Turning stone

[Dan Williams]

My wife saw a stone on the road,and picked it up. Turns out it was a stone that had been turned into an egg. My question is can you turn stone on a wood lathe ? If so,what kind of tools would you need. I have a Grizzly 16" swing.

Dan

[laurie sullivan]

here is a small piece of White Italian Alabaster I did this last weekend. (2 1/4 in at the rim and 3in tall) I not sure of just any stone you could turn, but I have done soapstone, calcite and alabaster. the calcite is the harder of the three.

Laurie


http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b88/laurie1953/DSC_00592.jpg
here is the soapstone
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b88/laurie1953/DSC_0016-1.jpg

[John Fricke]

What do you use for tools when turning these stones? Speeds? If i may ask, a short tutorial on stone turning would be wonderful.

[Jim Underwood]

Max Krimmel has the classic tutorial on turning Alabaster.

http://www.maxkrimmel.com/Alabaster/AlabasterMain.html

[Bob Way]

Tools for turning stone are scrapers. High speed steel works, but require a fair amount of sharpening while turning stone. Many stoneturners make and use carbide tipped. Speeds will vary depending upon the size of the stone. A good speed range is anywhere from 150 to 400 for roughing out the stone depending upon size and how out of round it is. Speed for finishing is a matter of personal comfort level. I've never noticed the speed because I adjust it to fit my comfort level. I'm guessing I'm in the 800 rpm range or so when I get to that point.

Max Krimmel does indeed offer most everything you'd ever want to know about turning stone. In addition to his, here is one from Brad Tallis who has a few extra pointers:

http://home.comcast.net/~starjumper/

Here's a Pink Mozart alabaster bowl about 5" wide x 2 1/2" high.

[Malcolm Tibbetts]

Turn dry wood on your own lathe, wet wood on a friend's lathe, and stone on someone's lathe that you don't know. It's really, really messy!

[Jim Underwood]

Yeah, I imagine that stone dust isn't too good for bearings - or lungs either for that matter. Definitely want to wear face protection, and lung protection and turn on the dust collector. And borrow your friends lathe...:D Unless you want to keep your friend that is.

[Todd Lord]

Ya'll come on over to my shop and you can use my lathe.
I've been turning rock for about 9 yr.s and still use the same lathe.
I love turning rock.
See my bowls on the turning soapstone and alabaster thread (type in soapstone on the search)

[mark buckley54]

Yes it is very messy but worth the mess.
I only turn stone and pens these days.
Stone is easier to turn than wood.


Turn dry wood on your own lathe, wet wood on a friend's lathe, and stone on someone's lathe that you don't know. It's really, really messy!

[Bernie Weishapl]

My brother turns stone and uses a carbide tool. Can't tell ya what kind of tool but that is what he told me. Yes it does make a mess but he has been turning it for 6 yrs now.