This hardie comes as you see in the photos; you need to set it into a log before you can use it. It is made of solid steel and will help you achieve precision cutting for many years. Our hammers and hardies all come from Giacomello SNC.  Founded in 1911 in Spilimbergo, northern Italy (mosaic capital of the world), the firm is now run by the fourth generation of the Giacomello family and is renowned for its quality tools. If you haven’t used a hammer and hardie before the combination may need a bit of explanation: The hardie is made of solid steel and is shaped like a large chisel head and is traditionally mounted, blade upwards, in an up-ended log (but smaller table-top versions mounted on a steel base are now often used where space is at a premium). The material to be cut is held, gently-balanced, on the hardie top. The hammer is brought down in a slicing action; the material is neatly fractured between the top of the hardie and the contact point of the hammer. Once you've got a bit of experience, using a hammer and hardie is a very efficient - and satisfying - way of cutting quantities of stone and other materials. To learn more about how to mount your hardie into a log visit the RESOURCES area at the bottom of our homepage. You can see how it's done in a video from Chicago School of Mosaic. The log should be seasoned hardwood - beech and hornbeam are good - oak may be too hard if it has dried out too much. Get the height right, depending on whether you intend to work standing or sitting. There is also a useful video from the Chicago Mosaic School in the same area with tips on cutting technique.

Unfortunately Mosaic Workshop can't accept returns of cutting tools which turn out not to suit you, so please think carefully before buying.  If you are finding it very hard to make a decision please contact me as I may be able to lend you tools to try (you will pay a deposit, and for postage in both directions).  In the case of faulty goods we will, of course, accept returns - please see notes in the website footer.