Need help!! Top polish black pearl

[John04]

Hey guys, had a bad Monday. Had to go fill a pit in a black pearl island today and I used the plexus uv kit. When I was scraping off the glue with the razor blad I held the blade at a ninety and ran it back and forth very quickly over the pit. This created some scratches that I now have to get out....never top polished before but have watched demos in Vegas, have the alpha turbos, and have been thinking bout gettin some mb 20. Any help is appreciated. I have a piece I can practice on in the shop and custy has been understanding So FAR!, but I'm at ground zero with top polishing. Your wise counsil is needed!!

[ageless]

Cameron has a good video explaining the process. You can use the Alpha black buff instead of the MB20. The MB20 does make it easier.
http://forum.stonefabricatorsalliance.c ... =45&t=8342

[ChrisYaughn]

never done it, but understand that black pearl is not very forgiving.



Bigger question is how did you scratch black pearl with a razor blade?

[clhilde]

I would bet its not scratched.
It probably left metal marks behind.
try a black buff pad to get the metal marks out

[Joe Little]

Yea try the buff pad first. If that does not get it, try MB-20, I have made several light scratches disapear with just MB-20.

[dustinbraudway]

Is there an experienced SFA member near you that can TP?

[oatesgranite]

I would try mb 20 or tin oxide first. I recently top polished a seam in black pearl because of a badly bowed piece of stone and started at 100 grit. Took about 3 hours but looked great and GC could not find it. Most important thing is not to rush or you will have to redo. Mb20 is amazing for top polishing it sure has made my life easier.

[Joe Durfee]

You could also try rubbing stone slurry on it. That saved me just last week.

[Jesse]

I live in Lewiston, about 3 hours away and my kids race in Richland and we are over there every weekend...Including this one. I could top polish it for you and or I could bring my mb20 over for you to use. pm me or email me at jesse@zenstoneworks.net

[DavidL]

Take him up on that offer. You'll build a good professional relationship as well!!!!

[Andy Ross]

Practice multiple times on a scrap. Keep you pads clean and your heat down. Be very comfortable before you walk in to a customers house to do it. Its not that hard to do, but does take a little experience. It's well worth the time learning. I can't believe how much I top polish in a week just to fix stuff or finish off a seam. Literally saved me thousands of dollars and made me more. Got three calls this week to fix stuff other fabricators left behind, simply cause I top polish. My advice is find a friend to show you, or watch Cam's vid or Scott's vid at the Kasco stone website.

My first tp came out of shear desperation from a scratched island. I saved it, I bet you will too. Feel free to call me with questions anytime. 269 372-1777

[John04]

I cant tell you guys how much I appreciate your help and advice...I know one way or another I will figure it out, but without you guys and SFA, issues would be a lot worse. Thanks for your help!
Be honest with you, dont know how I got into this position. Done the same thing I did this time on multiple different tops and seen it done by other professionals in the industry. For whatever reason, the blade left scuff marks on the stone and I have to make it right with the customer. I will do whatever it takes to make them happy because thats the person I am. Luckily there is a forum online that can help fix what I screw up...

[Chris Mills]

I would do like the others said first; try using some slurry or MB-20 before top polishing. It may be metal marks. If it is a scratch you will be fine. Just practice on some scrap and keep posting. We are always here. You can always call us as well, myself included of course. 5708404176.

[Todd B]

this is why this site is awesome.

This is what helps all members every day in the members area. So join and start asking

The more we ask the more we all learn!

[Carmine Pantano]

I agree with rest on here, probably just metal marks. Try slurry, mb20, black buff pad, etc. before Top Polishing. See what that does.

[John04]

when u top polish can u start at any grit? could i just progress down thru grits til i get to the grit that takes it out and then polish back from there? buff pad didnt do ne thing so thought about trying three thousand

[ChrisYaughn]

You are walking on a high wire, if you take the grinder and diamonds to the stone for the first time, in the house.


Still not sure how a razor blade made anything more than a metal mar.

[CustomMarbleGranite]

I've removed metal marks with acetone and black buff pad by hand. You can start at any grit that gets the marks out but I would try anything else before trying to top polish it if you've never to polished that stone before.

[Ken Lago]

John, do it in the shop first so you don't look bad in front of the homeowner, make a scratch similar to the problem one and see what each pad do. Cams instruction video is probably the best one around so follow that and practice untill you get it right.

[Randy Gallion]

Wenol will remove metal marks
http://www.wenolit.com/

[Ken Lago]

When you guys talk about metal marks I guess your experience with that is grinder casing rubbing against the stone, that is atleast my only experience with metal marking stone, the casing is aluminum. So I tried to make a mark on different stones with a NEW razor blade, I couldn't mark them but it did scratch. At 90 degrees it was impossible to scratch. So get the face polishing tools out and learn to fix a scratch.

[John04]

thanks for the help and advice guys. yea long story short whether razor blades scratch or not, this one did. So learning to fix it is my task. Much thanks and props to jesse of Zen Stoneworks in Lewiston Idaho. He will be here tomorrow volunteering his time teachin me some stuff.....thanks again all, wish me luck

[graniteman]

Good work Jesse!

[ChrisYaughn]

very cool




metal marks from razor blades are the worst on mono-chromatic engineered stones. Makes seems a pita