Expertise Needed - What glue to use for glue block to soapstone?

[Roger Chandler]

I have a friend who is installing a soapstone shower, and they are turning rosettes for the corner trim out of soapstone as well. They have had a couple come off the faceplate, and were thinking of using plywood glue blocks :eek::eek::eek: of which I very STRONGLY encouraged them not to do!!!

Would epoxy be the best thing to use to put wood [maple or oak] glue block to soapstone to be turned on the lathe? I have never turned soapstone before, so I did not know for sure, but thought it likely that CA glue might be too brittle.

Also....would carbide tools be the best surface off the soapstone on a rosette? I think they were trying high speed steel tooling. Just wanted to help this friend out with some reliable and safe information, if you can help here.

Thanks in advance!

[Mark Greenbaum]

http://www.woodturningonline.com/Turning/Turning_content/turning_soapstone.html

Epoxy - Hughes Labs 330 is what I've used for lapidary. Dries in 24 hours, and is crystal clear, and very strong. Keep the stone wet, and use diamond abrasives if possible. The soapstone can actually contain particles of silica, so keep it wet, wear a face mask, and clean your area and tools often. The few pieces I have cut on lapidary equipment, cut quickly with diamond, but I've seen carvers at gem shows using only pocket knives, files and steel tools.

Another link by Sandy Cline, whom I did see carve at the Syracuse Gem & Mineral Show in 1997. http://www.soapstonesculpture.com/soapstone.html He states that some pieces can contain asbestos, so watch out for that.

[Grant Wilkinson]

I've turned several bud vases from soapstone. For these small pieces, double sided turner's tape held them to the waste block very well. As to tools, I used a Hunter 5 carbide, then sand wet.

[Stew Hagerty]

http://www.woodturningonline.com/Turning/Turning_content/turning_soapstone.html

Epoxy - Hughes Labs 330 is what I've used for lapidary. Dries in 24 hours, and is crystal clear, and very strong. Keep the stone wet, and use diamond abrasives if possible. The soapstone can actually contain particles of silica, so keep it wet, wear a face mask, and clean your area and tools often. The few pieces I have cut on lapidary equipment, cut quickly with diamond, but I've seen carvers at gem shows using only pocket knives, files and steel tools.

Another link by Sandy Cline, whom I did see carve at the Syracuse Gem & Mineral Show in 1997. http://www.soapstonesculpture.com/soapstone.html He states that some pieces can contain asbestos, so watch out for that.

I noticed this as I read through the article you linked to.

Talc and asbestos are part of the same metamorphic family of rocks and may often exist in the same area. . The serpentinized ultramafic rocks that host asbestos deposits may also contain talc and vice-versa. If asbestos were present in the soapstone, the veins of asbestos would appear as cotton like and fibrous and are quite identifiable.

[Roger Chandler]

Thanks for the replies folks. My friend actually this morning, spoke with a person at the quarry that turns quite a bit of this soapstone.......he recommended that for the rosettes, that they use a drill press, with the appropriate cutter bit profile, and keep it lubricated with water, to help the detail and manage the dust.

Given the apparent dangers, I think the hold down on a drill press table will make it safer. I learned some things from this thread........good to be part of the "creeker" family! :)