Archive for the 'Product Reviews' Category
Sunday, November 13th, 2005
I have been testing a pre-mix adhesive, by Integra Adhesives for use on seams for the last month . I have used it on engineered stone as well as granite and marble. the product is a methacrylate type adhesive and bonds very well to stone and es. it comes in dual cartridges in sizes from 80ml, 250ml , and 850ml. I use the 250ml. tubes with their exclusive small static mixing tips .
The small tips help cut down on wasted product, and I have found it easier to get them into tight areas, as used in conjunction with Gorilla Grips, tm. from Monument Toolworks.
Donny Taylor
I am very pleased with this product, and give it 5 diamonds.
www.integraadhesives.com
Editors Note: This review was submitted by a trusted member of stoneadvice.com.
Posted in Product Reviews | No Comments »
Friday, October 28th, 2005
Basics of Safe Stone Slab Handling
I got this cd while at Stone Expo, great video. The video and the voice over is well laid out and professional. The information in the cd is great. They cover basic around the shop handling and the different ways to safely unload containers and the disassembly of the bundles. I will be giving this cd to my Safety Training Director (Sawyer) and implementing this cd into our safety training immediately. The MIA hit another homerun with this cd, I give it 5 diamonds.
Brian N Briggs
CEO Granite Guys, Inc.
Editors Note: I also picked up a copy of this video at stoneexpo…It is a must have for any shop. Bottom line…if you DO have an accident, it would be nice to have a program in place when the sheriff, osha, workmans comp and the insurance company starts sniffing around. Ditto on the 5 Diamonds! WTG MIA!
Posted in Product Reviews | No Comments »
Thursday, October 27th, 2005
I was thrilled with Stone Expo in Vegas this year. The venue was fun, the crowds were big, the vendors and machine manufactures not only had lots of equipment at the show, many were running live demonstrations. Our fabrication company decided to purchase a waterjet at this show. The training and classes were well done and the layout of the show was fantastic. The event organizers did a great job.
Hats off to the MIA and Hanley Wood!
I give this show 5 diamonds!
We will attend next year….if they leave it in Vegas, this show will do nothing but grow.
Mark Lauzon
Stone Cutter
Posted in Product Reviews | No Comments »
Thursday, September 1st, 2005
THESE PADS ARE LIKE NOTHING I HAVE EVER SEEN!
Mark sent me a set of these pads to test about 3 weeks ago…..WOW!
The pads you see in the picture are 50, 100, 200 grit. Dont ask me what that tinfoil looking business with diamonds is all about….I can not tell you.
WHAT I DO KNOW FOR A FACT! THESE PADS KICK ASS!!!!!!
We have processed 7 kitchens with the pads in the picture…they are not wearing out. FOR THE PRICE THESE ARE THE BEST PADS WE HAVE EVER USED! They are outperforming our expectations….when you look at them they look whoopty…start using them and BAM metal flakes and diamonds galore! They are nice and flexable to boot!
Contact Mark at DIAFORCE I personally endorse these pads 100% feel comfortable ordering a set of these…they are truly different.
5 DIAMONDS out of 5 DIAMONDS (all day long)
Posted in Product Reviews | 1 Comment »
Sunday, June 5th, 2005
The Makita pw5001c
This is an electric wet polisher. I purchased two of these a few months ago. It has some pros and cons. The pros are:
1. Makita grinders last forever
2. Pretty rugid
3. You don't get shocked like you will with other brands.
The cons are:
1. A little bulky
2. The GFI switches don't last long.
3. The outside housing is plastic (but it has an aluminum housing under the plastic)
I give this product 3 diamonds (out of 5)
Thanks,
Jim Marshall
The Beveled Edge Marble & Granite Inc.
Westminster, Maryland
Posted in Product Reviews | 5 Comments »
Sunday, June 5th, 2005
If you have not yet bought a Gorilla Clamp you need to do so, this thing is AWESOME! We were called out to a job that was installed by another company 9 years ago, the seams were terrible. Lippage from 1/16 to 1/8, bowed slabs and it was 3cm Violetta (AKA kryptonite). I bought this clamp specifically for this job. We cut the polyester resin out of the seams, cut the caulk and went to town on the lippage. It took an average of 2 minutes to get these seams leveled out. We were afraid we would have to remove and reinstall these tops, not with this baby. Well worth the expense. My installers use this for their seams and we have cut down the time jerking seams around and re-shimming.
I give this product 5 diamonds (out of five)
Brian Briggs
Granite Guys, Inc.
editors note: I am ordering one next week!…mark
Posted in Product Reviews | 2 Comments »
Friday, April 29th, 2005
My partner (tile side of the house) bought this light a few months ago at Home Depot or Lowes (he cant recall which) we went to both to look for more. No luck! This is the final solution for jobsite lighting. It burns two flourescent bulbs that work great! The light is color corrected so you don't feel like you are in a dentist office. No glare. Amazing!
