Marble edge polishing

[culrossblue]

Got a couple of marble bathrooms coming up and I am looking at a cheapish and effective way of polishing cut edges. I have 4 recesses/shelves in one bathroom and I am thinking of butting the edges together and polishing the showing edge. I did a marble bathroom recently and the customer was happy with edge as it was cut. Admittedly it did look good but I need to take the next step and start learning how to polish the edges.
As money is a bit tight I don't want to spend too much on the wrong thing. I will definitely invest soon in the right gear but I need a quick fix. I have an angle grinder but not of the variable speed variety. I do have a Bosch GOP250 and thought about the fein stone polishing kit. Is this any good? Also thought about http://www.alpha-tools.com/Product.aspx?PageCode=700 which looks quite effective and comes in @ 100 bucks (with delivery)
Am I going to have to bite the bullet and buy the polishing kit I saw in STS Leeds for £135 + vat?

 

[Chalker]

You could use a palm samder and finish off with diamond polishing pads, but lots of fitters on here, including me. Have one of these kits.

Not only for marble, but will do Resin, granite and porcelain.
Makita 9565CVL Stone Polisher Starter Set with SAIT 125mm SiC discs | ATS Diamond Tools

 

[Chalker]

Just looked at your location!
i live in Towton, 4 miles from you. if you won't to borrow mine to try it out your welcome.

 

[culrossblue]

That's mad. I was through Towton today. Thanks for the offer but I ain't kenn on borrowing tools. That's the sort of kit I am after but can't really part with the funds at the moment. A job I posted on here about last week fell through after a week and I've had to pull this marble one forward. I was in at STS today buying materials when I saw the offer on the polishing kit which then got me thinking I need to sort this out. You keeping busy yourself?

 

[Chalker]

Very busy mate. Most of my work is around Harrogate/ Ripon.
Don't waste your hard earned on anything else but this kit. It isn't just for fine polishing.

offer still stands if you want to give it a try.

 

[culrossblue]

The job I am doing is in Harrogate. I've been working all year so far but not making any money. 3/4 days weeks and very little weekends. I've been waiting on this job starting which was meant to start 2 months ago.
Reagarding the pads for these polishers what sort of life do you get out them? Do you go through them quickly?

 

[Chalker]

The job I am doing is in Harrogate. I've been working all year so far but not making any money. 3/4 days weeks and very little weekends. I've been waiting on this job starting which was meant to start 2 months ago.
Reagarding the pads for these polishers what sort of life do you get out them? Do you go through them quickly?

It depends on what your polishing really. If you ring Allan at ats he gives the best FREE advice on what to use on various tiles/stone.

 

[culrossblue]

I may get back to you and take you up on that offer. Will try and sort something out first.
Thanks again

 

[Chalker]

No probs.

 

[One Day]

ATS diamond tools premium starter kit and a Makita variable speed 9565cvl (I think) is what I use.
Does a brilliant easy job on marble edges.

 

[Concrete guy]

Also thought about Alpha Professional Tools which looks quite effective and comes in @ 100 bucks (with delivery)

A forum member brought these to my attention this morning, asked if we did anything like them. I've had a good look at the specification.

What the Alpha products are produced from is Silicon Carbide, but compressed into a solid wheel. Historically we used to call these carborundum wheels, often used for cleaning up welds and generally cleaning metals.


These will work, but at 11,000+ rpm they are going to be a bit difficult to control and you certainly won't be able to do detail work with them.

It's also worth nothing the Alpha products have a 5/8" bore so won't fit a European machine which is 22.23mm or 7/8"

 

[Concrete guy]

offer still stands if you want to give it a try.

We're selling a lot of these kits. We currently have no plans to drop the offer as it's an ideal starter set for tilers.

We do advise you add an extra backer though that has more flex in it for when you're not polishing completely flat surfaces, the standard one that comes on the Makita is very rigid and not particularly forgiving.

A sponge type backer gives the pads more flexibility and allows them to mould themselves in and around curves a little easier.

 

[culrossblue]

Bit the bullet and bought the makita! £120 + vat. Also got a set of Sait carbide discs and backer disc.
Bring it on!

 

[Chalker]

Did you get it from Allan?

 

[culrossblue]

No, SIG fixings on Gelderd rd. Just popped in spur of the moment for a price and he said 115 + vat. Bought it then realised it was the cv version. Swapped it for the cvl which worked out £6 dearer. Got all the rest from STS. Thinking I maybe need a half bullnose thing now!

 

[kaharrison9]

Hi Cul.

Your not far from us, I'm working in Barkston Ash at the moment.

Fine place to get your tools is STS though I have usually got my stone routers, pads , etc from Stone tools, worth a look.

I have the Makita sander.

Did notice that Pure Adhesion at Harrogate were selling off some Flex sanders at a great price.

Kevin

 

[Chalker]

Hi Cul.

Your not far from us, I'm working in Barkston Ash at the moment.

Fine place to get your tools is STS though I have usually got my stone routers, pads , etc from Stone tools, worth a look.

I have the Makita sander.

Did notice that Pure Adhesion at Harrogate were selling off some Flex sanders at a great price.

Kevin

have got loads from pure adhesion online. Didnt realise they were so close.

 

[kaharrison9]

Right side of Harrogate as well is Pannell.

Decent knowledgeable lads there as well.


They supply stone under the name of Stone Vale

 

[Freeze]

.

This is how I mitre and polish

 

[culrossblue]

Kevin,
The last few weeks I've been on every bloody stone tools site going! I was going to get some stuff from pure adhesion and then some dude from mapei at the Porcelanosa open day on Thursday told me pure adhesion was in Harrogate. I'd only passed it nearly everyday this week and didn't know. Went in yesterday. Decent set up and will definitely be back. Didn't notice the price of the flex gear though.