Carving a piece of reclaimed welsh slate into a house sign - letter carving - carving slate

In this video I am carving a house sign made from a piece of reclamined 20th century welsh slate water tank. I will be taking you through each stage, from picking the slate, marking it out and carving the letters.
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[@delectar]

Also I loved the splitting of the slate slab - that was so skilful

[@TheStoneRanger]

Thank you 🙂

[@AWOL1969]

Cheers from Canada, I've been looking for ideas on what to do with the slate I got from our Banff, Alberta Canada trip. Thank you for your video. Your chissle handy work is very good, looks so perfect as if a CNC carved it out.

[@TheStoneRanger]

Thank you from the Peak District in England. Hopefully we have inspired you to do something with your slate

[@tonyswinfield5605]

Hi, thanks for the reply, l wish you all the best. Regards Tony

[@TheStoneRanger]

Thank you

[@randallwert7034]

Hello from Pennsylvania, where my Welsh ancestors settled in the 1880s. Wonderful video! My question: Are your lettering chisels skewed at the tip, or straight across like a regular cold chisel?

[@TheStoneRanger]

Hi, thank you for watching all the way from Pennsylvania. The chisels as new come with a straight edge, similar to a cold chisel. Some of the chisels on my tool rack have varying sharpness at different angles. Throughout the years, I've observed that my carving style influences the way I sharpen the chisels. I employ different sharpening techniques for various stones, slate, and carvings.

[@tonyswinfield5605]

Hi, I have a head stone that I would like to carve, I have watched your video and I'm very grateful for you showing it, could you please tell me if you had to use one chisel for carving letters which one would you recommend. Regards Tony.

[@TheStoneRanger]

Hi Tony, Thank you for watching. If I could only pick one chisel, I would definitely choose a 4mm tungsten tips lettering chisel

[@johncarruthers5020]

Thanks for all the knowledge and advice. I am in South Wales. I have kindly been given a bit of 18mm soft grey slate by Tony Pugh (Welsh Slatecraft), I hope to make a house name, we shall see.... ;-)

[@TheStoneRanger]

You are more than welcome. Good luck with the carving, and don’t forget to enjoy yourself and if you need any more help, please give me a shout 👍

[@burnsy6982]

I'm sat in Wales right now on holiday. I had the idea of using a bit of slate I picked up on a walk earlier for my house number. Found this video and it's about a Welsh slate water box that I've noticed everywhere here. I was wondering how much they would cost? They have the potential to earn a decent amount from in craft ideas like this. 👍 Subbed

[@TheStoneRanger]

I love a holiday in wales. I haven't been for around six years now. It’s very overdue. I have had many customers bring me slate they have found on their walks around Wales over the years and ask me to turn it into a house sign/number. They always turn out great. I couldn’t tell you the price of a water tank at the moment, but around three years back, I paid £500 and have definitely had my money worth making multiple fireplace hearths, Polished slate kitchen worktops, and many house signs of all different sizes

[@burnsy6982]

@@TheStoneRanger it's a stunning place. Had a great time. I used to cut a lot of slate when I was a roofer years ago with an axe & iron. You couldn't give the tons of chippings from one job away back then. Now they're £10+ a bag! I noticed the water boxes on a few walks. 2" thick walls just bolted together quite genius really. Was that 500 for the whole box or just 1 side? I appreciate the reply. I subbed and I'll be watching your vids to get me through my attempt at doing my own, you do some gorgeous work and make it look easier than it is 👍

[@TheStoneRanger]

@@burnsy6982 Thank you for the sub. Every little helps 😊 All the ones I have seen are nice and chunky. The one I have is around 2” as well. The £500 was for the whole tank. I still have all the led pipework and fitting on one peace. Hoping to make it into a water feature over time. If I can help you in any way when you get started, please don’t hesitate to get In touch

[@burnsy6982]

@@TheStoneRanger that's cheap! But I imagine they don't come up very often. I've wanted to try wood engraving/carving for years now but being in Wales made me rethink the materials I'd like to learn on. Being an ex roofer I used to love working with slate. Do you have any vids on types of chisels to use or maybe a beginners technique to start with? I appreciate the replies 👍

[@user-fx8uu2lb4z]

I would love to learn how to do this. Can you let me know the names of the tools needed to do this, with lots of practice. It’s a real art and a hobby I’d love to do. Many thanks.

[@TheStoneRanger]

Hi, with practice, you can do anything, and it's just the same with carving stone. You will need some chisels and a hammer, and it's up to you how much you want to spend. I started with old wood chisels and an old hammer, or you can try my very cheap chisels at £15 or a full kit for £120. There are multiple videos on my channel, explaining what bits you need, and there's even a discount available at the moment for buying chisels. I hope this helps!

[@delectar]

Goodness what a joy watching you do the lettering. I’d love to learn that one day. Right now I found your videos as I search for help in carving a piece of slate. I don’t have power tools but use stone carving chisels. Your technique is incredible. Is the video double speed ? Or more?

[@TheStoneRanger]

Thank you, delectar. Very much appreciated. In some places, the video is x2, and in other places x3. I am hoping to upload some new slate carvings very soon.

[@andrewarnst9673]

Hello what grit is your diamond sharpener cheers andy lovely job

[@TheStoneRanger]

The one I am using at the moment is double-sided, one side is 400 and the other is 1000.

