Alabaster Carving Tips
Alabaster is a soft stone that is preferred by carvers who want their finished sculpture to have a smooth and warm appearance. The natural fault lines in the stone lend to the finished piece's marble-like quality. Yet the fault lines also make it a stone that is easy to break. The softness of alabaster does not make it simpler to carve, but a few carving tips can make it easier for you to work with the stone.
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Fractures
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Dampening the surface of the stone with a small amount of water before carving will reveal where it is fractured. A fractured area has a different grain direction than the rest of the stone and will appear darker when wet. Once identified, it will be easy to avoid breaking the stone by knowing where the direction of the chisel must be changed to avoid striking against the grain of the alabaster.
Support
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The force of chiseling the stone not only removes alabaster where the tip of the chisel is pressed, but also sends vibrations through the whole stone. These vibrations can cause the stone to split where they cross fractured areas. Supporting the stone on sand bags or thick towels can help to absorb the vibration and prevent a break from occurring.
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Sanding
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Sanding alabaster should be done in stages, starting with 180 grit sandpaper and moving up to 600 grit paper. Wet the sandpaper above 180 grit and sand the stone with a gentle, circular motion. Wash the stone off with water in between each sanding pass to remove the dust. This will reveal what stage the finished piece is in and whether it is time to change to a finer grit to avoid removing too much material.
Waxing
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Finished alabaster has a dull appearance and the porous nature of the stone leaves it susceptible to water damage. Apply several thin coats of a clear car wax to add a protective layer that will also bring a shine to the finish carving.
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References
Resources
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