The Martellina and Hardie have been used since ancient times and are still
one of the preferred methods for smalti & stone. The smalti or stone
is placed on the blade of the chisel at right angles and by delivering a
sharp blow with the martellina a clean-cut is made.
The Martellina is a heavy hammer with a short handle and sharp edges. Often the chiseled edges of modern Martelina are made of tungsten carbide.
The hardie is a sort of anvil, also with a sharp edge. It is traditionally mounted in a log.
These tools are not cheap. I found today a company selling both for $199 out of Canada.
This is ridiculously expensive. You actually can substitute actual stone mason tools for them...
I built this stone-cutting stand myself and it is fitted with regular mason tools. The Hardie is a classic brick cutting Chisel and the Martelina is a stone mason hammer.
I purchased both tools from Lowes. The Chisel cost me $9.00, and the Hammer was on sale at $2.00 (its regular price should be more like $15.00).
The log comes from a tree I fell last fall. I screwed it on top of an old wooden stool. Basically, the whole thing cost me less than $15.00...
I find using tools of my own design and make is very rewarding. If they cost me 5 % of the regular retail price, it is twice as rewarding...
