Buying a Stone

Tools

Buying a Stone for Carving
Color and shape are your choice. Avoid stones with obvious fault lines. Although crystal stones tend to be softer, they also seem to have more fault lines and bruise more easily. White is usually not a good choice.
BE SURE YOU ARE BUYING ALABASTER.

The Compleat Sculptor, Inc. 800-9-SCULPT
90 Vandam Street, New York NY 10013
It’s best to go pick your stone in person with Bill or Ralph. Call before you go to make sure they will be open.
If you order your stone on the telephone try to talk to Marc. If he’s not available talk to Bill or Ralph. Tell whoever you talk to that this is for Laura Stoland’s sculpture class at Suffolk Community College.
TRAIN: From LIRR take C or E train to Spring Street, exit at Vandam Exit.
CAR: West Side Hwy, Exit Canal Street, Left on Canal, Second Left on Greenwich, Second left onto Vandam
Over a dozen different types of alabaster, ranging in price from .85 to $2.29 per pound. Also sell carving tools.
**** Ask for 10% student discount

Wood-Ply (516) 378-2612
100 Bennington Ave., Freeport NY 11520
Across from the Meadowbrook Mall, 1/4 mile west of Meadowbrook Pkwy, North of Sunrise Highway
Range of colors and sizes of alabaster. $1.09 pound
Also sell carving tools and imported and domestic hardwoods.
**** Ask for 10% student discount

Peters Sculpture Supply (212) 777-1079
415 East 12th Street (btwn 1st Ave & Ave A), New York NY 10009
Range of colors and sizes of alabaster. $1.40-1.50 pound
Also sell carving tools.
**** Ask for 10% student discount

Stone Tools
Stone carving is done with chisels, rasps, and files. Some stone carvers also use power tools like die grinders, dremel tools, etc. It is ideal to carve your first stone with hand tools alone. You will then understand how to use power tools properly should you decide to use them for future projects.
There are three types of chisels:
- Flat or Cape which can be bought at the hardware store,
- Point which can be bought at the hardware store, sculpture supply store, or made by sharpening an old tool,
- Rake can only be found at a store with sculpture supplies.
Hammer: You can use a regular "claw" hammer or a "ball peen" hammer but the best type of hammer is one made especially for stone carving. They look like a mini-sledge hammer, have a very compact, heavy head and a short handle. There is also a cone shaped stone carving hammer that is excellent.
Rasps are essentially very rough files. They are great to have in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Files are also helpful in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Borrow as many of these items as you can from other people. Buy what you can from this list according to your budget. Share and Swap with your classmates.