How to Carve Letters in Stone

[@garycox3841]

Well, I did it. I enrolled in this course, and wow! Athar’s teaching is so thorough, and clear, I feel like it is an honor to have this opportunity. I am loving it, in a passionate way, and I’m no spring chicken, as they say. And I don’t feel like I have to hurry this process, which is perfect for me. I would say to anyone even considering it, to go for it. These are my own thoughts, feelings, and words. My interest is not only in letters, but will lend skills for carving symbols. I absolutely love spirals. 25yrs ago, I carved 51 spirals of three sizes, on a large piece of stone as a collaborative effort, and want to do more of that, along with lettering.

[@AtharJaber]

Thank you for your kind and supportive words, Gary. I really appreciate that.

[@mikejustice1196]

Where does one enroll

[@ChingFong58]

I was In the sign business for 23 years. Now retired but I hand carved many signs in various woods. Usually redwood, red cedar or mahogany. There are different methods to carve wood. I used the slide method where a mallet is not involved. I did some nice work. Today much of that is done with and routers or lasers. I miss doing it. I liked watching your video.

[@AtharJaber]

We use the slide method too, but only on soft stones such as soapstone. In any case, no CNC router can replace the pleasure of carving your own letters by hand.

[@TheBanzet]

Could you please let me know, what kind of chisel set I can here in the US?

[@connorhart7597]

​@@TheBanzet for wood or stone?

[@malachi5813]

Awesome, my father used to hand carve letters on headstone a lot, take a good amount of patience.

[@aurktman1106]

Fantastic as always! Thank you for the demonstration!

[@AtharJaber]

Thank you for taking the time to watch!

[@thomaskila3801]

Watching you carve this letter is like watching Kobe shoot a three-pointer while double-teamed, or Tiger Woods hit a 450 yard drive. Basically, those that have mastered their craft make it look so easy. Thank you for the closeups and excellent camera angle! As a new stone carver, your videos really help a lot!

[@SaturnTheShiningOne]

100% getting this course once I buy all my tools, you're the man Athar! Thank you

[@ibraheemtalash5094]

Who would dislike it? Great work.

[@AtharJaber]

Thank you Sana!

[@anantagaura]

Angle grinder brought me here 😊 and I'm glad. Wonderful.

[@AtharJaber]

Thanks! I'm glad you like it!

[@turtlesloth]

I really like your work and presentation. I see both as art. I’ve always liked stone shaping and polishing, but has not tried sculpting, until a few months ago. I’m inspired! Thank you for all the content. I’d gladly pay for your tutorials🗿

[@chrisstratton6293]

Thanks for the demonstration. Really nice work

[@AtharJaber]

My pleasure. Thanks for watching!

[@moikleblahblah160]

Thanks!

[@davidroemer5879]

i appreciate the content really helpful on getting further down the masonry rabithole

[@AtharJaber]

I’m glad it’s helpful

[@rexnard71]

Beautiful! Great Trade for a young person to learn. Could easily develop into long term business with loyal customers. Good Luck!

[@garycox3841]

I have watched this a few times, and find it very impressive. I hope to be able to take the class at some point, if it will still be available.

[@AtharJaber]

I have an online letter carving course that is always available. And I’ll be giving a week-long in person class in my own studio in November. Always welcome to join.

[@garycox3841]

Thank you, but for now I will to save up money. Your course looks fantastic. I already learned a couple of important things by looking more times, more closely. Also, the tool kit looks great. I believe that you are a very good teacher. Btw, I live on the West Coast of the US, and do not travel.

[@AtharJaber]

@@garycox3841 No worries. Good luck with the progress. By the way, here's a list of books that you might find helpful to learn letter carving on your own: www.sculpturechannel.com/letter-carving-books/

[@girisamudra3633]

Fashioned some rock for the first time at a family landscaping project and it has seriously fired up my buried need to do this!! Since that time I’ve been looking at all the info I can find on techniques, have been looking at rocks, grain patterns, hardness and dreaming of getting this hobby going!! Where do I get tools in Norway? If not easy in Norway can you recommend a place in UK? And are your letter carving courses online also?

[@AtharJaber]

Absolutely! You can find and enroll to my online letter carving course on this page: academy.atharjaber.com/letter-carving-course/ And for international stone and stone carving tools suppliers check out this list I've made: academy.atharjaber.com/tools-suppliers/

[@serkre673]

Great technique!👌

[@davemeeks8109]

Very nice presentation.

[@AtharJaber]

Thanks!

[@АлександрОстринский-т1с]

Спасибо тебе добрый человек🥂👍

[@AtharJaber]

My pleasure

[@saraterpino2167]

Molto interessante! Grazie!

