Calling all Masons, or anyone who works with stone

[tramcar trev]

I have been given a length of pink granite from Esperance. its roughly 50mm x 50mm x 200mm.
I'd like to convert it into a tapering column to use as some sort of "memorial" in my tramway. I think with some etched brass embelishments it would look quite realistic. Ok to cut it presumably a diamond saw would be the go but how would I polish it? Masonry disk in an angle grinder? Ditto Diamond disk?
The chap who gave it to me says its a bit from a building that was refaced with this local stone.....

 

[Zerogee]

Reading the thread title too quickly, there was I thinking you were looking for those people who do the funny handshakes and roll up their trouser legs...

Jon.

 

[funandtrains]

You really need a water cooled diamond table saw to cut it if it is small, if it is under 20mm thick you could use a tile cutter which are cheap to hire. Using a hand cutter you would need another set of hands to pour water on plus if it is small it could brake since although granite is very hard it is can be easy to snap since it does not have a grain like slate or sandstone.

The suggestion to get a loco gavestone maker to help you out is a good idea or a company that makes kitchen worktops.

 

[geofc]

Here is one option worth considering.
My next door neighbour grinds glass lenses for telescopes that he builds from scratch. He is an amature astronomer 90 years old.
He uses a rotating plate at 60 rpm (axis vertical) 300mm diameter mounted on a 13mm bolt set hanging from his drill press chuck.
That plate is 19mm plywood that has a copper disk fixed to its underside.
The copper is impregnated with Carborundum and Diamond grit like glass paper.
The article to be polished in set on the drill press table.
The rotating plate is lowered onto the article and left rotating for hours on end with light downward pressure.
Typically a 250mm lens might take him 3 days of grinding/polishing, round the clock, all night and day.
So your need is to find a copper plate impregnated with grit!
Hope this sets you on your way.

Geof, in Sydney, NSW
Barron Tableland Railway
http://www.trainweb.org/btr/ < Link To www.trainweb.org/btr/

 

[tramcar trev]

Reading the thread title too quickly, there was I thinking you were looking for those people who do the funny handshakes and roll up their trouser legs...

Jon.

Hmmmm sorry about that, maybe I was a bit of a goat....
Yes thats an idea, I need a "monument mason" they do all that intricate stuff with granite. Had this been limestone, sandstone or such a belt sander would have sorted it quick smart....

If you act the "old buffer" you might get it done free.... I could offer them shares in my tramway as recompense?