[@jimmythunderhands1947]

whats the chisel and and sharpenin stone that u use, the thing one

[@TheStoneRanger]

Hi, jimmy, Firstly thank you for watching. The chisels are 4mm Italian tungsten, and I sharpen them on a diamond sharping block. I hope that helps Matty @ Greenstone & ivy

[@deltoid4]

So I like engraving wooden plaques and planters I make for people, and I do it normally using a dremmel and a Burr of varying size. I have never used a chisel, but I do love how sharp you can make the letters. Recently started playing with slate to make decoration for aquaiurms, now I've watched this I want to order myself some Chisels. I think I know the answer to this question, but wood chisels and stone chisels are different right? As in I'd need 2 different sets for wood and stone? Love your work.

[@TheStoneRanger]

Hi deltoid, yes you are right the chisels are very different, but for carving slate it’s not such a bad idea to use wood chisels, and something I have done many times. The slate isn’t so aggressive on the chisels, and you can get that really nice sharp edge meaning you can carve the crisp lettering. I hope this helps 👍 Potentially I could make a video about this. 📹

[@deltoid4]

@TheStoneRanger I think any video you make covering anything like this is helpful to us people not fortune to have your expertise or experience. Also, for the record, I'm from South Wales.

[@LizMcNamara47]

Hi you mentioned that you worked out your lettering on the computer, what software did you use please? I mean are you able to put the dimensions in of the size of your stone and then fit the lettering you need in?

[@TheStoneRanger]

Hi Liz, It’s called Cricut; we used it to design and get the right fit on the software. Like you say, we inputted the stone size so we could see what size would look best. I hope this helps. Matty

[@bryanrember9997]

Hi,I was wondering what do you use exactly to sharpen your tct chisels? I've got a diamond wheel on a drill fixedbut it doesn't seem to finely sharpen my 1/8"-1/4" tct chisels. Love the videos

[@TheStoneRanger]

Hi Bryan, Thank you for watching. I use a diamond carving block and sharpen then all by hand. I don’t like to use machines, I find it can make the tungsten too hot and loses its edge quicker. They should only need 2/3 passes and they will be sharp. Don’t hesitate to ask if I can help in any other way

[@mikeosborn3906]

How long does it take to get good at carving the stones ? ps.looks good ......

[@TheStoneRanger]

Hi, thank you for watching. That is a really hard question because everyone is different, but I would say you never stop learning, and there is always a new challenge. If you are new to the stone carving world, just keep practicing, and you will get there.

[@Eileen0656]

Just moved house and need to add a '7' on my slate. Great video what chisels do I need? Can I use wood chisels or am I being stupid?

[@TheStoneRanger]

Hi Eileen, Thank you for watching the video. Ideally, you would use a tungsten-tipped chisel. These can be purchased off eBay for as little as £15.99, but if you are only carving the number seven as a one-off, it wouldn’t be a problem using a wood chisel. I recommend keeping it nice and sharp when carving, and you will need to put a new edge on it after you finish carving the slate. I would love to see how you get on once you finish. If I can help in any way, please don't hesitate to ask

[@Eileen0656]

@@TheStoneRanger thanks for getting back to me. I have practised on an old slate tile using the wood chisel but it was really blunt. End result for a novice “not bad” so will try again using SHARP chisel. I’ll send a photo when done. Alan

[@gogoghoul8488]

Imagine if after all that time carvin first, then the drillin split the slab

[@TheStoneRanger]

Sometimes I have that Negative feelings when I start the drill. 😬😬😬😬

[@scottmcmunn5369]

Can you carve a stationary stone?

[@TheStoneRanger]

Hi, thank you for watching. I definitely can carve stationary stone. There are already a couple of videos on my channel featuring a house name in a gate post in Edale, as well as a couple of very large stones for farms. Both stones weigh at least a tonne each. I hope this information help

[@RessamRövşən]

Привет я гравер ищу работу

[@shawnshaw7022]

How do you recommend transferring the numbers and lettering onto the slate?

[@TheStoneRanger]

I like to make a stencil using card, we use a computer program called Cricut where we design the layout then cut it out on card. If I am working on slate I like to paint a thin layer of pottery slip on the slate first this will dry a light grey making the pencil lines easy to see after I have marked it out. I have attached a couple of links that might help you from my other videos kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZWuiWCgnZ2Veqc kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJKXdYOhaZmXpLM

[@rogersheddy6414]

You talked about polishing the footage, but didn't say anything about HOW to polish it.

[@TheStoneRanger]

Hi Roger, Firstly, thank you for watching. I did talk about polishing the slate I showed this in another video, but only a brief clip. I have been advised to keep my videos shorter, turns out I am not very good at this 😀. I am planning a new video in the coming weeks carving into the same slate, and I will get the polishing process in there for you. Matty

[@groovyt8695]

A carpenter's marking gauge is useful thing for scribing from a slate's edge...you'll see summat I carved if you go to my channel, first thing's ok, second one's a bit of a bag of💩

[@TheStoneRanger]

I just had a quick look. They both look great. You are very talented looking forward to seeing more

[@groovyt8695]

@@TheStoneRanger Thank you! there are plenty of mistakes on them, especially the second one, which is a copy of an alphapet stone carved by David Kindersley, check his work out, he was one of the best. I'll start carving again soon, after crimbo. I had an old slate fire surround given, it came from a farmhouse on Pendle Hill, so I''ll have to carve something mystical on it, maybe a phase like "You are the spell the universe has cast" for one of the smaller bits.