Stonemasonry in 30 objects: A router
Stonemasonry in 30 objects. 2/30 A router. It’s week two of the series and we’re homing in on the importance of technological advancements in stonemasonry tools. Some might argue using these kinds of tools requires less skill and craft. We think there’s far more to it than that. Capable of cutting and shaping stone on […]
Stonemasonry in 30 objects: A frig-bob saw
Stonemasonry in 30 objects. Week 22/30 – A frig-bob saw This is a single-handed stone saw, used during the 1800’s at quarries and workshop as a primary saw. It’s not a delicate tool and as the saw teeth broke and wore, masons filed it and recut the teeth, so a frig-bob saw would gradually shrink […]
Stonemasonry in 30 objects: A stone vacuum lifter
Jul 13, 2023 Stonemasonry in 30 objects Week 9/30: A stone vacuum lifter Much of our work is with large contractors and with that scale of operation comes the need to move stone quickly through production at our workshops and into place on site with precision accuracy. This workhorse of a lifter means we don’t […]
Stonemasonry in 30 objects: A Banker
Jul 13, 2023 Today is the first in a series of posts: Stonemasonry in 30 objects. We want to celebrate the old, the new, the technological and the traditional – so we’re featuring images of one object a week from our AF Jones workshops in Ipsden, Oxfordshire. If you’re in the industry, you’ll recognise many […]
Stonemasonry in 30 objects: A CNC wire saw
Jul 13, 2023 Stonemasonry in 30 objects Week 10/30: A CNC wire saw January 2023 – a New Year and a new investment for AF Jones. At the end of last year we decided to say goodbye to our trusted wire saw that had given us 20 years of service and replace it with the […]
Stonemasonry in 30 objects: A ball finial
Jul 13, 2023 Stonemasonry in 30 objects Week 13/30: Ball finials – an iconic shape in stonemasonry Learning to cut this shape represents a rite of passage for any stonemason apprentice in their final year and at AF Jones we ensure that this skill remains available in our workshop alongside the precision cutting option. A […]
Stonemasonry in 30 objects: A circular saw
Jul 13, 2023 Stonemasonry in 30 objects Week 14/30: Circular Saws – a primary cutting tool Primary saws like these play a significant role in the AF Jones production process. They’re capable of cutting large amounts of stone in a short space of time which means we can put projects through at scale, cutting stone […]
Stonemasonry in 30 objects: A maquette
Jul 13, 2023 Stonemasonry in 30 objects Week 17/30 A Maquette Maquettes have been used for centuries in Fine Art sculpting to visualise the finished product or piece – from Michelangelo’s famed wax miniatures through to Barbara Hepworth’s maquettes across multiple materials – and despite the advances in computer modelling technology, they still have a relevant […]
Stonemasonry in 30 objects: carved stone capitals
Stonemasonry in 30 objects. Week 21/30 – Capitals: This week’s object is one of the most iconic and well-known features of finished architecture – the capital. Today, their decorative features have superseded their load bearing function in many cases, acting as decorative finished to steel and brick load bearing structure. At the AF Jones workshops […]