The stone is rarely cut and usually only kept for its aesthetic appeal. In fact, many seal carvers refuse to touch it.
昔時在北平，許多刻印的工匠常聲明不刻雞血石，他們怕印文完成大半時，突遇砂粒，字跡刻得模糊不清，勢得磨掉上層重新再刻；顧客取貨時看到石材短少，雞血紋割去泰半，不免心疼大怒，印匠在有理說不清的情況下，乾脆避雞血石而遠之。