Granite Vs Marble

[Mike516]

Everyone is entitled to at least one a year

Thanks for clarifying. Imagine I go get myself a 6" thick piece of granite and I'm like; "hey look at this pic of what I got guys!!!" LOL!

[tpeters]

Thought I'd chime in here. I've found a pretty good tooling surface if your limited on space like myself. I worked at a hardware store an the place we ordered countertops from had a product called Verona marble. It was a manmade product that was cement based, looked like granite. But it's heavy like 30#'s for a 19x17 oval 1" thick, and hard it sounds like your hitting a steel plate when your working. So you might check the countertop places.

[Mike516]

Cool, I will - thank you all.

[Mike516]

Thank you all again for the advice. Basically, these are pics of what I ended up with. What follows is the story of how I came upon them, so no one needs read it, but this is what I found.

I went to a couple of granite/marble places and right away, first place I go to, I find the Grinch that stole Christmas. Don't get me wrong, I had every intention of paying for whatever I could find. But the Grinch says to me she has to go outside and see what they have. I told her it didn't have to be anything special, not even a regular shape. She comes back and tells me she can cut me a piece from scrap unfinished granite 2" thick 2'x2' for $250! She says it would be cheaper if I would take marble 1 1/2' thick 1'x1' - only $150! I asked her if they had any broken pieces, anything they were throwing out I could buy and she tells me this was scrap she's talking about, they sell everything. I said thank you no problem and left. I don't begrudge anyone trying to make a buck but this seemed a bit off to me considering I could buy a perfect 1x1 from tandy for 50 bucks or something.

So I find another place not far from here. I go in and the woman really doesn't look very happy. So I figure - ok, ask because you're here and get out before you waste too much time with the second grouch. So I ask for a small piece of scrap granite, marble, whatever they have. She says to me; "you mean you want me to cut you a 1 foot square from one of my big slabs out there?" I said: "No ma'am, I just want something you might be throwing out" (I'm always nice because you never know). So she asks me if I'm looking for a broken piece? YES! She tells me go take what you want from the dumpster out back. Man, if I didn't feel like a kid again, and all for a scrap piece of granite, or marble, who cares. I'd take whatever at that point.

So, I go back there, and not to be greedy or dawdle before someone came out back and told me no, I grab the first 2 pieces that look reasonable and take off. As I was getting in my car, I decided I had to go back in and thank this woman again, and I think I surprised her by going back in there just to say thank you (especially because it's about 2 degrees out today) but it made my day when she smiled.

They're a little smaller than what everyone here was suggesting, but I didn't want to dig around too long so I grabbed the first thing that looked decent. If I decide to try and find something bigger later, I can spend more time looking since I already have something to use if someone chases me away while I'm looking through their garbage

The white marble has some scratches on it (it was in a dumpster after all) but I think it's ok for leatherworking, no? The surface on the black one is pretty clean, and I'm pretty sure it's granite, but I don't know a brick from a paver, so doesn't make much difference to me.

So what do you all think of my score?

PS. I'm pretty sure they're sink cut-outs so that's probably about the size they all were in there.

[WyomingSlick]

Attaboy Mike!!! Not only did you get yourself a couple of pieces that look like they will do fine, you also demonstrated that you are a good person. A heartfelt thank you goes a long way in these days where so many seem to just take things for granted.

[Mike516]

Thanks WS.

There's a couple of saw cuts at the top on the granite piece which there's nothing I can do about, but do I need to get too crazy trying to buff out the scratches? They'd only be an issue if they were deep like gouges right?

[Sylvia]

So, I go back there, and not to be greedy or dawdle before someone came out back and told me no, I grab the first 2 pieces that look reasonable and take off. As I was getting in my car, I decided I had to go back in and thank this woman again, and I think I surprised her by going back in there just to say thank you (especially because it's about 2 degrees out today) but it made my day when she smiled.

They're a little smaller than what everyone here was suggesting, but I didn't want to dig around too long so I grabbed the first thing that looked decent. If I decide to try and find something bigger later, I can spend more time looking since I already have something to use if someone chases me away while I'm looking through their garbage

The white marble has some scratches on it (it was in a dumpster after all) but I think it's ok for leatherworking, no? The surface on the black one is pretty clean, and I'm pretty sure it's granite, but I don't know a brick from a paver, so doesn't make much difference to me.

So what do you all think of my score?

PS. I'm pretty sure they're sink cut-outs so that's probably about the size they all were in there.

Yep, that dark one looks about like what I got. :D Have you tried it yet? It will certainly get you started. The white one with the scratches can be a pattern weight if you want. The Deep saw cut on the Granite one can be a place to stash a tool that has a tendency to roll off. Good job, perhaps you can go back with doughnuts and ask to poke around their dumpster again for a larger one?

And as a person who appreciates manners in everyone... thank you for being polite and making the gal smile.

Attaboy Mike!!! Not only did you get yourself a couple of pieces that look like they will do fine, you also demonstrated that you are a good person. A heartfelt thank you goes a long way in these days where so many seem to just take things for granted.

I completely agree.

Edited January 6, 2012 by Sylvia

[Mike516]

Thanks Sylvia.

I like the doughnut idea. I'm going to go with what I have for a while and maybe if I find that neither of these is big enough I'll do that, thanks for the suggestion.

I really just started this week. I haven't learned to stamp yet, so I'm just practicing cutting straight lines, half circles and esses on a couple of really small pieces of scrap right now. I only have one nice square that I traced a simple pattern on, but I'm not confident enough to cut it yet. I have to work on my depth which is much better than it was and proper casing which I'm not totally clear on how to do properly. I tried to pm someone that mentioned an archived thread on casing here but haven't heard back and I can't seem to find it. Hopefully they message me back and let me know where they saw it When I get the rounders I ordered I'll be able to practice more.

Edited January 6, 2012 by Mike516

[Sylvia]

Thanks Sylvia.

I like the doughnut idea. I'm going to go with what I have for a while and maybe if I find that neither of these is big enough I'll do that, thanks for the suggestion.

I really just started this week. I haven't learned to stamp yet, so I'm just practicing cutting straight lines, half circles and esses on a couple of really small pieces of scrap right now. I only have one nice square that I traced a simple pattern on, but I'm not confident enough to cut it yet. I have to work on my depth which is much better than it was and proper casing which I'm not totally clear on how to do properly. I tried to pm someone that mentioned an archived thread on casing here but haven't heard back and I can't seem to find it. Hopefully they message me back and let me know where they saw it When I get the rounders I ordered I'll be able to practice more.

LOL you sound like me. I have this beautiful half hide of deer tanned cow that I want to make moccasin boots out of... but I am afraid to cut it.

Here is the tutorial by hidepounder on casing. He did it in a PDF file so you can download it and print for your file.

http://www.leatherworker.net/Bob%20Park/Casing%20Leather.pdf

If you got a kit, I recommend watching the DVD if yours came with one... or go onto Tandy's site and click the banner for "80 free how to videos" I think these "foreign made" stamps in the kits have an issue with being flimsy from what I've read here so holding them properly will help keep them from bending and breaking. If you can't find the videos on there search Youtube for Tandy leather... there are a few videos on there too.

Syl

[Mike516]

Excellent! Thanks Sylvia

I did not get a kit. All I have right now is a stylus and swivel knife from Tandy and they're good enough for what I need them for. I've read all the negative comments about the tools in the kits so I'm going to buy them separately.