Soapstone

[Whaler]

I have been wanting to try soapstone so I ordered a block on Fri and it came yesterday. It just fit in a large flat rate box and weighed 35#.
It's wonderful stuff to work with (lots of dust, keep the DC running) and takes a nice finish. I used a wood rasp to rough it down close on the lathe and then finished with a skew. I sanded to 600, applied 6 coats of med CA and buffed it out on the Beale wheels topped off with Ren wax.
Wrapped around a Black Ti Sedona.

 

[johnnycnc]

Good looking stuff, Dick. Your pen looks great!

That's a pretty hefty block of stone you have.

 

[srf1114]

did you get more than one out of that block? or is there a huge pile of dust some where?

 

[PaulDoug]

Turned out real nice Whaler. It makes good shaving sets also. I use the set I made about 4 times a week for several months now and it is really holding up nicely. I have some African Black soapstone to make another shaving set soon.

 

[rjwolfe3]

Beautiful pen

 

[johncrane]

Well done,looks great.

 

[Mrs Rojo22]

Very nice!

Robin

 

[avbill]

Why finish it with CA?

 

[dexter0606]

Why finish it with CA?

It's not very durable unless you do. The soapstone is so soft that after a little while of everyday use your beautiful pen would become a dinged and scratched mess!

 

[wizard]

Looks beautiful !!

 

[JohnU]

Great looking pen. Ive always wanted to try soapstone and just havent done it yet. What did you use to cut the block into blanks and did you have any problems drilling it?

 

[Whaler]

Great looking pen. Ive always wanted to try soapstone and just havent done it yet. What did you use to cut the block into blanks and did you have any problems drilling it?

John, I cut it on the BS without a problem,drilling and turning are also no problem. It's about the easiest material I have cut and turned.