Stone polishing problems

[DC_INC]

I am using (dry) diamond resin polishing pads between 50 - 3000 grit to polish marble and granite.

First time I am doing this and I am having issues with the pads staining the stone. As I get up to 800 or higher, the pads start to embed color into the stone. I've tried buffing off the staining but it only gets me so far.

Is this a problem with the sanding discs, or is it a process thing? What should I/can I do?

Thanks in advance for any ideas

[Sponsored Links]

[ceramictec]

a Mod will probably move this to the "Professionals' Hangout".
might have something to do with the speed you are using.

[DC_INC]

I am polishing at 3000 rpm. I've tried faster with same results but my polisher wont go below 3k rpm.

[GraniteGirl]

The resin from the pads are getting stuck in the pores of the stone.

Try a couple things:
First: Grinder speed needs to be waaaay down.
Next: Work with the lower grits more to smooth the stone better before heading to the higher grits.

Polish pads consist of a resin matrix and abrasives. Lower grits have more abrasives and less resin. Higher grits have more resin, less abrasives. The cooler you can keep the polishing process, the less the resin would tend to remain behind as well. Light pressure and low speed will help with that.

You do not need the dry pads for the marble. Marble will polish better with silicon carbide "sandpaper" disks.

[Davestone]

What Adrainna says. :bow: Also, if you've used your pads that high on a dark stone,that has a binder(an engineered stone as many so called granites are) before doing a light stone you've burned the binding material into the pads, and they will transfer that to the light stone.Also,(don't use the cheap ones from e-bay they will bleed out the color from the pads)you need granite and marble pads,some can be interchanged,but don't work as well.Also when doing engineered stones you will want to use pads designed for this i.e.braised,or metallic binders.

[DC_INC]

So if 3000 RPM is too high, what would the appropriate speed be? I talked to the rep at the supply store here and that was the recommended speed for the pads. Guess he was wrong.

What do you suggest?

[GraniteGirl]

Waaay down, as in as low as it would go. Actually looked at my trusty Makita today and it said 3000, so I guess that's right then :D

[Davestone]

Maybe if you're doing an edge,but if you're trying to do a seam or a scratch you'll have a fishbowl in a heartbeat, and you'll never get it out,ya gotta see the look on a customers face when they see that...priceless.I'm at about 600 to 1000 when i do that stuff,but at the higher grits, or when doing marble you can get higher to generate some heat,3000 is fine then, but at the lower ones you eat away too much stock too fast.