Polish Marble Edges: What grit

[cbonilla]

OK, I've read the threads on polishing marble and the pitfalls of doing it yourself. Nevertheless I want to try it. (I'm only seeking to polish cut edges, not the entire surface).

What I haven't been able to find out is what grit I should start with to polish the edges left by the wet saw, and how fine a grit do I need to go to.

ALso, I'll be doing another bath in granite. What are the respective grits for that type of stone/

Thanks

[Davestone]

#120To start, should do it,but granite is much harder and you can do it with the same sandpaper but it will take twice as much and the finish won't be as good. For the marble, after 500 try some 000steel wool or polish paste.

[Davy]

You'll probably get a few different answers. For marble, I use the 5 inch stick on paper starting with 80, 150, 220 and 400. I call it good after that although some dark colored marble might need more.

For granite I use diamond pads, 60, 150, 300, 500, 1000, 2000 and 3000.

[cbonilla]

OK, just to clarify. On marble, are you saying that I can do this with sandpaper and don't need to go to diamond pads? (I do recognize that granite is harder and would need diamond pads.)

Should I use wet/dry sandpaper on, say, my random orbitol sander? I assume wet is better, no?

[Davestone]

You need to use marble polishing sandpaper,aluminum oxide,but the random orbital will work,slower though,i like a pistol grip Makita,Davy probably uses a holehawgYou need to use a lot of water for the diamond pads,but you GOTTA have double insulated tools,to stay alive workin with water,don't use water with a random orbit.This is just one of the reasons we discourage people from doing certain aspects of the trade.

[cbonilla]

Thanks. I fully agree that you should only use water around electric tools designed for that purpose. May look to see if I can find a sander that will work with my air compressor.

Re: Aluminum Oxide paper. Is that generally available or do I need to go to a stone supply house for that.

Also, you referanced a pistol grip Makita sander. What style of sander is that? (ie., belt sander, finish, etc.)


thanks

[Clowny]

I polished the edges of my marble by hand (while outside in the 100 degree plus I heat I might add ).

I used 60, 80, 150, 220, 400, and sometimes the 600 wet paper.

It seemed to have turned out just fine.

[Davestone]

The pistol grip looks like a- well pistol, similar to the air powered .Yeah that sanding paper is specifically for stone,,costly to buy all the grits for a small job though, Hermes is the brand name.

[Davy]

Metabo Dave, I own a Metabo.

I like grinders with a variable speed, too fast and it'll sling the paper off.