, one replaceable scalpel-blade type with a hooked blade), a few chisels, and a couple of these guys:

Miniature Chisels & Scalers - Lee Valley Tools

It's beautiful material to work with, but you have to be aware of fault lines or you'll fall prey to some serious chipping issues.

Thank you, I think I can turn that using carbide bits.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Thank you, I think I can turn that using carbide bits.

If you do, please let me know how it works! I have never tried turning soapstone for fear that what Andrew described would happen.

Carbidebits should go through soapstone like butter. It's very soft.

That's the way Christmas should be.....from the heart!! Cudo's!

Looks like there will be heirlooms passed around and treasured!! That's a beautiful job on the brush!!

I love working soapstone. When we lived in Alaska, my friend's family had a soapstone quarry and I'd get the chance to go through the piles in the saw room before they were cut to size. I left a pile of soapstone when we moved back to the lower 48.

You need another hobby!!

Merry Christmas to you and the Family!!

Howard

Originally Posted by Cangooner

If you do, please let me know how it works! I have never tried turning soapstone for fear that what Andrew described would happen.

Carbidebits should go through soapstone like butter. It's very soft.

Be back next week,I have some large blocks of soapstone.just need to find them

Now that is really cool! The recipient of that gift should be real proud. Green is my favourite colour and that brush handle just takes the cake..very nicely done!

Originally Posted by Cangooner

If you do, please let me know how it works! I have never tried turning soapstone for fear that what Andrew described would happen.

Carbidebits should go through soapstone like butter. It's very soft.

At a woodworking show in Saratoga NY a few years ago i watched this turner work with soapstone, first thing he said was to glue the piece to a block of wood or drill a hole in it insert a dowel and use a screw type chuck no metal centers the soapstone crumbles. He was using regular turning tools with some of them being carbide.

Also great work on that brush definately one of a kind!