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Thumper

Looking For Marble Or Granite

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Anyone passing through the arklatex area can hit me up. I have pieces in the back yard. 3cm x different lengths and widths. Just let me know.

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11 hours ago, JugHead said:

I know this is an old post but I think it needs to be revived for the new leather crafters like myself lol. I just purchased a 9"x12"x3" granite slab from grizzly.com for only $35.95 and shipping is only &9.99 anywhere in the USA I believe. I know someone mentioned it earlier but I can't see it because I'm on mobile.

I went to a flooring and countertop business here in town and bought a scrap piece of granite for around 8 bucks. They didn't have to cut it, so no extra charge for cutting. I was lucky as it was already a useable size (1 1/2" x 15' x 22') Check to see if anyone in your area that does that kind of work has any scraps that they would sell.

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On 6/30/2011 at 5:02 PM, marblesturk said:

we are happy to know that you are dealing in stones.

We have five big factories in Turkey.

We are basic manufacturers and suppliers of all marble,

granite,onyx,travertine and limestones tiles and blocks

with high quality and very cheap prices.

We can give you delivery till your warehouse.

Best Regards

Bahadir Eryigit

http://www.marblesturk.com

info@marblesturk.com

Tel : +90 532 672 77 99

: + 90 242 247 81 56

You are by the “Marble Sea.”  Marmara, I loved my trip there. Great people and beautiful country.  I was so sorry when you folks had that bad earthquake.

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18 hours ago, JMcC said:

I went to a flooring and countertop business here in town and bought a scrap piece of granite for around 8 bucks. They didn't have to cut it, so no extra charge for cutting. I was lucky as it was already a useable size (1 1/2" x 15' x 22') Check to see if anyone in your area that does that kind of work has any scraps that they would sell.

*Correction - 1 1/2"x15"x22"

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I work for a flooring store that does granite countertops. These places have scraps running out of their ears. Anything too small to make a vanity top is what you want to asked for. There are lots of pieces left over that are 12" to 20" wide that just aren't good for anything. These width pieces are generally pretty long and would be great for a long tooling station for belts. When you go in ask about them. And be willing to offer a little money (there is literally a ton of waste in this industry). 

Tell them what you are using it for and you will remember them in the future for your needs at the house. 

Also, some granite is more dense than others. Avoid pieces with lots of veins. I like the black stuff. If you tap on it with something metal it "tink" like a porcelain plate. That is the dense stuff. If it thuds, move along.

 

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Like a couple of others I wanted a granite slab. On th way back from a music lesson I spied a Kitchen worktop designer who specialised in granite work tops, went in and said what I was after, "yep, come out to the skip" got a piece about 7" x 14' for nothing! They were going to throw it way, loads more in there. But like some of the other ideas above.

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On 8/11/2010 at 6:37 AM, Thumper said:

Good Morning,

I'm looking for a more affordable way to get 2 of the 1-1/2" thick slabs of marble or granite for doing my tooling. Right now, all I have is a large piece of corian and it's loud when tooling. My daughter has taken off on leather work now and I need to get her one as well, so now I'm trying to find an affordable way to get 2 piece of stone to tool leather on top of. Tandy get $40 per sq ft for the slabs and I know that St. Louis Leather gets like $20 each for marble slab...but shipping would bring it up to what Tandy is charging.

My daughter and I are getting started in this and trying to keep our costs low...so I'm trying to be frugal with what we have and trying to find resources where we can for the items we need.

Is there an alternative to the 1-1/2" slabs? What do you use if you don't use a slab to tool/carve on?

This fall, we hope to have a dedicated part of my shop for just doing leather work and upholstery. So a work area will be great, but I just gotta get the money together to buy materials to finish the room in my shop for the leather/upholstery part of the shop.

I guess I've rambled on long enough. If you can help with advice or pointers, I'd greatly appreciate it.

go to the granite stores and ask for a some pieces that they are throwing away, they will give them to you for free instead of having to mess with them. I work gor a granite company in west jordan, Utah  and we do this if you go to the front desk and ask about it

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I get mine out of the dumpster behind counter top shops...with permission... often they think the use is cool they will give me a nice big square thick left over no charge. I have several and haven't paid a dime for them... the best one came 50 feet from the Tandy shop that wanted stupid bucks for 12x12....

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One option for a very thick piece of granite you can whack on that 's also smooth enough to skive on without significantly damaging the tip of your knife is a granite surface plate for a machine shop.

The best plate to get them is at an industrial auction. I've gotten nice Starrett and Brown & Sharpe ones for less than $50. 

You can also find big dinged up ones on eBay that are no longer useful in a machine shop but are suitable for your purposes. They'll cost a fortune to ship, but local pickup makes them worth the trouble.

You'll never go back to working on any other surface.

