Slippery Rock Gazette

Bob Murrell 

M3 Technologies

Photos by Bob Murrell

There are not many edibles better than honey on fresh baked goods.

Before and after comparison: This floor needed re-polishing even though it was newly installed. Check out the difference in clarity in the lightbulb reflection between the before and after photos.

Tool Tip: Using a splash guard greatly reduces the need for masking film. As you can see from this polishing pattern, it is neatly contained on the floor.

The distinctive, one inch circle pattern you are leaving behind shows you have the correct polishing speed.

Winter is almost over, thank goodness. I personally have no use for cold temperatures and shortened daylight hours. My bees need the warmer weather, too. I have lost only one hive so far in 2016, which is lower than my previous apiary average annual losses. I suspect the queen died or that cold condensation got to them. It all comes under the general heading of CCD or colony collapse disorder. The good part is that we harvested the honey the dead hive no longer needed. Try an English muffin with some butter and then smothered in honey. It is absolutely delicious! 

I thought I would pass along some more technical tips this month that I have picked up through the years. Some are from my experiences and others from contractor customers I know. In this article I will try to concentrate on polishing marble and similar materials, as well as the associated procedures involved.

Contractors routinely ask how much water to use when polishing, how much powder or compound, what machine weight, what type of pad or brush, how many passes or amount of time  do you use a product to help neutralize after polishing, are there differences between one stone and the next, and so on.   

When using Stone Polishing Compound please make sure that buckets are kept well mixed, as the product naturally settles. Powders present no mixing issues.  

As we have discussed previously, both 5X and Stone Polishing Compound can have slight color variations based on the season of the year the product was manufactured and blended. This issue is a direct result of when the raw materials are harvested and does not have any adverse effects on the product’s performance. These two products contain a certain amount of shellac. Shellac is derived from seedlac which is a natural flaky secretion of the lac beetle, Coccus lacca, which is found in the forests of Assam and Thailand. The natural coloration of the seedlac varies due to the sap consumed by the beetle and the season of the harvest. So now you know why your 5X or Stone Polishing Compound may vary slightly in color. It depends on when the shellac was harvested and then the final products produced. 

There are other marble polishing powders such as the XXX Shine which have different but similar acting materials in the formulation. Most all polishing formulas contain some sort of abrasive like aluminum oxide (alumina). Of course there are many different types and sizes of alumina, each having specific properties and capabilities. There are other metals that are used in some formulas as well.

Most polishing formulas also contain some sort of acid to aid in the process of polishing marble and similar stones.  Specific acids help, in simple terms, to soften the surface, which allows the abrasive to work much quicker. There is also another aspect of the acid which involves recrystallization. This is a reaction between the calcium carbonate in the stone and the specific acid. Once again, to keep it in simple terms, it basically melts the surface and then allows it to re-harden. If you want a more detailed explanation of this phenomenon, I have a few friends who are imminently more qualified to answer than I am, but be forewarned: the explanation involves chemical equations!    

Now, on to the crux of the matter. To polish or not to polish? That is the question. Polishing correctly is not necessarily how I profess to accomplish it, nor anyone else for that matter. It is what works best for you in each specific job setting. However, to not take advantage of someone else’s previous experience would be foolish. Therefore, polishing correctly, in my opinion, is doing so while achieving the best results in the most efficient manner.

So from my personal experience, I have found that having several types of polishing material on hand is always a smart decision. These are merely tools and having more tools simply expands your options for success. 

As I have always stated, you need to do a test area to confirm the results and procedure. If one product does not produce the desired results, simply try the same procedure with another. 

The same advice about results can be said for the type of pad used. I normally prefer a natural pad (light hair), but a red or white will work well too in many situations. I know some who even use the aqua pads with good results.

How much water do you need? it can vary from stone to stone, but typically I like to say that when polishing, the slurry should become creamy in appearance. I have found that black marble sometimes does better when I use more water, and light-colored marbles may do better when less water is used. You will have to decide for yourself, based on the test area results.

A slightly weighted machine of around 110 lbs to 125 lbs normally produces a better production rate than one with no weights added. Performance is a measurement of results and efficiency. Higher production rates come under the efficiency heading.    

The amount of time or number of passes required to achieve a satisfactory polish on a specific stone can also vary. Some experienced professionals prefer to use a timer, while others count the number of passes, on a per square foot basis. I say whatever works best for you and produces the best performance should be the standard. In any case, you should certainly develop a repeatable procedure or pattern that provides consistently superior, cost-effective results.  

Whether you use a timer or a specific number of passes, it is imperative that you develop a slow and consistent machine speed. When using a swing machine, I like to keep the trailing circle pattern to no more than one inch apart.

This helps assure that I am giving my polishing media ample contact time to do the job effectively. 

Use of a neutralizing product to rinse with or to encircle the polishing area can also be a smart choice. As we now know, most marble polishing products contain an acid. These special acids can be your friend or your enemy. While in use, they are normally doing the job of helping to produce a good polish. However once you stop the machine, they start working against you. I have seen many times where an operator went to take a break and left the machine, with powder or compound underneath, on the floor. When they came back, they discovered they now had a new etch where the machine was sitting. This is not to scare you, but to ensure you realize that polishing products are for the dynamic of polishing and are not beneficial for static purposes. There is no substitute for experience, and this will surely come to those who take the time and effort.   

I also often wonder why the use of splash guards is not more common. I wouldn’t go anywhere without mine anymore. The biggest reason for not using one was the fallacy that it might pick up something foreign and scratch the floor. I have been using one for years now and have yet to have this happen. However, I do try to keep mine clean and also always try my best to remove any loose debris from the floor by first sweeping or dust mopping, especially before polishing.  

This is by no means a complete list of all technical tips for polishing marble and similar stones. If you have tips that you would like to share, please send these to the editor, who will in turn get them to me for future publication. As always, check with your supplier of products for technical support. It is part of their job to find you answers to your technical questions and offer advice. It is your option whether to take that advice or not.

Bob Murrell has worked in the natural stone industry for over 40 years and is well known for his expertise in the restoration and maintenance of natural stone, terrazzo, ceramic tile, and decorative concretes. He helped develop some of the main products and processes which revolutionized the industry and is currently the National Sales Manager for M3 Technologies.