Stone Carving Tools

stone carving tools

Stone Carving tools are one of the most essential components of stone sculpture. This site will provide information about carving softer stone which is very easy to work with such as Limestone. The carvings that you see on this site are all made from Oamaru Stone which is a major building stone from southern New Zealand. In future there will be information available in regards to sculpting harder stone. You will find this site useful for knowing which tools to buy from your sculpting supplies. 

Sculpting Supplies That You Will Need

A portable workbench - This is arguably the most important piece of equipment to add with your sculpture tools. I will discuss the safety aspects to be aware of and the advantages of height adjustable benches.

Chisels - Types of chisels to match the type of stone you are using and how to use chisels properly.

Mallets - Rubber versus wooden mallets and how to use them properly.

Files and rasps - The best type of files and rasp for your carving.

Riffler Files - What are riffler files? Why you should have them?

Masonry sealer - Find out about why you need to seal your carving after you have finished sculpting it.

Sand Paper - Find out what is the best type of sand paper to use to sand down a stone sculpture.

Creating a sculpture with stone carving tools

Other sculpting supplies that you will need

Builder's pencils - You will need to use builder's pencils as a standard pencil will rapidly wear down.

Rulers

Compass

Drills and drill bits

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.