Tooling question.

[bvc79]

Does a quarts slab provide an extra benefit, or can I get away with using a smooth cutting board or other smooth flat surface?   I could've sworn I came across a thread that detailed this, but have been unable to find it since.

[fredk]

Quartz. marble, granite are solid, they have no compression. Even the hardest of woods and plastics will compress a bit when a a thin tool is whacked by a large mallet on it. For sharper and better impressions of stamps the harder the surface the better. For hole punching with single punches I use a block of wood with the end grain as the surface - hard enough to allow the punch to make a hole, the end grain doesn't compress and it doesn't damage the hole punch cutting edge,. For general cutting etcetera a self-healing cutting mat is good

[TSes]

Any man made surface will have a little bit of give to it. It'll work, but you won't get the  deep, clean impressions that you want. Good stamping  needs a smooth, solid, hard surface mounted on a solid table or bench.

 

[Sheilajeanne]

Plastic cutting board will bounce. I found quartz slabs - the ones Tandy sells - too expensive, so I bought a granite tile from Home Depot for $10. It works great!

[Mattsbagger]

Also can go to countertop makers and get there off cuts for $2 or $3. In the US you can go to Habitat For Humanity and get stuff cheap too.

[cuffcutter]

I went to a local marble counter top company and offered to buy a piece of scrap from him.  He gave me several that were leaning against the wall and told me that I could have any that I wanted if I took a dive into his dumpster out back.  I did and filled my need.  BEST PART - he refused any offered payment as he said he was going to throw it all away anyway.  Currently using a perfect piece for a portable work table.

[ChasCS]

I wish you all, who have found the magnificent freebies, would please post pics of your slabs. ;-)

I too am a scrap lover, and have lucked out several times. I won't pass up on checking a commercial construction site, without checking the big bin.

You just have to know what your looking for, and be willing to heft some serious weight.

I was surprised, upon fInding large pieces of natural marble that was being replaced at a banking institution downtown. 

I've even given numerous friends, some nice sized slices, for their own uses.  Who doesn't love playing with their marbles? Ha

Chas

[bvc79]

Thanks guys!  I'm on my way to pick up a slab of quarts remnant, and some other 6 x 6 x 1.5 sample pieces from a local stone company.  They insisted on giving me samples "so I can think about a stone work surface counter in the future." ...  for the keychains and coasters I plan on starting with, these'll work!  I'll probably break down and have them make me a nice slab once I move on to bigger, better things!

[cowboycolonel]

Best kept secret in the business is the guys that cut headstones.  They give you about anything you want.  Their aching to get rid of their remnants.  Give it a try.

[ChasCS]

I just think I would feel better, about tapping my leather on my recycled bank stone than a throwaway tombstone.

 

I want my hobby to remain lively and active... Haha

 

Chas