best tools for shaping soapstone ?
- Thread starter zukeeper1
- Start date
Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:
I've used knives and files.
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2004
- Messages
- 14,767
- Reaction score
- 320
kansas_volunteer
45 Cal.
The pipe making demonstrators at the Pipestone National Monument use nothing but wood working tools on the pipes they make for exhibit. That includes using a brace and bit to drill the holes. They work red pipestone, but soap stone being very close in carvability, I'd imagine you could do all the work you need to do with just wood working tools and sandpaper. I think this is true as I saw some two-toned pipes there made of red stone and black soap stone combined. Woodcraft Supply used to sell soapstone for carving, and I'm pretty sure they meant it to be carved with wood working tools, as that's their primary business.
The pipemakers at the National Monument did all their work freehand, no vises or clamps or patterns, just by hand and by eye.
I have both some black soapstone and red pipestone here and tested the soapstone with a rasp, it seems to cut about like the red stuff. I still haven't made anything out of it, so can't testify to it's working qualities in detail.
The pipemakers at the National Monument did all their work freehand, no vises or clamps or patterns, just by hand and by eye.
I have both some black soapstone and red pipestone here and tested the soapstone with a rasp, it seems to cut about like the red stuff. I still haven't made anything out of it, so can't testify to it's working qualities in detail.
I found that soapstone that has been freshly dug is softer than if it's been out of the ground for a long time. I believe it dries and becomes a little harder.
kansas_volunteer
45 Cal.
I did some study in my "Collectors Guide to Indian Pipes," and found the soap stone pipe was most often found east of the Mississippi and south of Quebec. It was used there as early as 800 BC. It was common amongst the Cherokees. There were a few made in Wyoming and more made in the Pacific Northwest. Others are found scattered around due to trade between tribes. Many of the pictures show eastern pipes carved with the stem as an integral part of the pipe. Hope this helps, in case you are wanting a PC pipe or a PC story to put behind one.
:v Any good carving knife and that wonderful set of Lee Rifflers can work soapstone and catlinite. Beware of using too coarse a file as you will not enjoy the long periods of sanding/scraping you will have to put into the carving. I have seen Eskimo work being done and the single knife they use is very crude compared to good carving implements, They use the tips and edges of the knife for cutting and shaving and scraping to achieve those beautiful rounded features typical of those carvings.You might also want the accumluate some various and sundry shapes of scrapers when doing soapstone carvings. There are e few books out their I will see If I can post a few for resource materials. :thumbsup:
Hope you don't think I'm trying to hi-jack the thread; but thought some might be interested in seeing a "source" of soapstone.
I took these pictures last year in Newfoundland, this is the site of a soap stone quarry that was used by the Dorset Eskimos about 2000 years ago. It is located in a small community named Fleur de Lys on the Bay Vert pennesula (sp.) in northern Newfoundland. The info at the site said that the Eskimos cut out rough blocks and took them back up north where they fashioned bowls, lamps etc. from them. There was no mention of pipes; and I don't believe that they were familar with tobacco, so it's not likely they made any pipes.
I took these pictures last year in Newfoundland, this is the site of a soap stone quarry that was used by the Dorset Eskimos about 2000 years ago. It is located in a small community named Fleur de Lys on the Bay Vert pennesula (sp.) in northern Newfoundland. The info at the site said that the Eskimos cut out rough blocks and took them back up north where they fashioned bowls, lamps etc. from them. There was no mention of pipes; and I don't believe that they were familar with tobacco, so it's not likely they made any pipes.
thankd for the help ,advise and pictures ! I got to get a fewe tools collected 
I do want this coming out as close as I can get to being PC correct. One of the reasons i chose soapstone was that it was mentioned here the Crow had pipes with soapstone bowls
I do want this coming out as close as I can get to being PC correct. One of the reasons i chose soapstone was that it was mentioned here the Crow had pipes with soapstone bowls
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2004
- Messages
- 14,767
- Reaction score
- 320
Their cumpooters were striclty handmade from bone, stone and sinew. How about yours? :rotf:
kansas_volunteer
45 Cal.
Here are directions for making a pipe, in case you haven't seen it:
[url] http://www.makeyourownpeacepipe.com[/url]/
[url] http://www.makeyourownpeacepipe.com[/url]/
Last edited by a moderator:
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2004
- Messages
- 14,767
- Reaction score
- 320
That's real useful, Kansas Volunteer. Thanks!
I gotta point out one thing though, embarrassing myself in the process. I'm pretty challenged with so many thumbs, so I've been known to have trouble drilling straight holes right where they oughta be. Different than the directions, for my stumbling efforts I find it best to drill holes first, then carve away everything around them that doesn't belong there. Every one of my bores is where it belongs now, even if it got there backwards. :surrender:
I gotta point out one thing though, embarrassing myself in the process. I'm pretty challenged with so many thumbs, so I've been known to have trouble drilling straight holes right where they oughta be. Different than the directions, for my stumbling efforts I find it best to drill holes first, then carve away everything around them that doesn't belong there. Every one of my bores is where it belongs now, even if it got there backwards. :surrender:
kansas_volunteer
45 Cal.
I'm kinda in the same boat. The pipestone pipe I'm working on turned out cockeyed. I first drilled out the holes with a long 1/8th bit and acutually got them to meet up. Then I drilled the holes out larger, and that's where things went wrong and the holes turned off center. I guess that's what's called the worksmanship of risk, when you try to do things freehand, which I usually do. I think next time I too will drill the holes first, then work around them.
However, the demonstrators at the Pipestone National Monument drill the holes first and seem to turn out beautiful items. So I guess it can be done well with prctice.
However, the demonstrators at the Pipestone National Monument drill the holes first and seem to turn out beautiful items. So I guess it can be done well with prctice.
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2004
- Messages
- 14,767
- Reaction score
- 320
Where'd you get your drill manual? I must have the same one, cuzz the same thing happens to me. I spose I could buy a drill press, but that would take all the fun out of it.
Just ran into it the other day. I've been making wood powder measures, drilling the hole first then whittling away the extra around the hole.
Got inspired to make a powder measure from the tip I cut off while making a powder horn. My pilot hole turned out perfect, but it wasn't as good a pilot as I thought, I guess. Darned near bored through the side of the horn, but I caught it just in time and quit. Instead of the 30 grain measure I wanted, I've got a spare 25 grain measure now.
Just ran into it the other day. I've been making wood powder measures, drilling the hole first then whittling away the extra around the hole.
Got inspired to make a powder measure from the tip I cut off while making a powder horn. My pilot hole turned out perfect, but it wasn't as good a pilot as I thought, I guess. Darned near bored through the side of the horn, but I caught it just in time and quit. Instead of the 30 grain measure I wanted, I've got a spare 25 grain measure now.
kansas_volunteer
45 Cal.
A fellow named David Pye wrote the book "The Nature and Art of Workmanship." he divided workmanship into two catagories: mworkmanship of risk and the workmanship of ceretainty. The risk part is the kind of thing you do free hand or by eye, and the results are not quite predictable. The certainty part is the kind of thing done with jigs and machines, and repetive duplication can be expected. Most of what I do is the riskier sort. I just like to work that way. Thus, I don't need no stinkin' drill manual! I just drill crooked holes then try to figure out how to work around them.