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I was not willing to pay what Tandy was asking for their slabs, so I went to Home Depot and bought a 12x12x 3/16" granite floor tile. It works just great for tooling, and if it ever breaks, it's only about $10.00 to replace it!

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About once a year we set a bunch of granite scrap next to the street. You'd be amazed at how many people need granite once it's free. 

I always call the staff down at Tandy to let them know. 

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Drat!  I don't know whether it's a geographic thing, but I just got back from the Lowe's in my area.  When I explained what I was looking for, they first looked at me as if I'd grown a second head (I didn't, did I?), and then showed me what they have: marble tiles of about 3" X 5" X 1/2".  Back to the drawing board...er, hammering board?

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42 minutes ago, JMixx said:

Drat!  I don't know whether it's a geographic thing, but I just got back from the Lowe's in my area.  When I explained what I was looking for, they first looked at me as if I'd grown a second head (I didn't, did I?), and then showed me what they have: marble tiles of about 3" X 5" X 1/2".  Back to the drawing board...er, hammering board?

Just go to a granite shop.

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1 hour ago, JMixx said:

Drat!  I don't know whether it's a geographic thing, but I just got back from the Lowe's in my area.  When I explained what I was looking for, they first looked at me as if I'd grown a second head (I didn't, did I?), and then showed me what they have: marble tiles of about 3" X 5" X 1/2".  Back to the drawing board...er, hammering board?

look up granite shops or retailers and call them

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Yeah, I may have to try a number of different places around here before I find what I'm looking for.  I figured since Lowe's installs granite countertops, they might have scraps.  Oh well--there are several other places I can try.  Wish I lived closer to Ark/LA/TX.   Thanks, guys!

Edited by JMixx

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1 hour ago, JMixx said:

Yeah, I may have to try a number of different places around here before I find what I'm looking for.  I figured since Lowe's installs granite countertops, they might have scraps.  Oh well--there are several other places I can try.  Wish I lived closer to Ark/LA/TX.   Thanks, guys!

That's what general folk would think. Any kind of installation from the big box stores is all done by subcontractors. They don't actually do any of the work. People think because they are a national size company that they must be the place to go. The harsh reality (that too many people find out too late) is that time and money is wasted on them. Folks are better off going to a family owned store that specializes in their needs.

Sorry for the rant, but I've seen too many people live the horror story.

Edited by bikermutt07

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No worries!  I'm open to any "rant" that may save me hundreds of $ at some point.

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I can't see a store of this type (Rona, Lowe's, Home Depot) NOT selling these tiles! And I really don't think the tiles have to be an inch thick in order to be useful for leather work.

IMG_2361_crop.jpg

Edited by Sheilajeanne

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Lowe's only has marble tiles, but HD has both, at least in my neck of the woods. Personally, I'd go with the granite, as marble is a much softer stone, and could chip or break.

https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.absolute-nero-12-inch-x-12-inch-polished-granite.1000488451.html

https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.12-inch-x-12-inch-arctic-marble-5-sqftcase.1001007201.html

https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.12-inch-x-24-inch-arctic-marble-8-sqftcase.1001006813.html

A search of the Lowe's U.S. website turned up this:

https://www.lowes.com/search?searchTerm=granite+floor+tiles

 

So, they do sell them, and either your clerk wasn't knowledgeable, or the store just doesn't stock them. If you want a thicker, bigger slab, I'd ask them who their contractors are for installation of sinks and counter tops, and see if you can get scrap from them. The cutout for a sink would make a really nice leather tooling slab!

Edited by Sheilajeanne

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I went to a funeral mason and asked for an off cut from a memorial.

I have a lovely polished black marble 12 inches square by 2 or so inches deep, and it will last a lifetime.

The owner was intrigued as to the use and gave a great discount.

Harry

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I appreciate the advise.

 

Turned out to have a granite shop not far from me.  Got a (larger than expected piece) to work with, so I shall be able to make better marks and rivet better now I hope.

 

Thank you.

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Don't ya just love these forums? You get direct links to commercial suppliers, home brewed solutions, and an education on the difference between marble and granite, all in one thread =:O  Wonderful!

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If you are having a hard time finding a freebie, Woodcraft has a granite 9"x12"x2" surface plate for $30.  I have no idea what shipping will be.  I dropped by my local Woodcraft and picked one up a couple of years ago.  I really like it.  Solid, slick, works a treat.

https://www.woodcraft.com/products/granite-surface-plate-9-x-12-x-2-a-grade

 

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Go to a local maker of custom counter tops. They have to pay by the pound to discard there scrap. They were more than happy for me to take 2 huge thick square pieces of marble. Even told me to tell my friends

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Does anyone here have experience in the Avon, Ohio area concerning granite companies?

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