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Rock Sandcarving: Personalizing Rocks & Stones

Posted on July 20, 2014 by Eric Robert Posted in Blog Content, Sandcarving Examples 16 Comments

I haven’t discussed rock carving much on this website, so I figured this post will share the idea and intrigue you. Some people call it rock sandblasting, rock sandcarving, rock engraving or even etching. The idea of this is to carve text, numbers, logos, or images permanently into a large rock or small stone. This is done by using a sandblaster, which is another benefit to sandblast etching; you can engrave just about everything!

I have done quite a few of these before, first by experimenting with it a few years ago, and then working for a local that had a small side business selling these rocks. I have been recently carving more of them lately and here is one that I have completed.

A sancarved rock depicting a dog graphic. A picture of me cleaning a stone sandcarving after it was blasted and painted..

This was personalized for a co-worker with an icon that looked like her dog, text, and a paw print icon. I found all the graphics for free using my searching techniques and stencil processes explained in Module 2 here. This was a fun project and my co-worker tells me that she often gets positive comments from neighbors when they walk by on the sidewalk. She placed this in her front yard flower garden. These type of rocks are great for decorative garden ornaments.

Anyway, if you have any questions about this, leave a comment below. I will be putting together information and hopefully videos on how to sandcarve rocks soon. In the meantime, you can check out this unique stone carving from a fan.


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16 thoughts on “Rock Sandcarving: Personalizing Rocks & Stones”

  1. Robin says:
    July 21, 2014 at 5:39 pm

    Where do you find the kind of rocks / stones that you can do this with?

    Thanks

  2. Eric Robert says:
    July 21, 2014 at 6:06 pm

    @ Robin, this is a good question. You can go to a stone yard or outdoor decorative type place. Just search for “stone ‘your city'” in google. When I worked with someone doing this, the owner bought it in bulk and wasn’t too expensive.

    You can also find great stones on a local river, but that is usually illegal. Every time I go kayaking in a small river near me, I find tons of some of the most perfect stones.

  3. Doug K says:
    July 21, 2014 at 7:28 pm

    @ Robin – I go to a local flea market ( many vendors) and find some unique stones. You need a flat surface to work with, but I get stones with some cool features and make best use of them. You can etch headstones/grave markers fro family pets or people can make use of them as paperweights os there is no limitation to what you can etch.

  4. David says:
    July 21, 2014 at 9:05 pm

    This is a great idea! Can a pencil-type blaster do this kind of work or would I need to use a pressure pot to carve into the rocks?

  5. Eric Robert says:
    July 21, 2014 at 10:15 pm

    @ David, no- you would have to use a pressure pot.

    @ Doug, good points!

  6. Karen says:
    July 22, 2014 at 1:50 pm

    I find a lot of rock on farms. When farmers remove rock from fields they usually pile them in one place. They like you to take them! Farmers hate rocks!

  7. Will says:
    July 30, 2014 at 5:58 pm

    Good work Eric! I might just try this. I am trying to figure out ways to do sandblasting work as a business, the stone-work really intrigues me. About a week ago, I bought this gun blaster that wasn’t inexpensive and I’m quite sure my comressor isn’t going to be big enuff. Actually, I bought my compressor years ago, it is a good one but not ideal for sandblasting. It’s a 4.5 gallon, 1.6 hp, oilless, Porter Cable.
    I’d love to use it initially as I can’t afford a bigger one right now, (I’m unemployed).
    I can imagine that it’ll be running all the time, (which isn’t good I don’t think for an oilless one). I’d love to get into glass blasting and stone blasting. I bought some mulch 2 days ago at a landscaping company and they have those rounded rocks (around 3 to 4 inches diameter) for sale. Big landscaping companies sell those rocks, my lady-friend wants me to get a load of them for the yard, they’d be good for that blasting (approx. $100 for 1000 lbs. of them). I also have a new blast cabinet waiting to be put together. The only thing that I fear might be holding me back is the air compressor.
    Will

  8. Charleybill says:
    July 30, 2014 at 8:45 pm

    great idea., thanks for all your work. I learn a lot from what you write.

  9. Tova says:
    July 31, 2014 at 3:52 am

    Has anyone tried sandcarving rocks with the SCM Jetstream One system?
    My husband and I are considering buying a Jetstream, and like the portability of the Jetstream One, but are concerned about it’s ability to carve/etch rocks.

  10. Missy says:
    August 5, 2014 at 7:03 am

    I’m interested in sandcarving rocks. This is too cool. Nice Christmas idea..better start collecting those rocks!! Wonder how many I will mess up before I get it right?

  11. Susan Eastwood says:
    April 30, 2015 at 3:59 pm

    I have a hudge garden- that’s my 1st love- this year is the time to make signs and rock quotes. I’m a diy kinda gal and need to know where to begin. Looked at shillouet vynal cutters- know I need something that cuts thicker rubberized (?) product. It’ll be a hobby. like your idea of doing it inexpensively. Where do I begin?? HELP!

  12. Eric Robert says:
    April 30, 2015 at 10:33 pm

    @Susan, I actually can get away with with an inexpensive stepper motor at times, but typically a cutter with a servo motor is recommended.

  13. Brandon Miller says:
    October 1, 2015 at 6:58 pm

    What kind of sand do you use for something like this?

  14. Eric Robert says:
    October 1, 2015 at 10:05 pm

    @ Brandon, I use aluminum oxide. You should be fine with that or silicon carbide.

  15. Sandra Appleby says:
    November 2, 2019 at 1:06 am

    I have a sandblasting cabinet and a Husky 30 gal with a 175 PSI….can I use this for sandcarving rocks

  16. Eric Robert says:
    November 7, 2019 at 6:58 am

    @Sandra, it is dependent on the size of the nozzle you’re using and how much output or how quick you want to get it done. These days, I have just been doing it with a similar compressor with a 3/32″ for small rock projects. Commercially and on larger scales, you would want a large compressor.

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