rogerjenkins
4th August 2012, 11:45 AM
( If this is the wrong thread, simply place in correct one )
Some months ago I sought information about cutting, & polishing Granite, but CANNOT remember which thread, and as I don't have the spare time to seach through every thread, this one will do,............
Anyway to cut a long story short;- My neighbour, ( who lives in Adelaide, & owns a holiday," shack," across the street from me ), who by trade is a general builder, plus an Inventor, and a, " Tinker, " ( If you can't work out something, or can't get something to work,- just hand it to, " Big Pete. " and he'll fix it / solve the problem guaranteed )
I got some Granite Headstone off-cuts here in my driveway, which Big Pete spotted the other day, and asked me, " what are you goin' to do with the Granite, " To which I replied, " Slice 'em when I can work out an easy way to do it. "
Big Pete's reply, " I've got an invention that cuts thin slices off that stuff,- simply went out and bought a cheap brick saw, which I modified, and added a power-feed to so don't have to stand there and watch it cutting. Providing I remember, I'll bring it over with me next time I come over, and show you how it works. "
He then showed me a neatly cut thin slice about the thickness of a Ceramic Tile, also with two bevelled edges, AND,- two, rounded-over edges and all nicely polished too.
Yes, He has also modified a bench-grinder to do the bevelled, & rounded-over edges,- using home-made guides, and when I asked, "How do you get such a highly polished surface ?, " Big Pete simply grinned and replied, " Simple,- any half-decent automotive parts supplier has the right stuff,- abrasive cutting compounds in varying grades,- start with the course, then work up grade by grade. It's real easy when you know how. "
Then he walked across to his house and returned carrying a Name Plate and several photos,- Name plate is a thin slice of Granite, with his son's name engraved onto the face, and polished, then set into a nicely shaped piece of old Jarrah. Big Pete said he simply uses a Die-Grinder fitted with small cutting stones, ( Dremel-type ), which he has also re-pointed to suit his own designs. The two photos show Coffee Cables done as Chess tables, with two contrasting Granite Colour squares inlaid into the top, everything all neat, square, & highly polished. Drawers are seen on the underside to hold the chess pieces. He made the first table for his eldest lad's 21'st birthday a few years ago, ( It is made from lovely old recyclyed Jarrah salvaged from an old Port Adelaide Wool Store ) Everyone at his lad's party spotted it, commented about it,
and told others, - result he now gets heaps of orders simply by word-of-mouth. The second photo is of a Pine Coffee table also with a Chess board top, again in contrasting colours. Pete said he sells the pine one for about $1,000 depending on dimensions, while the Jarrah Coffee table is around $3,000 - $4,000 also depending on dimesions each client requests.
Pete gave me the impression that he is going teach me how to make these items, as he did say he's got so many orders, that he can't work 24/7 trying to make them.
AND he don't advertise either. Simply by word of mouth !!!
thought you may be interested in this,
'ave a good day, & happy woodworking,
Roger
Some months ago I sought information about cutting, & polishing Granite, but CANNOT remember which thread, and as I don't have the spare time to seach through every thread, this one will do,............
Anyway to cut a long story short;- My neighbour, ( who lives in Adelaide, & owns a holiday," shack," across the street from me ), who by trade is a general builder, plus an Inventor, and a, " Tinker, " ( If you can't work out something, or can't get something to work,- just hand it to, " Big Pete. " and he'll fix it / solve the problem guaranteed )
I got some Granite Headstone off-cuts here in my driveway, which Big Pete spotted the other day, and asked me, " what are you goin' to do with the Granite, " To which I replied, " Slice 'em when I can work out an easy way to do it. "
Big Pete's reply, " I've got an invention that cuts thin slices off that stuff,- simply went out and bought a cheap brick saw, which I modified, and added a power-feed to so don't have to stand there and watch it cutting. Providing I remember, I'll bring it over with me next time I come over, and show you how it works. "
He then showed me a neatly cut thin slice about the thickness of a Ceramic Tile, also with two bevelled edges, AND,- two, rounded-over edges and all nicely polished too.
Yes, He has also modified a bench-grinder to do the bevelled, & rounded-over edges,- using home-made guides, and when I asked, "How do you get such a highly polished surface ?, " Big Pete simply grinned and replied, " Simple,- any half-decent automotive parts supplier has the right stuff,- abrasive cutting compounds in varying grades,- start with the course, then work up grade by grade. It's real easy when you know how. "
Then he walked across to his house and returned carrying a Name Plate and several photos,- Name plate is a thin slice of Granite, with his son's name engraved onto the face, and polished, then set into a nicely shaped piece of old Jarrah. Big Pete said he simply uses a Die-Grinder fitted with small cutting stones, ( Dremel-type ), which he has also re-pointed to suit his own designs. The two photos show Coffee Cables done as Chess tables, with two contrasting Granite Colour squares inlaid into the top, everything all neat, square, & highly polished. Drawers are seen on the underside to hold the chess pieces. He made the first table for his eldest lad's 21'st birthday a few years ago, ( It is made from lovely old recyclyed Jarrah salvaged from an old Port Adelaide Wool Store ) Everyone at his lad's party spotted it, commented about it,
and told others, - result he now gets heaps of orders simply by word-of-mouth. The second photo is of a Pine Coffee table also with a Chess board top, again in contrasting colours. Pete said he sells the pine one for about $1,000 depending on dimensions, while the Jarrah Coffee table is around $3,000 - $4,000 also depending on dimesions each client requests.
Pete gave me the impression that he is going teach me how to make these items, as he did say he's got so many orders, that he can't work 24/7 trying to make them.
AND he don't advertise either. Simply by word of mouth !!!
thought you may be interested in this,
'ave a good day, & happy woodworking,
Roger