ROCK TALK
MONTOYA SCULPTURE & SUPPLY since 1973
Interesting sculpture related news, technical tips, special offers and other important information
By Jeff Halverson
Sculptor and Owner of Montoya Sculpture & Supply
www.MontoyaSculpture.com
April 28, 2004
Issue 10
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IN THIS ISSUE:
1. Editor's Note
2. Questions answered on Polyester Adhesives- Application and Methods by Jeff
3. Current Sale
4. Upcoming Events
5. Please send sculpture quotes (maybe win $25 gift certificate)
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SCULPTURE QUOTE
It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare,
it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.
--Julie Cameron, Seneca, The Artist's Way
Submitted by
Pete Richardson, St Petersburg Florida
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1. EDITOR’S NOTE
I want to thank everyone who submitted a quote for the newsletter. I appreciate you taking the time to write them down and send them in to me. The list is building and is starting to look impressive. Check out the current list of quotes submitted through Issue 7 on the website. Pete Richardson submitted the winning quote and we are sending him the $25 gift certificate.
I did not have the time to write up the article I wanted for this Issue. I had some other things come up so I will have to save it for the next Issue. As you know Montoya is not a 10-man operation. So anyway this will be a shorter than usual Issue. Take a look at the Current Sale, as there are some good deals.
I regret that I will be increasing prices on our imported stone and tools. The value of the dollar to the Italian Lire is changing weekly and I have tried not to pass this on to you. Many of our domestic tool suppliers are also sending us letters to expect anywhere from 5% to 20% increases. With the costs of food, steel, gas, healthcare, and video rental all going up its hard to keep our prices where they were last year. I expect price adjustments to be made in the next month.
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2. Polyester Adhesives- Application and Methods by Jeff Halverson
Last month this was the title of the article I wrote. You can review the article in Issue 9. I asked anyone who had questions to write me. Here are a few of the questions which I thought may be of interest to you.
One question was about removing a rod epoxied into the stone.
This is a two-step process.
STEP ONE. Do you really want to remove the rod? If the answer is yes. Go to step two.
STEP TWO. Well, you can remove a rod that has been epoxied into the stone. It’s a little hard when the stone is small, say with only 3-4 inches wide where the rod is mounted. The way to remove the rod is to heat up the rod with a propane torch. As the rod heats up the heat will be transferred into the epoxy and it will start to melt and loosen up. As it heats up grab the rod with a pliers and leather glove. The rod does not need to be red hot. Just heat it up as much as needed and test the adhesion by twisting the rod. Twist the rod; do not pry it against the stone. The time and heat required will depend on the length of the rod embedded in the stone. Try to minimize the heat on the stone. As you know some stones particularly alabasters with translucent properties will “cook” and become white or cloud up. You may still have to ream out the hole to remove the remaining epoxy and you will have to re-polish and finish around the hole.
Another question was about coloring the adhesive.
I mentioned in the article that there are 8 colorants available. These are straight colors (white, black, blue, orange, red, green, brown, and yellow). They can be purchased individually or as a pack of eight. Anyway these should be mixed to the right color to match the color of the stone. You add the color to the adhesive prior to adding the hardener.
Hope this helps.
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3. CURRENT SALE
These offers end May 15th.
Tools
We have a very large selection of stone carving tools. The Milani family in Italy makes a lot of tools for us. Two of our best selling Milani hand tools are SKU 14037 and 14043, both are 7” long. I am not kidding, these two versions usually sell very well for us. You can see them here. Well we asked them to make a special edition of this tool in 11” (nearly) version. The 14080 looks like the 14037 and the 14081 looks like the 14043. They came in last week. They feel great and the large flat rasp tooth ends are good for getting into tight places. Anyway I think these 20 (ten of each) will go fast in the next month at $29.95. If you call in asking for one of these make sure you mention that you read about it in Issue 10 and the price to you will be $22.95. That’s less than the 7” version at $24.95
STONE
Our Aztec Rust is on sale for .99 /lb. It is an alabaster, which is mostly red and has a lot of gray veins in it.
Black Soapstone, regularly 2.10 /lb on sale for $1.80. It’s a black/gray and seems a little harder than soapstone. It holds an edge very well and sometimes has small nodules in it. I use a linseed oil and mineral spirit mixture to bring out its color prior to waxing and sealing it. First used this stone four years ago and it’s the hardest “soapstone” I have ever worked. It is actually classified as a steatite.
VIDEO
“The Art of Stone Carving, Demonstrations and Hard Facts” (85 minutes, VHS, sku 78045). List at $49.95 On sale $27.50. This video was made about 12 years ago but all the basics remain the same as well as the advanced techniques. Made with the founder Luis Montoya doing the demonstrations.
GIFT CERTIFICATES – We have gift certificates available in $25 increments. Tell your family and friends that’s what you really want, so you can pick what you really want. Easy to buy, mail, and use.
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4. UPCOMING EVENTS
The season has slowed down a bit here so we do not have any outside sculpture workshops planned. Local clients are still dropping in to sculpt and we enjoy having them here. It’s always a pleasure to see the creative spirit at work and to see stone become sculpture.
In August I will be releasing the new lineup of sculpture workshops. I am planning a few new items to attract some more of you into the workshop experience.
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5. PLEASE SEND SCULPTURE QUOTES (maybe win $25 gift certificate)
I have included a sculpture related quote at the top of this issue. I hope it is inspiring and interesting. If you have an interesting sculpture related quote please send it to me. Please include the name of the person who said it. All of the quotes that are sent are being compiled into a list of quotes related to sculpture that I will soon be posting on the Montoya website. I would appreciate your help in building this list of quotes directly related to sculpture. Quotes can be from recognized sculptors of the past or from a teacher or friend. Send me your sculpture related quote, and if it is selected I will send you a Montoya Sculpture & Supply $25 gift certificate and put the quote in the next issue. Email me at Jeff@MontoyaSculpture.com
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(c)Copyright 2004 Jeff Halverson
