About to expand production need some advice on equipment

[VancouverJade]

Well we have out grown or shop in a mater of one month.

We are a quarrier and manufacture of gem stone jade slabs all one piece not like the engineered agate slabs on the market.

We originally contracted all of our slabbing and polishing out but they were cut on a wire saw and came back needing major calibration and un even, the ones we had calibrated and polished came back wavy and quite dull, it was at this point that we invested in our own set up and have become quite happy with our cuts and finishes and have learnt lots along the way and think we have a solution to our issues with the wire saw. For the past year we have been honing our own process on smaller blocks we had in the yard our which our shop was able to handle, the slabs were around 4'x3' on average but now we are in production of our larger blocks and producing slabs at 9' x 5' x 2cm. We are still able to manage these slabs with our current setup but its taking significantly longer. We currently have 1 slabbing saw and a wizard deluxe for polishing.

As a small manufacture its impossible to get into a polishing line for x millions that takes up x acres and produces 1000s of sqft a day. We are a small luxury slab producer so having large facility currently doesn't work for the tonnage we are able to extract in the small 2 month quarry season. We have 2 product lines 1 being dimensional slabs and 2 being live edge boulder both have great backlighting capabilities. We would like to get into a polisher that can polish both, yes we could continue to use the wizard for the live edge but it just makes sense to stream line the whole process.

We are looking for a wire saw capable of cutting 9'x5' blocks and a polisher thats capable of polishing dimensional as well as random rough shape slabs.

Any advice on a route to take would be greatly appreciated.

[mikedean]

find someone with a slab polisher and sub it?

sirio
k-lux

not expensive, they will get you polishing slabs.

[Dave.Scott]

You might want to get in touch with Franco Milillo at Margranite Burnaby BC, 604-435-4431.
They have 4 Sirios running now and might also be a partner with distribution.

[VancouverJade]

Tried dealing with Margranite when we first started and they are far to busy to take on more clients.

We are looking into that for the mean time but it has been quite difficult finding a shop in the area who is willing to take on more work, everyone is very busy here.

[Ken Lago]

find someone with a slab polisher and sub it?

sirio
k-lux

not expensive, they will get you polishing slabs.
[

You got your answer right here. BUY one

[Mark Lauzon]

https://vimeo.com/246032126

Just in case you missed it

[John Fallon]

Hi Justin,

Congratulations on your skyrocketing business! I saw your products when you posted them last, quite beautiful.

Breton has been producing slab polishers for over 40 years. From single head with OR without automatic head changers, to full lines with 20 heads or more. Our single head is the LeviBreton One machine.

The key for you here is find one with calibrating capabilities. Not all polishers can calibrate as they cannot exert enough "Z" stroke force to perform stock removal. Or if they can, they need multiple passes (a lot of machine time) to do it.Also key here is 9' slabs will not fit on most single head machines.

Unfortunately, most folks with single head slab polishers have no time for taking on extra work, right now.

I would try to find someone with a full calibrating/polishing line who will run your slabs.

Kind Regards,

John Fallon
Breton USA
914-441-1306

[Dan R.]

I see the "gentleman of the evening" are out plying their wares.

[John Fallon]

All in the interest of education!

John Fallon
Breton USA

[Mark Lauzon]

I see the "gentleman of the evening" are out plying their wares.

I like it!

ps...they K-Lux has an option for a calibration unit. It uses air cylinders to push down on the tool plate if additional cutting force is needed. You could also purchase a Co.Me.S style head purpose built for stock removal...but I doubt you need that.

[VancouverJade]

I see the "gentleman of the evening" are out plying their wares.

I like it!

ps...they K-Lux has an option for a calibration unit. It uses air cylinders to push down on the tool plate if additional cutting force is needed. You could also purchase a Co.Me.S style head purpose built for stock removal...but I doubt you need that.
[

I seen the video you posted last week, looks like an amazing machine. Lots to consider for sure last thing I want to do is get into a machine thats only going to get us threw the next few months and be to small again or not produce a good finish.

[Ken Lago]

You started with a wizard so you already wasted the money on that. If you want to avoid this in the future you should first realize you know nothing about what you are getting into, and with this new mind set you will succeed. Polishing slabs require the person doing it to have the tool knowledge and recipe for each particular stone, it won't matter how much money you spend on sophisticated equipment if you don't know how to use. Have you ever wondered why products from one supplier is superior to another even though they use the same machines.

[VancouverJade]

You started with a wizard so you already wasted the money on that. If you want to avoid this in the future you should first realize you know nothing about what you are getting into, and with this new mind set you will succeed. Polishing slabs require the person doing it to have the tool knowledge and recipe for each particular stone, it won't matter how much money you spend on sophisticated equipment if you don't know how to use. Have you ever wondered why products from one supplier is superior to another even though they use the same machines.
[

No arguments here Ken, This is why Im asking its no different then you trying to polish our material or extract it or find it for that mater. I have been polishing Jade for 17 years by hand we know our stone, the wizard wasn't a waste to us since we weren't dealing with the slabs we are now and we were able to learn lots about the products and standards for your industry just like we are learning about actual quarrying vs the artisanal methods used previously in our industry. If you stop learning and think you know it all is when you have failed.

Like I said before we are now at a stage where we have out grown our current setup and knowledge and are here asking for advice from the professionals in your industry.

[tim farr]

I know you couldn't g wrong with a sirio. I feel confident that sasso would be an equally good machine as well. I can tell you that both companies take care of their customers. Either would be a good choice imo

[Alex DiPietro]

How much is a used multi head conveyor driven slab line? Do you resin jade? Is there a demand for green stone? Maybe in parts of Asia? I’d hook up with companies that buy blocks like R.E.D and let others deal with making the slabs.

[Ken Lago]

Whats your projected growth? Short term and long term.

[jbergman]

Hi Justin,

Please do not forget that with a wire saw, you need to drill vertical and horizontal holes that meet so that you can thread the wire. If you are only going 5' down, then you should be able to use a pneumatic drill. Much more than that a down the hole hammer might be required. Take a look at the Marini web site www.mariniqg.it. They are the leader when it comes to quarry equipment.

One other note - The only single head polisher that I know of currently doing both calibrating and polishing is the GMM Sirio. What is needed is mass and horsepower.

Good luck,
John Bergman
Bergman-Blair Machine Corp
Prescott AZ
928-443-1100
bergmanblair@gmail.com

[nanni]

Hello
Also terzago is producing a calibrating/polishing machine single head
Since a while with the name L18Sel Luc-Cal
Now with the newer model L22Sel, increased widht working capacity to 2200mm (86")
The machine has air piston for the polishing work and a mechanical Screw-Nut for step down at the requested increase
Touch screen, auto learning shape of stone.

Giovanni Rigo

[HELIOS ITALY]

Hi Justin,

if you want to have a lool here too ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBCM1ZIuenI&list=PLV-diKIOFQ4u7A-DS6YjK4kWz-Rkjj4yC


feel free to contact me if you want to get a quote.
Have a great day!