Seam Crafting

• 1). Draw a line on the pieces of soapstone to guide your cut. You can use any type of saw to cut a straight line. Use a jigsaw or other narrow bladed saw for cutting along curved lines. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask while cutting and sanding the stone. Dust from soapstone contains silicone and other minerals; it is toxic when inhaled.
  
  
• 2). Flatten straight sides with a flat or sanding planer. Use a sanding wheel for curved lines. Wet the stone before you sand or plane to keep dust out of the air. Smooth the the sides of both pieces you are fitting together to form a seam.
  
  
• 3). Place the pieces together to check how they fit. Sand the sides with increasingly fine grit sandpaper until sides forming the seam fit together with your desired precision. The fit does not need to be exact for seams such as those between tiles that will have grout between them. For items that fit directly together, such as chessboard tiles, you can create an almost invisible seam by sanding with fine grit paper.
  
  
• 4). Use epoxy grout if you plan to grout the seams. For flush seams that need strength, drill holes in opposing sides of the stone. Coat pegs with a two part epoxy glue then fit them into the holes. Tap the pieces of stone together until they are flush. You may also use a thin coat of the glue without the pegs if you do not need the strength pegs offer. Sand the pieces to smooth them and remove all glue. Use increasingly fine grit sandpaper until you achieve the finish you want.
  
  
• 5). Apply sealer if desired. Sealers are not necessary for soapstone itself, but you may want to use one to prevent liquid seepage into seams. Wax sealants are the best for this purpose. Sealers will darken the stone so you will need to seal the whole product and not just the seams for an even finish. If your product will be in contact with food, make sure to use a wax that is purified of toxins.