The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-08-28
HOW GRANITE IS POLISHED.
Putting smooth Surface % the Hard
stone--Methods In Detail


The form is given 70 the stone by the
hands Of skilled masons. IN much the
same way as is done with other stones OF
softer nature OF course the time re-
ouired Is considerably greater IN the case
of Granite as compared with other stones.
If the surface IS not 20 b. polished, but
only fine axed. as it is called, that IS done
hv the use OF q hammer composed of
number Of slips of steel Of about n six
tenth of an inch thick, which are tightly
bound togethet, the edges being placed
on the same plane. With this tool the
workman smod;hs the surface Of the
stone by a series Of taps or blows given
at a right angle 20 the surface operated
upon. BY this means the marks Of the
blows as given obliquely on the surface
of the stone are U, liberated and a.smooth
face produced.
Polishing is performed by rubbing in
the first place with an iron tool and with
sand and water. Emery is next applied,
then putty with flannel. Al plain sur
face and holding can be done by ma
chinery, but all carvings, or surfaces
broken into, small portions Of various
elevations. are done by the hands Of the
patient hand polishers.
The operation Of saving a block OF
granite into slabs for panels, tables or
chimney pieces is a very slow process,
the rate Of progress being about half an
inch Ter day Of ten hours. The machines
employed are few and simple. They are
Technically called lathes, wagons and
pendulums or rubbers. The iathes are
employed for the polishing If columns,
the wagons for flat surface, and the
pendulums for molding and such fat
work 40 is not suitable for the wagon.
In tbo lathes the column is placed end
supported at each end by points, upon
which il revolyes. On the upper surface
Of the column there are laid pieces Of
iron. segments Of the circumference Of
the column. The weight Of these pieces
Of iron lying upon the column, and the
constant supply by the lathe attendant OF
sand and water, emery OF putty, accord
ing 10 the state of finish TO winch the
column has been brought, constitute the
whole opera-on
While SAND is used during the rougher
state of the process, these irons are bare,
but when using emery and putty thesur-
face al the il Oh next to the stone IS COW
cred with th,k flannel
The wagon is IA carriage running upon
rails, in which the pieces Of stone TO be
polished are liked, having uppermost the
surface 10 be operated upon. Abo:e this
surface there are shafts placed perpen-
dicularly, or the lower end OF which are
fixed rings If iron. These rings rest
upon the stone, and when the shaft re-
wolves they rub the surface of the tone.
AZ the sumet time the wagon travels back
ward and forward upon the rails, so rs
10 expose the whole surface OF the same
% the action OF the rings.
The pendulum is frame hing upon
hinges from the room Of the work shop.
10 this frame are attached iron yods
moving m "a horizontal direction IA the
line upon which these rods move. and
under them, the stone is 6rmiy paced
upon tine floor. Pieces Of iron are then
loosely attached 90 the rods and allowed
% rest upon the surface Of the stone
When the whole is set in motion, these
irons are dragged backward and forward
over tle surface Of the stone, and so it Is
polished
When polishing plain surfaces, such rs
the needle Of an obeIisk, the pieces of
iron are flat, bu. when we have TO polish
a mo!ding We make an extra pattern of
its form and the irons are cast from that
pattern. Stone Mason. England.