Tool index

All 28 stone carving tools

Search, filter by stage, or sort by name. Every tool page covers what it removes, which stone it survives, and how to use it without hurting yourself.

Marble Block — Dense, translucent calcite stone — the classic sculptural material.

Marble Block

Dense, translucent calcite stone — the classic sculptural material.

StoneSelect · Rough Out · Refine · Finish · Seal

Granite Block — Hard, abrasive igneous stone that resists steel entirely.

Granite Block

Hard, abrasive igneous stone that resists steel entirely.

StoneSelect · Rough Out · Refine · Finish

Limestone Block — Soft, forgiving sedimentary stone — the sensible first block.

Limestone Block

Soft, forgiving sedimentary stone — the sensible first block.

StoneSelect · Rough Out · Refine · Finish · Seal

Sandstone Block — Layered quartz sand — cheap, plentiful, and directionally fragile.

Sandstone Block

Layered quartz sand — cheap, plentiful, and directionally fragile.

StoneSelect · Rough Out · Refine · Finish

Alabaster Block — Translucent gypsum — carves like hard soap, breaks like glass.

Alabaster Block

Translucent gypsum — carves like hard soap, breaks like glass.

StoneSelect · Rough Out · Refine · Finish

Soapstone Block — Soft talc schist — the stone most beginners should start with.

Soapstone Block

Soft talc schist — the stone most beginners should start with.

StoneSelect · Rough Out · Refine · Finish · Seal

Flat Chisel — The general-purpose edge — planes, transitions and finishing cuts.

Flat Chisel

The general-purpose edge — planes, transitions and finishing cuts.

ChiselsRefine · Finish

Point Chisel — Concentrated impact for bulk removal — the roughing-out workhorse.

Point Chisel

Concentrated impact for bulk removal — the roughing-out workhorse.

ChiselsRough Out

Tooth Chisel — A row of teeth that levels the pitted surface left by roughing.

Tooth Chisel

A row of teeth that levels the pitted surface left by roughing.

Gouge — A curved cutting edge for hollows, folds and concave form.

Gouge

A curved cutting edge for hollows, folds and concave form.

V-Tool — A sharp V for crisp lines, arrises and incised detail.

V-Tool

A sharp V for crisp lines, arrises and incised detail.

ChiselsRefine · Finish

Lettering Chisel — A narrow, rigid chisel for carved inscription and fine incised work.

Lettering Chisel

A narrow, rigid chisel for carved inscription and fine incised work.

Stone Hammer — A heavy steel hammer that delivers the blow a point chisel needs.

Stone Hammer

A heavy steel hammer that delivers the blow a point chisel needs.

HammersRough Out

Mason's Hammer — Square face one end, chisel edge the other — trimming in one tool.

Mason's Hammer

Square face one end, chisel edge the other — trimming in one tool.

HammersRough Out

Mallet — Softer blows and better control when precision matters more than speed.

Mallet

Softer blows and better control when precision matters more than speed.

HammersRefine · Finish

Bush Hammer — A grid of pyramidal teeth that texturises a flat surface evenly.

Bush Hammer

A grid of pyramidal teeth that texturises a flat surface evenly.

Dummy Hammer — A short-handled steel mallet — the refining tool most sculptors keep.

Dummy Hammer

A short-handled steel mallet — the refining tool most sculptors keep.

Pneumatic Hammer — Air-driven impact that removes stone at many times the hand rate.

Pneumatic Hammer

Air-driven impact that removes stone at many times the hand rate.

HammersRough Out

Riffler File — Small curved files that reach into detail no chisel can follow.

Riffler File

Small curved files that reach into detail no chisel can follow.

FinishingRefine

Carborundum Stone — A bonded silicon-carbide block for leveling and cutting back.

Carborundum Stone

A bonded silicon-carbide block for leveling and cutting back.

FinishingFinish

Sandpaper & Abrasive Sheets — The grit sequence that decides whether a polish succeeds.

Sandpaper & Abrasive Sheets

The grit sequence that decides whether a polish succeeds.

FinishingFinish

Polishing Pad — Diamond or felt pads that bring the surface to a true polish.

Polishing Pad

Diamond or felt pads that bring the surface to a true polish.

FinishingFinish

Wax & Sealant — A protective layer that slows staining without changing the surface.

Wax & Sealant

A protective layer that slows staining without changing the surface.

Respirator — The single most important piece of equipment in a stone studio.

Respirator

The single most important piece of equipment in a stone studio.

SafetySelect · Rough Out · Refine · Finish

Safety Glasses — Sealed goggles, not fashion glasses, for impact and dust.

Safety Glasses

Sealed goggles, not fashion glasses, for impact and dust.

SafetySelect · Rough Out · Refine · Finish

Workbench — A heavy bench that absorbs the blow instead of bouncing it back.

Workbench

A heavy bench that absorbs the blow instead of bouncing it back.

SafetySelect · Rough Out · Refine · Finish · Seal

Stone Vise — Holds the block so both your hands are free to work it.

Stone Vise

Holds the block so both your hands are free to work it.

SafetyRefine · Finish

Dust Extraction — Capture silica at the source — the only control that really works.

Dust Extraction

Capture silica at the source — the only control that really works.

SafetySelect · Rough Out · Refine · Finish