Hammers are used in conjunction with chisels to break off pieces of marble. These tools are available in different weights for use in specific carving applications. Lighter hammers are used for detail work and removing small portions of marble, while heavier hammers are more efficient at removing large chunks of marble and less-defined carving. Stone-carving hammers can be found with soft steel heads or hardened steel heads. Never use a tempered steel hammer with a chisel that has a tempered end as it may cause metal fragments to fly off either tool, causing a safety hazard.
A variety of chisels are used to sculpt marble. Chisels that have hardened steel tips are ideal for sculpting soft stone such as marble. A point chisel is used most often to remove large portions of marble quickly and for roughing out the basic form of the sculpture. Tooth chisels are then used to even out the deep grooves left by the point chisel and to refine the form further. The final stage of chiseling is done with flat and rondel chisels. These tools are used to smooth out the surface of the sculpture and remove most of the tool marks left by the other chisels. Flat chisels have straight tips, while rondel chisels have rounded tips.
After the chiseling stage of sculpting, rasps and files are used to further remove tool marks and refine the sculpture's form. These tools will easily scratch and grate the marble, making them useful for detail carving. Once the rasping and filing is complete, sandpaper is used to achieve the final level of smoothness. Coarse-grit sandpaper (40 to 80 grit) is used first, and gradually the sculptor works up to medium- (150 to 320 grit) and fine-grit (400 to 1,500 grit) sandpaper. Wet/dry sandpaper allows the sculptor to wet the stone while sanding to remove stone particles and grit that may scratch the newly sanded surface.
Always use safety equipment when carving marble. Safety glasses will protect eyes from flying shards of marble, while gloves will protect hands from possible cuts from sharp stone chips. A respirator or dust mask should be used to prevent the inhalation of stone dust. When choosing to use pneumatic chisels or power grinders, ear protection is also recommended.