top polishing seams

[randy r]

I have a granite business working with primarily pre fab.  I use gorrilla grips for tight seams, but use outside contractor to top polish my seams, I want to start doing them myself.  Where is the best source of info to get started and most importantly get rid of the haze.... and what causes the haze?

[Mark D.]

You need to define haze for me - is it blurry or is it milky?

If it is milky it's because you aren't using the coarser pads in your process enough, so you are polishing over some scratches rather than polishing them out. You still get a luster, but the light refracts off the scratches and casts a milky colored hue through the shine. This might be the  way you are polishing or the pads you are using or even using a wet pad without water through the center. Generally speaking in my experience it is the first case, the way you are polishing.

If it is blurry that could be the pads but it could also be the stone. Some stones are tougher to polish than others. I have even worked with some stones where most of an edge detail comes out just fine but a small part won't get past the haziness. Like a 7' long counter where 6' polished great and 1 foot is just a bear to work! I see this more often on Absolute Black & Black Galaxy than any other granites. If that is the case check your equipment as not all pads are created equally. For top polishing there is nothing better than the Twisttouch turbo pads from Alpha. I don't think there is anything even close to them in quality, but that is my opinion, not a fact. They are excellent and will produce a great shine and that is a fact.

If it is not the pads but the stone do your best and then when all else fails call me for some polishing compound and a felt wheel. We will get that haziness out fast and leave a gloss to match the rest of the surface.

Personally I don't like top polishing and think the only place it is truly necessary is when one of the pieces you are seaming together warped so you have some lippage to remove and then are required to top polish. To top polish a seam because the installer did a bad job and you have to resurrect the gloss on the stone is nonsense. Train your fabricators better or run an ad in the paper. I know that sounds harsh (and it is), but if you start with 2 good level pieces of stone and the right glue you should be able to make a nice tight seam and if only the glue needs a higher degree of polish you can buff it out with steel wool which won't affect the granite.

I probably just opened up a can of worms but this is fact, not my opinion.

Glad to be of service,
Mark

[randy r]

Mark, thanks for the quick response.  the haze I am talking about is milky. I have tried on occasion to use dry pads, and still get the milky haze. I have the alpha twisttouch, but have been told to use alpha resin pads to polish after using the twisttouch to level the lippage.  my seams are plenty tight.. I have a system that works very well for tightness, but sometimes with warpage I get a small lip.  Also in my location and the consentration of most of my work, the shops top polish there seams, so this is why I have them top polished and smoothed, but now I am looking at the cost of having the done by an outside contractor.

[Mark D.]

You should call me this morning at 800-289-6834. Let me know what wet pads you are using. I stand by the earlier statement that milkiness is due to not using the coarser pads enough. That's what causes it.
The twist touch should do the trick. You should not have to repolish when you are done with those.
Are you running these on a standard wet polisher? What RPM are you moving at?

Glad to be of service,
Mark

[randy r]

i use a makita variable speed polisher, rpm aroung 2800- 3200 with dry and 4500 wet, I still think I need to use something comparable to alpha for the polishing part of the process.

[Mark D.]

Why not use the Alpha Ceramica pads?
They are considered by many to be the best available.
Try these:
http://www.defusco.com/diamond-polishing-pads-backers-alpha-ceramica-wet-polishing-pads-c-25_30_677.html

These are wet pads and if you are running the Makita PW5001C these should take care of your problem.

If you want a wet pad that (in my opinion) is just as good a finish at a lower cost, try the Diamante Italia 3mm pads:
http://www.defusco.com/diamond-polishing-pads-backers-diamante-italia-3mm-wet-resin-polishing-pads-full-set-c-25_30_623.html

You can always call us at 800-289-6834. Sounds like you might need some input!

Glad to be of service,
Mark