Things You'll Need:
- Limestone boulder
- Safety glasses
- Steel point chisel
- 2 lb. mallet
- Rasp
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Step 1
Select a limestone landscaping boulder. Limestone carves well and doesn't produce silica dust, which is harmful to breathe.
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Step 2
Look for a shape in the stone--such as a face, an animal, a chair or an abstract design--that will fit in with the existing landscaping. Place 5 to 25 lb. boulders on top of a work table or bench for easier carving. Leave heavier boulders in place outdoors.
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Step 3
Pencil basic guidelines on the surface of the boulder, working with the grain of the stone. If necessary, wet the stone to find the grain lines. Carve with the grain as much as possible.
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Step 4
Sketch the shape on paper or mold it in clay to keep the design clearly in mind. Refer to the sketch or model while carving.
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Step 5
Rough out the basic design with a point chisel. Hold the chisel straight with your thumb to the outside, and tilt the chisel slightly so that the point will be removing chips away from the boulder and the carver. Strike the chisel with the mallet, using only as much force as is necessary to remove chips.
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Step 6
Pencil in detailed guidelines on the roughed out boulder. Remove small amounts of stone with the point chisel. Work over the whole design to keep the form consistent instead of completing one small section at a time.
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Step 7
Finish the carving with a rasp, smoothing out the chisel lines with one-way strokes.
