Stone Fabricators Solve Common Shop Problems

Stone Fabricators Join Forces For a Think Tank to Solve Common Problems

Two of the most popular stone and masonry publications, The Natural Stone Institute and Stone World, sponsored a conference back in September at the MS Institute in Colorado for continued education purposes and innovative discoveries update. Approximately forty stone developers amalgamated to deliberate and find possible answers to any areas of concern that they have been experiencing, both collectively and independently, in the areas of business commerce, technological and advertising.

The main concerns that were tossed around regarding the commerce concerns involved the acquisition of equipment, capital returns on investments, remaining fragments and metrics. Fabricators who were debating the advertising or promotion of services focused their efforts on increasing revenue, advertising their products and employing the use of various social media marketing approaches. The technical aspects of the trade centered around computer numerical controlled machines and lines, the handling of exotic and unusually rare and raw substances and the ins and outs of countertop edge pigmentation. Below is a brief overview of some of the participants discussions to each groups field of discussion including working with a quartzite blade on CNC tools.

CNC (Computer Numerical Controlled) Line Solutions and Advice

•In regard to reducing the visibility of any existing countertop lines, hand applying the polish to the edges affords a cleaner outcome. Also, getting the maximum amount of light in different angles is imperative to the outcome. Mimicking lighting that is similarly found in homes, such as track lighting in the kitchen areas, helps to see what the product will look like depending on the location of where the countertop will be installed. Cabinets that are positioned above countertops generally tends to produce a silhouette and thereby the lines are not as easy to eyeball.

•It’s important to understand that all professionals who are working in the industry generally are facing the same set of circumstances. Communication is a key matter here. Whether it’s working directly with the public or with a sales team, letting the customer know up front all the different circumstances that goes into making the product can reduce any scrutiny usually. For example, delineating between whether a piece was handmade versus machine or which part of it was sculpted by machine and which was done by hand gives the purchaser a better reasoning in which to gauge an outcome.

Exotic Stone Solutions When Working with Granite Tools and Granite Blades

•Exotic stone tends to be very fragile in composition when cutting it with a saw. The absorption of the water used can easily break off slabs of the stone and as a result, there are incomplete pieces that require countless hours of repairing as one fabricator surmised. This is because they are generally comprised of mica which is very heavy. A way to not lose revenue for these pieces is to increase their prices and charge by the slab, as opposed to the square foot.

•Another thing to keep in mind is the speed of the saw or equipment. Going at a slower pace helps to prevent breaks from occurring. Also, getting to know the equipment and familiarizing yourself with the different sounds it makes when performing different cuts at various speeds will help. It’s recommended when working with CNC tools, to operate in position two at a slow and steady pace. Granite blades and granite tools can be tricky to work with but a solution to preventing blowouts is to only use a flat polish or double radius profile when working with a quartzite blade.

Edge Stain Issues

•Fabricators oftentimes must stain the edges of their work and run out of the stain before they can finish the process. Sometimes suppliers do not leave enough product as they are supposed to prepare for future chips or other repairs. If this is the case, you should talk to the supplier and request more. Having a client wait a few extra days is better than an unfinished piece.