Stone Carving With A Portable Workbench

Ryobi workbench

A portable workbench like the one above is one of the best working surfaces for carving stone. I can't stress enough that having a good, safe and stable place to work is the number one priority before you begin stone carving.

I would recommend that you would need to ensure that the workbench height is adjustable to allow you to be in a comfortable position throughout your carving process.

Having it adjustable means that you can set it to allow for minimal bending of your back - keeping your back safe, but if you only have a standard workbench then work with that instead.

The next safety feature is the workbench clamps. Again, this is important for carving stone. The bench needs to have a device which will lock the stone into place - thus freeing your hands and minimizing cutting yourself. 

Using The Bench For A Sculpture

Being a mobile workbench has a huge advantage over a fixed bench as you can move around and work on your sculpture from all angles. It also lets you sculpt wherever you feel inspired like being outside carving stone on a warm Sunday afternoon. Also be aware that there are many cheaper versions but these tend to be very flimsy and may not last.

I recommend using this type of portable bench: When using this bench, the top surface opens and closes by winding the handles in the same direction at the same time. It is a good idea to get used how the bench works before you start working on your first sculpture. 

Purchasing A Height Adjustable Bench

NZ And Australia

Every now and then I receive an email inquiring about where I purchased my bench from. They are really hard to find online but if you are based in NZ or Australia, you can purchase them from Bunnings.

United Kindom

I have managed to find an amazon link for the Ryobi Workbench from Amazon UK.

Amazon.com

I have not been able to find to link for the Ryobi RWB03 Adjustable Metal Folding Work Bench on Amazon.com, eventhough it is on Amazon.uk. However there is another option from another company that looks to be simular. I am not sure of the quality so I would recommend that you read the reviews before you order it.


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Wooden Mallet

I recommend using a wooden mallet for carving Oamaru stone.

Chisel Set

Woodworking chisels are perfectly fine for carving with Oamaru stone. 

Masonary Sealer 

This is the best sealer that I could find on Amazon that I would consider to be suitible for Oamaru Stone 

Course Sandpaper

Ryobi Engraver

Fine Sandpaper

Engraver

Scissor Lift Trolly

Mobile Tool Box

Shaugns Recommended Stone Carving Tools

Although the tools below are sold through Amazon. They are the same as the stone carving tools that I personally recommend to my students for carving with Oamaru stone.

Poratable Workbench

These benches are height adjustable which makes them perfect for stone carving. I own the Ryobi workbench and love it, but unfortunatlly it is only sold through Amazon's UK store for people that are wanting to buy it online.

Stanley: Surform Shaver

This is a must-have tool for shaping large areas of Oamaru stone

Riffler Files

These are smaller files that are designed for the parts of your sculpture that are difficult to get at. They are also an essential set of tools


Builders Pencils

Crosscut Hand Saw

This type of crosscut  hand saw is my recommendation for cutting Oamaru stone

Keyhole Handsaw

A very handy saw. Mosty used for sawing after a hole after it has been drilled into the stone.