Stone & Steel

[amalgam]

Hello,
I am as new in this forum as I am in sculpting. I am interested in metal sculpture. However, in my first project I am working with both stones and steel. After long hours trying to carve my stones to the form that I wanted, I found that the stones are too hard to be drilled. I have tried with every single type of drill bits and they do not even touch the stones. So I decided not to try anithing else because I am afraid to break the stones and I do not want to start again. Do any of you have experience in sticking stones to steel? Glue? Cement? special formula? any ideas? I was thinking about doing it like precious stones are attached to pieces of jewelry (I do not know the technical games so I call it four little hooks grabing the stones) What do you guys think it is the best idea?
Thank you
so much for your help
Alfredo Alamo

[Araich]

Did you try a diamond bit with water?

Pictures would help... but I guess the best glue would likely be a 2 part expoxy, depending on the stone. But the clasp idea sounds good.

I made stands for artifacts for some years, and I would use fine steel wire brazed together with bronze, with oxy/acetylene. And shaped the hooks red hot. Watch you don't heat the stones, as they could explode.

[jwebb]

I mount stone sculptures to steel bases, and steel sculptures on stone bases, but I always drill at least one hole in the stone and fit an ss bolt into it, seated with epoxy. I don't claim this is the best way, in fact I worry about that epoxy over time. But I wouldn't give up on drilling the stone. There are carbide bits that will drill basalt or granite, and I don't know what stone would be harder than those two, but I wouldn't want to carve it. On the other hand, I like your idea of making metal prongs that grasp the stone to the base. I think jewelers call those "prongs", and if it's a solid ring it's a "bezel". Anyway, that could be an interesting element in itself. Big, honking prongs!

[chaz-abstracts]

Hiya Al,
Read your thread I have drilled stone with a Hammer Drill
and Carbide bits but just to use a regular drill will not do the
job as for expoxys I always consult a special Chemical Concept
Co. they are AirDraulics out of Philadelphia, Pa. 1-800-220-1966
You will talk with the Chemists themself if they do not make it
they will tell who will,they worked with me on adhering glass
to steel and it worked great so far.
Good Luck,
Chaz