How does the sculpture get onto the plinth – plinth aids

Socketing a stone sculpture on a stone base using a metal rod as a socketing aid

To mount a stone sculpture on a stone base, you will need a metal rod (diameter should fit the size and weight of the stone sculpture, not a threaded rod! ), a drilling machine (preferably with drilling machine stand for accurate vertical drilling into the base) and a stone drill that matches the diameter of the metal rod.

Here's how to proceed:
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1. first drill a hole in the base of the stone sculpture in the direction of the largest mass – i.e. do not necessarily drill vertically, but perhaps also diagonally, so that there is as much material as possible around the drill hole.

2. to mark where the sculpture should stand on the base, hold the sculpture at the desired position over the base. With a light tap, some stone dust will fall out of the drilled hole, which now serves as a marker.

3. drill the plinth very lightly (best with a drill with a drill stand!)

4. With a little water, drill the hole about 2 mm deep. The water will dissipate the heat generated and prevent the stone from cracking.

5. then wipe the water off the base and continue drilling dry. Bring the drill up every now and then to clear the stone dust out of the hole. Drill only deep enough to leave at least 5 mm of stone between the hole and plinth footing.

6. saw a smooth metal rod (no threaded rod!) with a hacksaw to the appropriate length (depth of the hole in the sculpture + depth of the hole in the plinth). Deburr the ends with a file or sandpaper.

Carefully place the sculpture with the rod on the base. As a rule, it stands slightly inclined – this inclination must be compensated for by bending the metal rod . 

8. to do this, remove the metal rod once again from the base and sculpture, e.g. clamp it in a vice and tap it slightly crooked, e.g. with a hammer, to compensate for the inclination of the sculpture later. Then check that the sculpture is standing upright.

9. when the metal rod has the correct inclination, insert the rod into the sculpture with instant glue.

10. when transporting, the sculpture should always be removed from the base. Therefore, the rod in the base is not glued.

You can find more info on pedestals here.