How To Sculpt Soapstone

Try not to heat over 300 º F.

How to sculpt soapstone. Use the smallest amount needed and wipe off any excess. The tape will protect the soapstone from scoring as it is cut. Soapstone and alabaster are easy to work with because of their multitude of colors and veining.

Use firm circular motions over the stones entire surface. Display soapstone sculptures away from air vents and doors. Glue large pieces of lost stone back to the sculpture with epoxy.

Commercial soapstone slabs generally have 30 to 50 talc with the remainder of the stone being chlorite magnesite amphibole and other minerals. If the sculpture suffers a bruise chip or a piece breaks off it will likely need either epoxy gluing sanding andor re-oiling. Stones with high talc content are called steatite and are useful for carving.

This is usually sufficient for soft stones such as soapstone alabaster and wonder-stone. Gluing stones back together is typically reserved for when you are working with larger stone slabs and losing a significant piece means compromising your entire design for example if you lost the arm portion of your statue sculpture. Its easy to pick up a rougher grit and put scratches back in your sculpture if you dont do this.

Cover the sides of a diamond saw blade with masking tape and install it on a circular saw. High temperatures will not hurt the stone Soapstone can take temperatures of 1700 º F without any ill effect but the beeswax will evaporate at 300 º F. I like to start with 180 or 220 grit.

If you do get a scratch in the surface just about any oil product mineral oil linseed oil could be wiped on it to reduce the white line. The white mud that develops can be rinsed off in the container of water. In this example the sculpture head broke off and was glued back on with the wrong adhesive.