Letters in stone

[Jay Long]

I would like to know if there is anybody who has worked with stone, Particularly I am interested in how to carve letters in stone, I have seen some very neat stones sitting in front of housing blocks and business districts and in front of some business parks, with the names carved in them. Is this done with a router of some sort, or done by hand?, how do you carve in stone? Jay

[JAZ]

I've never worked in stone and am sure you'll get better responses from those on this forum who know the right answer to your question. But it occurs to me that you could go to your local monument (gravestone) company and check out their equipment and technique in the flesh.
JAZ

[jvc stone]

Jay

There are several techniques for lettering stone. Most monument makers now sandblast the letters in, while some newer technowlogy is using waterjet. Routers are also used. However, I do not concider any of this "carving", and there are those of us still around who do carve signage in the traditional way. That is hammer and chisel, and V sunk lettering.
Good luck
John VanCamp / JVC Stoneworks

[Jay Long]

Thanks for the info, the v-sunk lettering is a very descriptive concept, I am more on the side of art then technology myself, however In my line of art there is a lot of technology, (metalart) thanks again
Jay

[Sysiphus]

hello. i work in stone as well. i would have to agree with jvc's sentiments. i carve almost exclusively with hammer and chisel. however, if you wanted to, and the stone were soft enough, you could use a dremmel with a grinding head - still kind of creative but a tool you probably already have on hand.

[Jay Long]

I live out here in central Oregon, and we have alot of flat rocks, kinda like layers of rock, some of this rock is large enough to make tables, and it is very good for landscaping. I took a piece of this rock and outlined the letter "J" and I took my die grinder with a corse 1/2" ball grinding burr, and with somewhat little difficulty I etched out the letter, a good 1/4 in deep. I find this rock to be easy to deal with, but It does not have much in grain or color, also I find rotary tools leave round corners, and I kike the cut corner, Is there a good and common source for rocks here in the enviorment that would available to the novice, I live on the edge of the forest, where the desert meets the mountains, to the east is arid dry canyons and to the west is the cascade range, I know this is not a very good description but maybe there is certain rock found in unique places. If not then any suggestions would be appreciated.
thanks Jay

[Sysiphus]

i don't know of an stone specific to your region, but generally speaking if there are mountains then there is usable stone, which usually means there are quarries. that would be one way to go, is looking at what quarries are nearby. i've done this before and the quarry will often give you free whatever rock you can haul away in a truck if you tell them you are an artist. what they are using the rock for dictates how they quarry - often they are blasting so you end up with pieces that have fractures through them, making them unusable. also, you get whatever they have lying around which is usually round boulder stuff.

if you have something specific in mind, shape color etc, you can go to a place that sells counter top, marble tile etc. find one that actually builds/installs that stuff and they are bound to have scrap that's cheap, if not for free.

[Jay Long]

I am interested in v-sunk lettering, and the chisels to perform the work, do you know of what I need, and the places to go and get this equipment, are these chisels somthing I can form myself?, I have cold chisels, and hardend steel stock, I know this sounds a little crazy, but I am about 150 miles round trip from any major size city (Portland Oregon). I am looking to get clean cut, crisp, edges and corners, then I am going to inlay stainless lettering into these cuts, and then clear coat the whole process. Jay

[Sysiphus]

stonesculptorssupplies.com has just about everything you could need for stone. i usually by my tools from them. they are very helpful and if you give them a call and let them know what you are doing they could probably get you what you need. to be honest, i have never done any lettering like you are talking about so i haven't much advice in that way. sounds like an interesting project - post some photos when you finish.

[jvc stone]

Jay, Another good source for tools is Trow & Holden. Good people, and a small enough business that they will take the time to talk to you about your tool needs, and point you in the right direction.
JVC

[shona]

JAY ,i met the old gentleman from ventura california who did the engraving at the Ronald Regan libaray in semi valley, and he did all of that with hand tools ,on granite. so call art city or pronto tools and ask them of the method the old guy used at the libabry and what tools, i remeber him comming over there to reshapen his tools for the same job.