[Woodcarver] GREAT CARVINGS (Stone)

[Joe Dillett]

This also brings up the thought of what is being done to help carvers in other countries, and what can we do?  Any Thoughts?

 

Mark Whillock

Whillock Woodcarving

www.stubaidirect.com

www.woodcarverswarehouse.com

507-446-0752

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Hi Mark,

I'm wondering if that soapstone contains asbestos? I know first hand that carving stone is a dusty business. Maybe some better tools and safety equipment might help them?

The Friday between the Carving Magazine meeting and Carv-Fest, when I went to visit me sister, we went to tour the pipestone quarry in Pipestone MN. Pipestone is a very sacred Indian place. I met one of the pipe makers, Travis Erickson. I watched him and got to try using their hack saws, rasps and files to shape the stone. It was a very interesting experience. It looked like they were making a living but they sure were not getting rich. Maybe it would help them if Carving Magazine did a feature on them carving peace pipes out of pipestone? I believe that this is the only place in the world that true pipestone is found. It is formed from a layer of special clay pressed between the rock for a few million years. It seems to be the same hardness as white marble but a much finer grain and a reddish brown clay color. 


Joe Dillett
The Carving Shop
645 E. LaSalle St. Suite 3
Somonauk, IL. 60552

(815) 498-9290 phone
(815) 498-9249 fax
http://www.thecarvingshop.net [business web site]
http://www.carvingmagazine.com ['Ask Joe' column]
http://community.webshots.com/user/joe_dillett
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