stone for a knife handle, how can i shape/cut it?

[jrpsycho]

i found a great translucent stone big enough to make a set of scales out of (or a handle for a hidden tang) but i am wondering what the best way to cut and or shape it would be... is there any tools that can do the trick easily and cheaply?
thanks
j

 

[Jerry Hossom]

Most stones have to be cut with diamond saws and shaped with carborundum or diamond wheels. "Tricks", "easily" and "cheaply" are just not words used much in the Lapidary world. There are some great knife artists who use stones for or on handles, Jot Khalsa and D'Holder to name a couple, but these are usually $1,000 plus knives.

If there is a easy and cheap answer here I'd sure be interested.

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Jerry Hossom
www.hossom.com

 

[george tichbourne]

There are hacksaw blades made for cutting ceramic tiles and other hard materials that work very well on Marble. They are not very expensive but the work is definitely not easy.

An alternative is to join a local lapidary group which maintains a cutting and grinding facility for its members. You not only get to use the equipment but you get the benefit of the experience of others.


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george
www.tichbourneknives.com
sales@tichbourneknives.com

 

[TJ Smith]

Gotta agree with Jerry. Nothing easy about working rock.You can cut stone(most) with silicone carbide but it needs to be wet. To much heat is gererated dry and it will crack.I have cut(grind)a lot of stones and can't imagine trying a knife handle without some top of the line equipment.

 

[L6steel]

I played with a chunk of marble and sanded it on my wilton. Worked pretty good but ya have to keep it wet. Work it slow too.I also drilled a hole thru it with a masonry bit by setting it in a small container of water and going slow. Take care! Michael

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Always think of your fellow knife makers as partners in the search for the perfect blade, not as people trying to compete with you and your work!http://www.nebsnow.com/L6steel
Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms!!!

 

[Jerry Hossom]

As stones go, marble is very soft. The fact that this one is translucent suggests it is quartz or maybe even harder. The bigest problem will be sawing and drilling. I think you will need diamond for those operations at least.

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Jerry Hossom
www.hossom.com

 

[magnum .44]

i believe jantz supply sells stones, but no equipment for stone (atleast i don't know if they sell any) i was gonna work marble, but i tried cutting it with a jewlers saw, the end decision was i like working with woods better.