How to Carve Stone Bird Baths
A hand-carved stone bird bath adds beauty and function to an outdoor space. Gardens, backyard paths and patios all are ideal places for a carved stone bird bath. Many real and artificial stone bird baths are available commercially; however they are expensive and lack the character of a hand-crafted stone bird bath. A stone bird bath can be carved with a few basic tools and an understanding of the techniques.
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Things You'll Need
- Large stone to carve
- Work surface
- Compass
- Angle grinder, with stone grinding attachment
- Mallet
- Tooth chisel
- Flat chisel
Instructions
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1
Place the large stone on a work surface with the face that you want for the bowl of the bird bath facing upright.
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2
Draw a circle with a compass on the top surface of the stone. This will define the edge of the bowl for the bird bath.
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3
Use an angle grinder with a stone grinding attachment to grind a grid pattern inside the circle you have drawn. Space the lines in the grid approximately ½ inch apart. Grind around the perimeter of the circle. The depth of the ground lines should be approximately ½ inch.
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4
Use a tooth chisel and a mallet to break out each of the squares in the grid. Repeat the grinding process and chiseling out process until you have reached a depth that you are satisfied with for the bird bath bowl.
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5
Use a flat chisel and mallet to refine the curves of inside of the bowl. Create a smooth surface inside the bird bath. Smooth out the outside edge of the bird bath bowl with the flat chisel. Chip off small pieces at a time until the perimeter is completely smooth.
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Tips & Warnings
Leave the remainder of the bird bath stone untouched for a natural look that will work well with any design aesthetic.
Wear eye protection when carving stone.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit bird image by Lovrencg from Fotolia.com
