HELP FROM EXPERTS ON SOAPSTONE

[Just_Shorthairs]

I won't bore you with the details of it taking 3 days to turn the pen and two days of finishing and buffing But when I press in the transmission and pen parts in It produced stress cracks on me and the pen. Anyone have suggestion to prevent this.

 

[GoodTurns]

prior to pressing, you need to either file down the components or enlarge the opening (I use a dremel with a sanding head on it to sand inside the tube opening, watch your heat levels) so you have a "slip" fit that rewuires little to no pressure for the components to enter the tube. when it's smooth, a a drop of CA and glue it in. been there, done that!

 

[IPD_Mr]

You could also use Loctie to secure the fittings to the tube.

But then again rewuires may have to have CA. :laugh:

 

[jimofsanston]

I enlarged mine just a bite the brass also with a dremel. Then ca the fittings. By the way nice soapstone where did you get it.

 

[witz1976]

You could also use Loctie to secure the fittings to the tube.

But then again rewuires may have to have CA. :laugh:

+1 on Loctite, as CA can cause some white residue on the plating when the CA out gasses. Plus as a benefit, with a little heat loctite can be loosened to help disassemble parts should you need to.

 

[Just_Shorthairs]

Thanks for the info. I will try it on the next one
Stone Sculptors Supplies is where I got the soapstone from


http://www.stonesculptorssupplies.com stone
​

 

[MrWright]

I won't bore you with the details of it taking 3 days to turn the pen and two days of finishing and buffing But when I press in the transmission and pen parts in It produced stress cracks on me and the pen. Anyone have suggestion to prevent this.

Be careful with soapstone turning. I hear it is loaded with asbestos fibers.
be sure to wear a mask.

 

[Sylvanite]

prior to pressing, you need to either file down the components or enlarge the opening (I use a dremel with a sanding head on it to sand inside the tube opening, watch your heat levels) so you have a "slip" fit that rewuires little to no pressure for the components to enter the tube. when it's smooth, a a drop of CA and glue it in. been there, done that!

I do the same thing a little differently. I press the parts into the tube and knock them back out again before gluing the tube into the blank. That way, the tube is pre-expanded and won't put extra radial force on the blank. If I'm still worried (because brass tubes are slightly elastic), I'll sand down the fittings until they are slip-fit and glue them in when assembling. This technique isn't limited to stone, but anything that might suffer from press-fit expansion (e.g. tru-stone, castings, acrylics, etc.)

I hope that helps,
Eric