Carving a chain

[Paul Janke]

I have carved chains out of a chunk of wood various times. I have been wondering if the same could be done out of a rock. What tools would be required? Would it have any strength (enough to not break while being handled and looked at)?

 

[Dusty MI]

I would think you could. There are a lot of different types of stone.
I think the Indians liked to use flint to make arrow heads.
Most tomb stone are granite, which can be cut and polished.
I would think a small hammer drill, a hammer and chisel, and a small power tool like a Dremel.

I've never seen this done, so this is only a guess on my part.
If you do this, let us know how it works out.

Good luck.

Dusty

 

[Dick2]

Nephew is using a 1/2" "Earthquake" impact wrench from Harbor Freight that has a lot more torque than an average impact wrench. He says that it really works well on his old farm machinery.

 

[Dell (WA)]

Paul........the only rock that I know of that you can manually carve is "calcimite", (I think that is how its spelled) the red rock that plains indians used for "peace pipes". Came from Minnesota (I think) You could probably make ya a chunk from "plaster of paris" from hardware store and try that.

You might gitta chunk of sumptin' from a grave stone outfit. ALWAYS wear eye protection. Local gravestone carver fergott and a clean-up chip flew into his eye. He hadda glass eye he'd take out and set on post or sumptin and tell us kids to be good 'cuz he was always watching us. Scare the 'ell outta new kids in neighborhood. ........blind Dell

 

[dr sportster]

Do a search ;there is info on carving chain out of jade and marble. I searched : chain carved from marble.

 

[ss55]

Pipestone National Monument, Pipestone county and the town of Pipestone are in southwestern Minnesota almost on the South Dakota border, north of Sioux Falls, SD.

 

[NCWayne]

I've seen many things carved out of rock and as far as I know the only tools you'd need would be a good hammer and chisel to do it. As far as a chain having any strenght that would depend on the type of rock, and more importantly wether it had any veins and/or fissures running through it as the rock would tend to be weak at those points, just as wood is weak along a crack, a rotton part, etc.

In any case if you feel frisky and decide to do some carving post a few pics, I for one would love to see something like that.

 

[Stephen Newell]

I think I would look into some kind of rotary tool for stone.

 

[Big Deal]

Carving a chain--the task for the man with too much time on his hands.