August Workshop Contest

[Qualey Granite]

At our August SFA workshop we will be doing a CNC stone polishing contest. If you are a SFA sponsor (or would like to be) and you would like your product
in the contest, please contact Justin Qualey @ 207 951 3436. The goal of this is to show what kind of polish you can achieve with a
CNC router. the critrea is as follows;
Tools will polish the same type of stone for the same linear feet on a CMS Maxima.
The stones will be marked with a number and after they are dried, the workshop attendees with vote for the stone w/ the best polish.
This is not about lines, feed rates or life span. The point of this contest is show what tools can do for your bottom line.

The winner gets to buy us all a Keg of beer. (please)

[Nick]

Rad concept Matt!!!!

That is way better than watching guys jam bits in the stone at 200 ipm. Make it legit, do it after hours withthe sponsors, don't leak which number is who, keep it honest, and post the results top to bottom. Each sponsor will need appropriate time to setup before the "competition run", but keep it as number not game blind vote, and have everyone (women, random drunks) vote too as they are the consumers. I love this idea and boy are you stepping up as a sponsor to enter.

[Qualey Granite]

Thanks Nick!
I think its a great idea. It will show everyone thinking about purchasing a CNC what they can expect out of a polish cycle without having to purchase a set from every supplier and doing trial by error. So far we have Salem (rubber polish), Terminator (rubber polish) and ADI (clay wheels). Hoping to hear from Helix, Diamond Boart, Nicolai, etc. Come on folks, show us what you've got! Completely controlled environment with your potential customer base voting for the best. What would that cost you in advertising dollars?

[Nick]

I think that entering alone is reason for a company to be commended.

[Paul Rand]

Hi Matt
This is a terrific idea and I agree with Nick.

My hat goes off to every company who is prepared to show their best.

[Mark Smith]

Bring it.

[Qualey Granite]

Looks like Braxton is in as well. This is going to be awesome!

[Mark Smith]

What day will this be happening? 12th, 13th or 14th? Will all the tests be in one day back to back? How will the spectators not know what brand tooling is running at any given time? Will the spectators be the voters?

[Nick]

I think voters need to be fabricators that DO NOT have CNC's and preferably know nothing about CNCs and couldn't name a brand of tool just by seeing it run. I think that would be the best test and it should be graded A-F like school with notes (lines are better than others etc) and in the event of a tie for first, voters re evaluate the top 2 or whatever. Awesome idea matt, it can be really cool.

[Mark Smith]

Good idea^^^.

[GuyboR]

it should be graded A-F like school

What school are you referring to? I thought that was outlawed as it made kids' self esteem get hurt. How about we grade the tools as Meets criteria or Needs improvement. Or better yet Pass or Might get you paid?

[Brian Briggs]

Thats for sure

[Qualey Granite]

Nice one Briggs

A few Southerners have asked about the weather. This time of year its been in the high 70s to 80s with high humidity. Last night it dropped into the 40s, so I would suggest long sleeves and pants for night if you're thin-blooded.

We're getting pumped for the show. The Sawjet is here and we have a lot of sponsors signed up for the polish contest.

We hope to see you all here!

[coolhandchris]

It was 40 degrees here in Texas, too!!!


We are talking Celsius, right?

[Qualey Granite]

A few of the tooling suppliers who initially expressed interest in the contest need to get the cones and tools here if still participating. We need time to set them up and burn them in so please contact Justin Qualey at 207-951-3436.

Gonna be a good one folks, don't miss it!

[MikeBeckmann]

We are a sponsor, and would like to offer our product for this contest: ABR Marble polish Compound:
http://bonstone.com/products/MarblePolish.htm

I know it's not equipment, but it IS related to polishing, and has many benefits to make the polishing job easier, faster, and better. Please let us know if we can include the product and if so, how do we go about it?

Thanks much!
Mike Beckmann
Bonstone Materials Corp
www.bonstone.com
800-425-2214

[Brian Briggs]

Mike

Ship some up to the Qualey's. I am sure it will get demoed in top polishing or a marble restoration demo