Stone Carving - Karkala
For the stone carving process, the raw material used is granite stone and the tools used are of different types. The stone sculptor gives life to a raw piece of stone using the below-listed tools.
• Chisels: Chisels are the primary shaping tool in stone carving. It is used to roughen the stone.
• Stone: Black stone and White Stone (Marble) are abundantly available in Karkala and surrounding places.
• Hammer: Hammer is used for hammering while carving the stone. Different sizes of hammers are used while cutting, carving and smoothening the stone.
• Sandpaper: It is used to smoothen the surface of the stone after the carving is done. Different count of sandpapers is used.
• Red Oxide Solution: Patterns are drawn on the surface using red oxide solution before carving for demarcation.
• L shaped Scales or Right Angle: It is used to do the measurement and to draw straight lines on the stone surface. It also helps the sculptor to make a right angle straight line and corner with ease and comfort.
• Power Cutting Machine (Hand operated): Power cutting machines are used to cut the bigger stone blocks.
• Power Buffing Machine: Different types of buffing blades are fixed to the Power buffing machine and used according to the need during carving, smoothening and polishing and also to create depth rise (3D look) of the idol.
• Filers: These are used to soften the stone.
• Power Drilling Machines: This machine is used to drill the stones according to the designs.
