Granite slab 12"x18"x4" for $20 bucks... worth it?

[HBAR]

Surface plates are THE way to go. You can get small ones cheap from many different sources.  I have one as well as a monument from a monument place by the cemetary.  Mine was a mistake  and it was for a home warming from all the kids to the parents so no creep feeling.

 

I bought a thin piece like springfield and tandy sell.  I broke mine right away. Then I got a sink cut out free, once again broke it right away.

[myjtp]

I was going to build a little workbench around it cheap butcher block with 2x4 should i place a rubber mat or anything under this or just rest it directly on the wood?

thanks!

[bruce johnson]

My rock on a scrap of chap leather. The surface is about 1/8 higher than the surround bench top. makes it easier to move big pieces around. The whole thing was built with dimensional lumber and bolted. As the wood shrunk I gave a few cranks with the wrench every so often until it wasn't shrinking anymore. The height is comfortable for standing or using the drafting stool to sit. 

[Colt W Knight]

Let it rest right on the wood. 

 

[bikermutt07]

That stone is definitely granite.

A few tips for sink cutouts aka 3cm granite.

Avoid veins in your selection. The natural fissures will likely be a breaking point. You want something more like a pebble looking grain or small spots. Avoid lines, veins, fissures (all are the same, just wanted to clarify).

Black granite are usually denser then lighter colors (absolute black or galaxy black are good choices).

If you are able to tap on a big piece you will find the dense ones have a "ring" to them like a dinner plate. The softer ones have more of a "thud" sound.

If you have one that you move around like I do (for now) make sure you don't have anything under it. Something as minimal as an ink pen or rivet back can snap it when you go to hitting on it.

Most of these tips can be ignored if you have manmade quartz. That stuff is tough. It's as dense as the the black granites, but comes with a little more flex strength. I have handled pieces of this in situations where granite would have broken for sure.

Either product should always be carried vertically with a clear path and plenty of help. I like to use a cart when I can. It can be a real pain to carry a top into a house and wrestle it almost into position only to find out it's a 1/4" too long.

Carts are handy. Hope this helps someone.

[Mattsbagger]

Went to habitat for humanity restore yesterday. Got a 18X18X2 granite cutout for $3.50. They had pieces as big as 4 feet long.

[bikermutt07]

49 minutes ago, Mattsbagger said:

Went to habitat for humanity restore yesterday. Got a 18X18X2 granite cutout for $3.50. They had pieces as big as 4 feet long.

Score!!!