making a soapstone bullet mold

[Agent 006]

Just got off the telephone with Jerry Noble who owns a couple of old soapstone ball molds and we thought about trying to make some.  I assume one could whittle one out with a cherry by putting two pieces in a vise with a cherry between and carefully cut out the shape using a brace to turn the cherry.  Where would one find suitable pieces of soapstone?  Jerry remembers bull dozing some but can't recall where.  Anyone know how to make one or know where to get the soapstone?
Thanks,
Jim

[bluenoser]

You could check out antique shops, flea markets/yard sales or online auction sites for soapstone foot warmers as used in sleighs in days gone by.  I have had several, and have picked them up for as little as $5.00 (unusually low price).  They generally measure about 7" x 11" x 1.25" to 1.5" thick.  Sometimes they are advertized as bed warmers.  You might also be able to find soapstone lining material for wood burning stoves.

I will keep an eye peeled for you.

[T.C.Albert]

Hi Jim..
I actually just saw some soap stone blocks for sale at the local "Hobby Lobotomy" in Peru Illinois...
it looked pretty grainy, but you could maybe find a piece suitable for a small single mold like Jerry's
at your local Hobby Lobby?
TCA

[bluenoser]

Hi,

I believe you may be able to get what you are looking for from the Southern Oregon Soapstone Company - southernoregonsoapstone@mail.com.

[Randy Hedden]

Jim,

I bought soapstone blocks from Wood Crafters.  Don't know if they still stock it.  There are places in Shawnee Forest in Illinois where there are whole cliffs of mostly soapstone.

As an alternative you might try some catlinite pipe stone.

Randy Hedden

[mill creek trading]

Hi  Jim My name is Dennis and I make soapstone bullet[ball molds] molds and sell them. The answers to where to find soapstone to use were all very good and I get mine from flea markets mostly. If you would like some advice from someone who has made quite a few of these give me a call after 4:00 PM EST at 330-565-3493 and I will answer your questions.

[Darrin McDonal]

Hi Jim, I have seen blocks in the Lee Valley cataloge. Keep us posted on the progress. This sound quite interesting.
Darrin

[dannybb55]

The question that I need an answer to is where can I get cherries of bullet size?

[Agent 006]

Thanks for all of the replies.  Looks like over the Holidays I will have a number of missions.  We'll give this thing the old college try.  In answer to the question where does one get cherries, I bought some from Mr. Ackerman at Friendship and it also seems they could be made with tool steel, a lathe and some filing.
Thanks again,
Jim

[mr. no gold]

Just a caution here. Soapstone is related to asbestos and has similar lattice like crystals that can damage your lungs if ingested. Good idea to carve it in well ventilated areas or go the full distance and wear a breathing device to avoid the dust. It's great material to work with and I have seen some wonderful American Indian ornaments, arrow shaft straighteners and even cooking vessels made from it.
Best-Dick

[Mad Monk]

Just a caution here. Soapstone is related to asbestos and has similar lattice like crystals that can damage your lungs if ingested. Good idea to carve it in well ventilated areas or go the full distance and wear a breathing device to avoid the dust. It's great material to work with and I have seen some wonderful American Indian ornaments, arrow shaft straighteners and even cooking vessels made from it.
Best-Dick

Thank you Dick.  I was getting ready to get into that subject when you made the post.

I know a Greek who lived in a village in Greece where they quarried soapstone.  They would stack it in a kiln and calcine it to make asbestos.

I once worked in a tire plant.  Lots of soapstone powder used to keep uncured tire parts from sticking together.  They purchased a technical grade of soapstone which ran about 5 to 10% asbestos.  In some places the soapstone and asbestos are in the same deposit.  The difference being a few molecules of water of hydration in the soapstone.  Drive that off and you have asbestos.

Bill K.