Shaping Stone - Stone Masonry

Shaping a piece of granite that will be used as window trim for a stone building. Walls are 16" thick stone for a true solid masonry load bearing wall.

The piece being cut is 8" thick, approximately 19" deep, and 12" long. It is being trimmed to have a bubble or rock face. The stone is being trimmed from 19" back to 16" to create the rock face. So the protrusions will stick out around two to three inches. Using a 3" carbide tipped pitching tool, also called a hand set, available from http://trowandholden.com . The hammer is called a Bellota and available from http://www.miconproducts.com/pitching_tools.html

I'm just a beginner, comments welcome.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Stone masonry
• Pitching granite
• Hand set

[MrDevilscoachman]

may i say that stonemason tools have developed very differently depending on where they were needed.. just look at the tools they use in bali to shape or carve stone... i am a stone mason and work in switzerland at the moment, i use different tools than greg to do the same job. i will make a video in a short piriod of time and i can't wait to see what you guys think.. we have a 4 year apprenticeship here which inclueds makeing gravestones from scratch and also work pieces for church restoration.

[Greg9504]

@MrDevilscoachman Hey MrDevilscoachman! That sounds like a really good program. I just do this for fun as I want to build a garage out of stone. It would be very hard work to do day after day I would think. Let me know when your video is up.

[Greg9504]

I know what type of hammer it is, thanks. I switch back and forth between it and a stone mason hammer. I actually find it easier to hit with. This isn't my trade, but always looking to improve. Would love to see a video of yours.

[super66craig]

Well done, the comment on the stone buster hammer is rubbish. Good choice of tools and nice squaring work!

[Greg9504]

@super66craig Thanks, still learning. Just getting back into it now as the snow has finally started to melt.

[Greg9504]

Hi Mcgregors2, I got the hammer from a company called Micron Products. I've added a link to their web site in the video description (can't add links in comments). If you go to that web page you can see a good description of it. I switch between it and a regular hammer (from Trow and Holden). I'm still a novice so I can't tell you which one is better. The bell shaped hammer does seem easier to use.

[spindlegrinder]

Six feet under playing in the background awesome!!!

[MrDevilscoachman]

p.s, it's all about knowledge and knowhow... treasure the work your able to do, the stone masons trade has been around since 3000 years as it is the second oldest job known to man... and it is full of secrecy and tradition...

[MrDevilscoachman]

@Greg9504 do it for fun? :-).. we each shift around 1.5t a day in a team of 4 stonemasons.. check out "stone mason pts 1 and 2 Part 1" on youtube, this guy lives a true stonemasons life.. i love my job and carve stone (limestone/sandstone) for fun, letters and birdbaths.. you have to love working with stone to do it for a living, it is really hard work but forfilling.. i wish you all the best with your garage and please make more video's... read up on the stonemason history,.. cheers

[filmbuff64]

sorry ...forgot to say ...that is not a hammer it is a stonecarvers dummy ....FOR CARVING ....your vendor should have told you .One day you will smash you hand up using it like that Greg....