CUTURI PNEUMATIC HAMMERS – STONE TYPES, ADVANTAGES AND MODELS
As we mentioned in the previous article Pneumatic tools – advantages, types, safety and maintenance, pneumatic tools are distinguished by operating through pneumatic force, using compressed air.
In other words, pneumatic tools, unlike manual tools, are machines that work thanks to pressurized air, which is why they are characterized by needing an air compressor to be able to operate with them.
TYPES OF STONE
Once we make the decision to enter the world of stone carving, the first and most important thing is to select the type of stone with which we are going to work, the following being the most common when it comes to sculpting.
- Limestone: it is known for being the main material used in Ancient Egypt for the creation of large sculptures such as the Great Sphinx. This type of stone is soft and easy to work with, which makes it one of the most suitable stones to start learning to carve in stone.
- Marble: worldwide known as “the queen of stones”. It was the most desired stone in antiquity and the Renaissance era, since it allowed a great variety of finishes in terms of texture, smoothness, roughness, shine and opacity. At the same time, it has very fine, subtle and very delicate finishes, which makes it an ideal stone to create perfect carvings and sculptures featuring a beautiful white color that, on many occasions, are exhibited in large museums.
- Sandstone: it is a sedimentary rock that hardens over time. It is characterized by its porous nature, which makes it completely resistant to polishing and ideal for making architectural pieces such as columns and gargoyles.
- Alabaster: known for its marble-like finish, it is one of the easiest stones to carve because it can be carved using any type of tool. However, it is not recommended to expose it outdoors, especially in cold climates, since it can disintegrate at low temperatures. We can find it in different colors, brown and white being the most common.
- Granite: it is considered the strongest stone when used for carving. As it is such a hard stone, it is difficult to work with, therefore, for its correct work, specific carbide tools that withstand said hardness are required. Currently, being such a durable stone as well as elegant, granite is generally used for home decoration, either as a kitchen countertop or in bathrooms.
CUTURI PNEUMATIC HAMMERS
Once we are clear about the type of stone we want to work with, we must carefully study which tool is the most suitable for working with said stone.
The pneumatic hammers of the Italian brand Cuturi, which has an experience of more than 150 years, are one of the best options when selecting a tool for this type of activity and stones, since they help to carve practically any stone of quickly, easily and efficiently. It is a type of tool that, having a balanced combination of quality, speed, delicacy and work performance, is very useful.
Cuturi pneumatic hammers are very valuable tools due to their high speed and are characterized by being used to shape or smooth a surface. It is characterized by being small but very powerful tools that work thanks to an air pressure that is produced by an air compressor.
Air compressors are defined as large air tanks made up of connected motors. The air, through the tube that connects the compressor with the tire, travels from the compressor to the pneumatic hammers. This causes the pistons to move up and down. The piston is part of the jackhammer, being the only part that moves. This is located inside a cylinder to which the compressed air reaches. In this way the metal piston moves up and down, thus imitating the movement of a hammer.
A considered small sized jackhammer typically has a 5/16 inch or 1/1 inch diameter piston, while large ones may have a ¾ or 1 inch diameter piston. That has nothing to do with the size of the chisel, as most chisels have a ¼, ½ or 5/5 inch shank.
Keep in mind that air pressure varies depending on the size of the air tool. That is why, despite the fact that air compressors are a completely safe instrument, our main recommendation is always to acquire a certified tool that guarantees the highest quality and safety, both in its manufacture and in compliance with the protocols related to user protection.
WHY CHOOSE THE CUTURI PNEUMATIC HAMMER?
Another point in favor of the Italian brand Cuturi is that it has a wide variety of tools, each one made to measure for each type of size. It has a total of 10 different sizes, each one of them designed for a specific occasion. Although each model has its own characteristics, the 10 models have a series of common characteristics, such as resistance to oxidation (to guarantee this, we recommend cleaning and lubricating it properly and frequently with Cuturi oil and thus maintain its excellent performance over time) and the long periods of work they support, from 8 to 12 hours a day.
This is a very powerful jackhammer, which makes it a very good option for large sculptures as it will get the job done faster and more efficiently. Thanks to its chisels it is capable of demolishing an infinity of materials such as marble, granite, sandstone... Despite being ideal for working on large sculptures, if the pressure is lowered, you can work on smaller projects, yes, always carefully and after having practiced it beforehand.
Weight |
2,6 Kg |
Piston diameter |
1 inch - 1/4 inch |
Tool input |
16 mm |
It has characteristics very similar to the Cuturi Z, it is a very powerful tool, but with slightly smaller dimensions.
Weight |
2 Kg |
Piston diameter |
1 inch - 1/8 inch |
Tool input |
12,5 mm |
The Cuturi S model has a medium dimension and is ideal for working with stones of any size due to its great power, especially on marble or soft stones. This makes it ideal for beginners.
Weight |
1,7 Kg |
Piston diameter |
1 inch |
Tool input |
12,5 mm |
Ideal for creating details at low air pressure, since, being a medium-sized tool, it helps control the cutting force. Good choice for working on marble, limestone, soapstone, granite, sandstone, alabaster, and wood.
Weight |
1,5 Kg |
Piston diameter |
1 inch |
Tool input |
12,5 mm |
It has an ideal power to carve small sculptures and rocky materials such as wood.
Weight |
1,1 Kg |
Piston diameter |
3/4 inch |
Tool input |
12,5 mm |
Deal tool for those who work with these tools for hours, since it is a fairly light tire, but with enough power to work with it.
Weight |
700 g |
Piston diameter |
5/8 inch |
Tool input |
12,5 mm |
Made to work in every detail of the works done with marble, limestone, sandstone, granite, soapstone, alabaster and wood. It offers total control to work both small and large areas, especially when it comes to fragile and delicate areas.
Weight |
430 g |
Piston diameter |
9/16 inch |
Tool input |
12,5 mm |
Ideal for creating small realistic details in a sculpture. In turn, it works with practically any type of stone.
Weight |
240 g |
Piston diameter |
7/16 inch |
Tool input |
7,5 mm |
Ideal for the really small details, especially if you're working with marble. It is a very easy and smooth tool to control.
Weight |
90 g |
Piston diameter |
1/4 inch |
Tool input |
5 mm |
It is the smallest pneumatic hammer of all, it comes with 3 chisels and is ideal for those who want to start entering the world of carving.
Weight |
90 g |
Piston diameter |
1/4 inch |
Tool input |
5 mm |
At Rock&Tools we have a wide catalog of Cuturi pneumatic tools, including all the models mentioned above.
And finally, to anyone who wants to know more about stone carving, we encourage you to read other articles on our blog. In turn, we also invite you to follow our Social Network accounts, as well as to join our Art Space, a place where you can share the result of your works!