cowpounder Report post Posted October 14, 2008 I recently found where a person can buy a nice piece of granite. Go to e-bay and type in Granite surface plate-all catagory!!! You can buy these as small as a 6x6 inch up to four foot X ten foot. I bought mine which is a 24 in X 18 in. for $175.00 with a stand. This was on craigs list which is a local type of listing. I had my wife pick it up so the shipping cost me zero dollars. Just a word of caution-Check the shipping before you buy! I found one like mine for $49.99 buy it now. I checked the shipping and it was $399.00 to ship. But if you buy close to where you live you can get yourself a nice piece of rock to tool on. These granite surface plates are calibrated to as little as 5 tenths . They are used in machine shops to check parts for flatness. Hope this helps----Happy tooling Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bree Report post Posted October 14, 2008 Grizzly has an 18" x 24" granite surface plate for $49.95 and the stand is $59.95. http://grizzly.com/products/category.aspx?key=260040 I have one and I use it frequently. Excellent deal. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hilly Report post Posted October 14, 2008 If you go to a place that makes granite counter tops, you can almost always get sink cutouts for little to nothing. I got 2 for free. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rawhide Report post Posted October 14, 2008 I went to a monument place, and bought a 2 ft x 4 ft headstone for 40 bucks. Lot cheaper than $175. Marlon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cowpounder Report post Posted October 14, 2008 (edited) I have several pieces of counter top material,but its too thin for me. I like a 3 to 4 in. slab it has more of a thud to it. The tombstone is great and I have heard that one before but havent found any in my area. Anyway hope this gives people an option. Edited October 14, 2008 by cowpounder Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
King's X Report post Posted October 14, 2008 Grizzly has an 18" x 24" granite surface plate for $49.95 and the stand is $59.95.http://grizzly.com/products/category.aspx?key=260040 I have one and I use it frequently. Excellent deal. Bree, thanks for the info. I would have never thought about looking at Grizzly for this product. Again, I appreciate it. ATX Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rawhide Report post Posted October 14, 2008 (edited) I have several pieces of counter top material,but its too thin for me. I like a 3 to 4 in. slab it has more of a thud to it. The tombstone is great and I have heard that one before but havent found any in my area. Anyway hope this gives people an option. what area do you live in? I thought that all places had a place that made headstones. Look in your local phone book (yellow pages) for Monuments. They always have scraps and mistakes that they can't sell. Marlon Edited October 14, 2008 by Rawhide Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bree Report post Posted October 15, 2008 Bree, thanks for the info. I would have never thought about looking at Grizzly for this product. Again, I appreciate it.ATX No worries Mon! It is amazing that the stand costs more than the plate!! It is a very heavy stand to be sure. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
superchute Report post Posted October 15, 2008 heck look for the places making fancy counter tops the have the knock outs for sinks and stuff i was given a 16x16 peace of black granite. I was going to see if i could get enuf to do the bath room floor. lol Russ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Johanna Report post Posted October 15, 2008 I've never had to pay for anything off the scrap pile at any monument yard. Sometimes the nice men will even put them in the truck for me. They always have a few that chipped, or they made a mistake, or there is some flaw you don't give a flip about. Someone should go to my old house in Georgia. We had so many we used them as stones outside the doors, like thresholds. I have a huge red granite one performing the same function on the south barn door here in Ohio. There are a couple in the shop, but they take up space, and how many do you need? (For me it would be the only one directly under the light!) Glue a piece of Poundo board to the bottom if you don't plan to use it as an inset to your bench. It cuts down on the noise, makes them easier to slide when they need moved and somehow stabilizes the stone so it is not as likely to fracture. Johanna Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tina Report post Posted October 15, 2008 I went to a monument place, and bought a 2 ft x 4 ft headstone for 40 bucks. Lot cheaper than $175. Marlon Good tip and good thinking:-) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TwinOaks Report post Posted October 15, 2008 I went to a monument place, and bought a 2 ft x 4 ft headstone for 40 bucks. Now that's planning ahead....probably be the only Sheridan headstone in the whole dang cemetary. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tashabear Report post Posted October 15, 2008 Now that's planning ahead....probably be the only Sheridan headstone in the whole dang cemetary. Using the petal lifter is a bitch, though. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ArtS Report post Posted October 15, 2008 (edited) A friend of mine re-did his counters and I got a piece from him and cut it then put it in my bench. Art Edited October 15, 2008 by ArtS Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteveBrambley Report post Posted October 15, 2008 Hi, In the UK leather industry, they always used old lithographic printing stones! Steve Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeeperaz Report post Posted October 17, 2008 (edited) Grizzly has an 18" x 24" granite surface plate for $49.95 and the stand is $59.95.http://grizzly.com/products/category.aspx?key=260040 I have one and I use it frequently. Excellent deal. That's a really good price for the plate. Shipping is a killer though... brings it to over $110. I bought two 12"x18"x3" pieces for $24 each from Enco and used a free shipping code which is easily found via google. The catch was... the items had to be shipped UPS which limited anything larger than the sizes I bought due to weight. I couldnt imagine trying to move anything larger... 18"x24" is 180lbs. http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INPDFF?PMPAGE=...PMITEM=640-0140 Edited October 17, 2008 by jeeperaz Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bree Report post Posted October 17, 2008 That's a really good price for the plate. Shipping is a killer though... brings it to over $110. I bought two 12"x18"x3" pieces for $24 each from Enco and used a free shipping code which is easily found via google. The catch was... the items had to be shipped UPS which limited anything larger than the sizes I bought due to weight. I couldnt imagine trying to move anything larger... 18"x24" is 180lbs. http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INPDFF?PMPAGE=...PMITEM=640-0140 Yeah... I went down to Muncie, PA and picked mine up along with other woodworking equipment. i just bought a bunch of stuff from Weaver and may have to run down there to pick it up if the shipping is outrageous. Will know Monday. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites