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Print ArticleOver the years I have received hundreds of calls from fabricators, installers and restoration contractors. This month I have decided to dedicate the Stone Shop to some of the most frequently asked questions (along with the answers, of course).
Q: How can we avoid burning the edges of certain quartz surfaces during polishing?
A: This is a problem I have encountered many times. First, slow the rpm of your machine down. The faster the rpm, the harder it is to keep the diamond wet and cool. Second, use a diamond abrasive that is designed for quartz surfaces. Many of the granite diamond abrasives do not have the proper resin type and will burn quartz surfacing.
Q: We are a small shop but starting to grow. My partner and I disagree about what machine to purchase. I want a saw-jet and he says we should just get a bridge saw. Can you shed some light on this for us?
A: It’s not a simple question to answer because it depends on many factors. First, there is the type of work that you do. If your kitchens are simple L-shaped kitchens and you don’t do a lot of radii or other odd shapes, then a bridge saw should be suitable. However, if you do spend a significant amount of time with odd-shapes or radii, a saw-jet might be worth looking into. Second, there is your budget and payback on the saw. There is a big price difference, and you have to have the work coming in to justify the expense. I can’t tell you how many shops I have seen invest in a CNC machine and within a year are struggling because they didn’t have the work to support the machine. The best advice is to ask other fabricators and ask the tough questions. The Internet is full of forums where fabricators hang out and I have found most are very willing to help.
Q: I am having a heck of a time cutting the radii on kitchen sinks. It is taking me forever and I don’t want to buy a waterjet cutting machine. Do you have any quick way to cut an inside radius?
A: Yes, I do, and I bet you would like to know. Inside radii are simple. Use a core bit. Core bits are available in just about any size. All you need to do is make a template of the radius and match the proper size core bit. Just make sure to keep the bit straight and you will be cutting inside radii perfectly.