[@markraciborski4289]

So is craving in wood like stone? A transfer of skills? Does one practice with wood to keep down stone cost.

[@AtharJaber]

I wouldn't advice that. it's a totally different feeling and the stone chips off instead of being sliced off like wood. You must get used to the material and how it reacts under the chisel blows and the only way is to practice on it. It's also a slightly different procedure than in wood.

[@TheBanzet]

Can anybody know what type of chisel set Can be used? Any links, message would be highly appreciated

[@paolocasadio1317]

thank you for sharing your experience. I am a 3 years old marble sculpture...a lot still to understand. At the moment I am working on a all around face, that's should be me, because I have not find any young girls to pose naked for free :-) and my wife would me sculpt her younger, but now I have forget how she was. At the moment I have big problems carving hairs. Anyway, Thank you.

[@AtharJaber]

Thanks Paolo. I'll try to make a tutorial about how to carve hair soon. I do have an online course, where the carving of a face and hair is explained in detail. you can find it here: www.sculpturechannel.com/academy/baroque-putto/

[@mikejustice1196]

Where is the link to join please

[@AtharJaber]

academy.atharjaber.com/letter-carving-course/

[@danielralston7182]

I am starting to understand the chiseling techniques, almost, but how do you draw the letters on the marble? How do I find your on line classes? I realize that this video is somewhat old, do you still teach in Italy?

[@AtharJaber]

The video has been posted just a couple of weeks ago. Traditionally, the letters are either drawn freehand or traced with carbon paper. I kind of cheat and use laser cut-outs. I currently teach in Belgium and you can find my online classes here: www.atharjaber.com/education/stone-carving-masterclasses/letter-carving/

[@francisharjo4417]

Where can I get a complete set of the chisels you are using?

[@GrumpyG64]

I cut letters for 20 years, mainly inscriptions on headstone. Man you make it look hard.

[@AtharJaber]

I’m sorry about that

[@thesarkive7746]

can you make a video of your style of carving then?

[@therealdohos2607]

imagine u wanna piss off ur neighbor and you leave this video with extra bass super loud play for a while an early sunday morning

[@ALEJANDROARANDARICKERT]

Love this

[@AtharJaber]

Thanks. I’m glad you liked it.

[@vaughanrichards7438]

Do monumental masons suffer from repetitive strain injuries in their hands from doing this?

[@TheBanzet]

Not really 🙄 i have been doing that for 36 years nothing happened to my hands, but eyes 🥹

[@jaqummh]

Will this work in raw finnish granite?

[@AtharJaber]

The basic principle is the same but since granite is much harder, you will need specific hammers and chisels and much more patience as it will take longer. Let me know if you need any help in finding the right tools.

[@jaqummh]

@@AtharJaber Oh true for sure! Hmm yes, what are the bare minimum chisels and hammer for trying out carving? Hint would be truly appreciated!

[@AtharJaber]

@@jaqummh Thanks for the question. I have a video where I show you exactly what you need to get started. Here's the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mXfPkGyNeZujaJo. and if you have any more questions afterwards, let me know! Cheers

[@YourAashique]

❤❤❤

[@joshualarson7531]

do you offer scholarships for your letter carving course?

[@AtharJaber]

What do you mean? Like a grant?

[@davej9]

Beautiful

[@4dirt2racer0]

have u thought about puttin some foam up? its really echoey

[@AtharJaber]

Yes, I know, I must find a solution. And all the stone that is around creates even more echo. I’ll need to experiment with curtains and foam but the space is really big.

[@hel1copter]

I’m interested to know why, towards the end of the 12th minute, you change to a narrower chisel. After all, you never use the full width of the edge, only the corner and part of the edge. (This is not a criticism, by the way.)

[@AtharJaber]

Good question! You're right about the switch to a narrower chisel around the 12th minute. The main reason is visibility; the wider tip of the first chisel obstructs the view when I’m working on finer details, making it difficult to see the letters clearly. A narrower chisel provides a much better line of sight, which is crucial for precision in letter carving. Also, the second chisel is actually designed specifically for this type of work. I initially couldn't find it and so I started with the wider one, which was fine until that moment but not ideal. Once I found the other chisel, I switched to ensure the best results. Thanks for your question, and I hope this clears things up.

[@hel1copter]

@@AtharJaber it makes perfect sense now. Thank you.

[@rodrigoart9318]

💯💯💯💯

[@yvondville4832]

I have mist my job but now I am to old to learn this 😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@craychie2821]

1 pixel at a time..

[@gabriellebakker6489]

Beautiful

[@AtharJaber]

Thank you 🙏