We want to purchase more of these gems…if any of you know where we can order more let me know! The picture above shows the light in the standby mode. I think they put the blue party light on for when you leave and come back at night. It makes a dim blue light. You simply pull the light out of the sleeve and wham instant awesome lighting.
The thing store compactly and even has a shoulder strap. It sucks to review a product and not be able to tell you where to get one.
I GIVE THIS PRODUCT 5 DIAMONDS (out of 5)
If you have specific questions post them in the forum and I will try to answer them.
Mark Lauzon
Stone Cutter
Posted in Product Reviews | 1 Comment »
Thursday, April 14th, 2005
Our reviews are based on our direct experience with tools that we use every day. We don't get free tools to test, we're just simply telling you what we have found to work well for us. You may have something better….If so, Let us know. Write a review, send a few pictures and we will post your article here and give you the credit.
In the picture above you see the front door to our 40 foot storage container…we refer to as the "conex" or "The Cave". It is where we store crap that we don't want to throw away but never use. If we have tools in there, they probably suck. I will pull items out of "The Cave" from time to time to review for you….This months "Cave" Item is the Hydraulic Twister 97 router.
This contraption is an interesting concept…it is a router…it is a saw. You can "twist" the configuration and use it with a 5" blade to cut stone. We did not buy it for this reason but it was a cool idea on the surface. We went to order a blade we almost fainted when the Italian man that sold it to us said the blade was over $400. That ended that cool idea on the spot.
The picture above shows the 8000 lbs hydraulic contraption that you have to lug around the shop to run the router. Understand this…the router works…it will router stone. We used it for 3 or 4 jobs. The lines that go to the machine are stiff and annoying as hell. I would assume that is the case for all hydrualic routers. We ruined a kitchen when the stiff ass line snagged the corner and caused the router to dive. We mothballed the $4500 error and rebuilt our Sector 93.
If you must have a hydraulic router…go ahead get this one it works…but man it is not what I would reccomed.
Pros: Cool concept, looks like someting from battlestar gallatica.
Cons: Stiff lines, heavy pump to haul around, we have never polished with routers but if you were to do so there is no way to tell how fast the bit is spinning…I can see chunks of rubber sailing across the shop as the booger eater spools it up to 10000 rpm
I give this product 2.5 DIAMONDS out of 5
If you have specific questions, post them in the forum and I will try to answer them.
Mark Lauzon
Stone Cutter
Remember: Send in a product review for us to post so we can keep the rest of the community informed of what sucks and what rocks! You will get the credit and your contribution will be in the archives from now until I go broke.
Posted in Product Reviews | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 30th, 2005
Our reviews are based on our direct experience with tools & services that we use every day. We don't get free tools to test, we're just simply telling you what we have found to work well for us. You may have something better….If so, Let us know. Write a review, send a few pictures and we will post your article here and give you the credit.
MIA EDUCATIONAL ON LOCATION SEMINAR
Fabrication Shop Efficiency, Productivity, Safety, OSHA & More
Speaker: Kevin Padden
My lead fabricator and I went to this seminar (which happened to be the first of many) and found it to be very informative. In the first part of the seminar Kevin talks about scheduling and day to day operations. In this section you learn a lot of ways to "cover your assets". I thought that we had most of our bases covered but we came away with a lot of new ideas and procedures. My office manager was thrilled (LOL) when I handed her my notes and said "ok, now I want these changes made".
During the second part of the seminar Kevin spoke about OSHA and the EPA. In this section you learn what OSHA and the EPA write the most common citations on. For example, did you know that it is against OSHA regulation to have anything three feet to the left of, right of or out from your electrical panels? We sure didn't, guess we have to move the fridge and microwave. If this seminar is anywhere near your area, I strongly urge you to attend, you are bound to learn something (even if it is just what a "Dixon" fitting is and is used for).
I give this course 5 Diamonds. (our of Five)
Brian Briggs
Granite Guys Inc.
If you have specific questions, please post them in the forum and Brian will answer them for you. Blog on!
Posted in Product Reviews | No Comments »
Monday, March 28th, 2005
Our reviews are based on our direct experience with tools that we use every day. We don't get free tools to test, we're just simply telling you what we have found to work well for us. You may have something better….If so, Let us know. Write a review, send a few pictures and we will post your article here and give you the credit.
Matt W. Submitted this product for review.
We just got this tool in after I read one of Marks posts on it. To say the least, no shop should be without one of these. Vacuum-Brazed cup wheel, they cut and grind, we are using this to replace the carbide stones. My guys love it, we got the 60 grit, I wish they went up to 120, but ya can't have everything, maybe in the future. Page 60 in GranQuartz Catalog.
I give this Product 5 Diamonds (out of five)
Matt W.
Slab Fabricator
If you have specific questions Matt will answer them in the forum.
EDITORS NOTE: Our shop uses these and we love em! Get one..you simply will not belive how outstanding this new technology is. Vacuum Brazed diamond tools are changing the way we process stone. (we get ours from Sierra Tools) We run them wet on our alpha polishers…5 Diamonds!..Mark L.
Posted in Product Reviews | No Comments »
|
 |
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)