Profile Machine for Marble, Tile, Granite

[Kevin L. Waldron]

Anyone using a MK Diamond Bullnose & Profile machine for doing edges of Marble, Tile, or Granite that you are going to laser?

It appears to be pricey ($2,600)but still might not be if it works quickly. It wouldn't take a lot of material to pay for this if it works.

I would like info if anyone is using this if you could tell about time, ease, etc. It might make buying local supplies (Lowe's /Home Depot /Dal Tile /Etc.) much cheaper for the laser.

Kevin

[Jack Harper]

A few thoughts Kevin. First, this machine is just a rough profile machine. You would still need a polisher to polish the edges. Also, when you look at the cost of doing the profiling and polishing, you need to take a close look at the consumables for the process. Quite frankly the cost of the polishing pads and cutters is more than the machine over a short period of time. Finally, if you get into this type of stone preprocessing, you will need to take a hard look at all the OSHA requirements as they are very substantial and this part of the industry is of particular interest to them. Oh yea, I forgot to mention that this is a wet process that produces a wet slurry that most municipalities don't let you put down the drain, you will need to add a water filtration system. Sorry to be such a downer.

[Belinda Barfield]

A few thoughts Kevin. First, this machine is just a rough profile machine. You would still need a polisher to polish the edges. Also, when you look at the cost of doing the profiling and polishing, you need to take a close look at the consumables for the process. Quite frankly the cost of the polishing pads and cutters is more than the machine over a short period of time. Finally, if you get into this type of stone preprocessing, you will need to take a hard look at all the OSHA requirements as they are very substantial and this part of the industry is of particular interest to them. Oh yea, I forgot to mention that this is a wet process that produces a wet slurry that most municipalities don't let you put down the drain, you will need to add a water filtration system. Sorry to be such a downer.

Ditto the above. The websites Braxton Bragg or Gran Quartz (to name just two) will give you some idea of set up costs in addition to the profiler. You need a polisher, preferably air and made by Alpha, a set of pads for granite, and a set of pads for marble. Some profilers do not give a "perfectly" ground edge, so you may need a grinder and silicon carbide "rocks" for roughing in. Grinding generates a great deal of stone dust which is very abrasive, so you don't want to do this in an area with sensitive equipment. As Jack said, slurry run off can be a problem. Not only run off, if you let the slurry dry the silica becomes airborne with people just walking around. Particulate dust masks are a MUST for everyone who works or enters your shop. You and your employees should wear some type of coverall when grinding that you then remove before going into your office, getting in your car, going home, etc. We won't even go into the amount of silica dust you carry home in your hair, avoid this if you can. Your best bet is to install a dust collector for stone, which is different from a typical dust collector used in woodworking.

Not trying to shoot you down either, just a realistic view. Before we made a transition to other products, I managed our stone shop. We still work stone from time to time.