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I have some blue soapstone scraps left over from a fireplace project.  As I was considering whether or not to throw them out, I got to wondering if the material would make a decent nut.  It's harder than bone, cuts with woodworking tools, polishes nicely, and isn't terribly brittle (for a rock, that is).  The talc is self lubricating. 

Has anyone tried it before?

-Ben

I don't know. I have seen it used in inlays on a banjo once. It's also used for carvings. It polish's nice. I would give it a try. If it doesn't work whats the harm.

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Guitars, guitars and more guitars.

Have not tried soapstone but the stuff I have seen is too soft for my liking Ben, I think that the strings would cut down in a short time and you would get buzzing, bone is real good I have found.

Cheers

Kim

Soapstone or steatite, though a metamorphic rock which you would assume makes it hard, is mainly composed of the mineral talc, a hydrated magnesium silicate, which is the base substance in the Mohs' scale of hardness at 1, plus the addition of some amphiboles and chlorites. It is formed by the metamorphism of ultramafic protoliths (serpentinite for instance) or the metasomatism of siliceous doloritic rocks.

It has been used by various civilisations for thousands of years as a carving medium, but it is this ability to carve easily that would, I believe, make it unsuitable for a nut. The movement of the strings would cut their own grooves very quickly. If you fire it at very high temperatures, then it would produce instatite a much harder material.

Stick to bone.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Ben, I too think the soapstone would wear away quickly.

I posted a question about using jade as a saddle on the Luthierforum last year. I figured jade would make a great saddle, in terms of transmitting sound. I also figured that because of the interlocked crystalline structure of Nephrite jade that makes it so tough, it could withstand the wound strings abrasions. I knew the downside would be the necessity to use carborundum or diamond to shape and file it. (Nephrite Jade hardness is 6.0 to 6.5; Jadeite Jade is 6.5 to 7)

My friend Grant Goltz made a jade saddle, and made a jade nut as well. (I'm not positive if they are Nephrite Jade, or Jadeite Jade, but they are probably Nephrite.) I got a chance to play the guitar, and it sounds great! So, jade works if you're willing to spend the extra time to shape it. Maybe for a vegan musician that does not want bone?

Dennis

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

I've witnessed it in use twice.

In my welding marker for steel cuts, so it wears away quickly there. Would lead me to believe it might not hold up.

Also, in powder form Firestone Tube Company in Russellville uses it to keep raw rubber from sticking together. So it makes a good slick layer of powder to insulate the layers from sticking.

So, while it may be shaped into a nut and saddle like object. You just may not be happy with the end result.

Oh, and I agree with Colin, steal the dog's bone.

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

Thanks for the advice, folks.  I'll probably save myself the time and frustration of trying the stone, but I had to ask since the material was sitting right in front of me.

My own fears, reflected by a few of you, were that the strings might prematurely cut deeper into their slots.  It's hard to say without just going for it.  The stone used for fireplaces (Tulikivi) is not as porous as the material used for carving, but I have nothing against old reliable bone.

The jade would be beautiful!

-Ben

Actually the jade was not that hard to shape. Roughed it out with a fairly cheap diamond bandsaw (used for cutting stained glass) and shaped it on a green silicon carbide wheel lubricated with water (same one I use for wet grinding shell)

Grant

It's not like it takes a long time to make a nut. Just try it out!

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Mike

"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh." The Stranger