Help! No one will fix my granite countertop!

[barbp]

Hello-
I hope someone can help...
About 2 years ago I had my kitchen remodeled and selected uba tuba granite, which has proven to be an awesome countertop.  I have a rather larger counter that serves as a breakfast bar (about 72" x 36").  It has a convex curve along the area we sit at (the counter is shaped like the letter "D").  It is the large convex curve that is the area of concern.

This is a 2 part problem:
Part 1 -- shortly after install I noticed several small areas along the edge of the counter that were dull grey and did not match.  I asked the fabricator what the grey spots were (I figured they were epoxy).  He responded he did not know and then proceeded to try to buff them out with some kind of diamond polisher.  All this did was create divots along the edge of the countertop where the epoxy was, rounded & dulled the eased edge, and left swirls about 1' in on the polished top.  By this point I was wishing I had kept my mouth shut.  To repair the divots he melted turqoise green wax with a propane torch.  The wax did fill the divots but does not match and is now starting to wear down.  I'm getting used to the dulled edge and try to tell myself that it would eventually look this way from constant use. 

Part 2 -- someone accidentally chipped the same edge only a few inches from the lovely green wax spots.  At least I was able to save the chip. 

The fabricator "retired" after 30 years in the business and closed shop.  I cannot find anyone willing to service the granite because they did not sell it.  I can't even find more than one granite repair person in the Philadelphia area!  The fabricator made no arrangements for service work after he closed shop. 

Anyway, ideally I would love to have the entire edge recut and done right.  Is this a possibility?  Can it be done in without removing the counter? (I don't care about the mess - we are still remodeling other areas of the house and everything is a mess anyway).  The counter is only resting on top of a pedestool with some silicone caulk... Could it be removed and taken to a shop for recutting?  I have plenty of overhang and can spare up to 1". 

I don't have much cash to spare with all the remodeling going on in this money pit and I am fighting the urge to Krazy Glue the darn chip back in place.
I see that DeFusco has several repair products but am not sure which is the best to fix the chip.  Is there anything that can be done to remove the wax and fix the divots properly?

Sorry to be so long-winded... Thank you very, very much!!!

[Stone Dude]

where are you located? i just fixed an uba tuba top last week. for small chips i may even be able to help you stick that back in and make it look good. please post some pictures if you can.

[barbp]

Thank you!  I'm in South Jersey, just a few miles from Philadelphia.
Here are some photos.
First photo is of the largest of several green wax repairs that I would like get rid of -- Second photo is of the chip.
Thanks again!

[Mark D.]

You should remove the wax and fill the chip with epoxy. As far as the edge goes it sounds like your fabricator is inexperienced in flat polishing. Get a restoration company to come out and repair this so it looks correct. They can fill the chips at the same time.

Mark

[Stone Dude]

that stuff he melted in there is a resin from a resin repair stick. it gets as hard as stone and is hard to remove. the only way i can think of taking it out is with a torch. i wouldnt recommend it if youre not experienced doing it. you can honestly use CA (super glue) glue to fill it, then shave it down to contour the stone with a razor blade and it will look a lot better than it does now. same with the other chip.

or Mark can recommend a few products that will do the job well also.

[barbp]

Thanks for the replies. 
Stone Dude - I think you are correct.  The fabricator called it wax but he used a torch to melt it.   
Mark - I have called all over the place and all the granite/marble fabricators claim they only use one person to do their repair.  I've tried to contact this guy directly but he does not return my calls.  I find it so hard to believe that there's only one restoration company in the entire area!  It is very frustating.
On repairing the chip myself - what glue & epoxy should I order to go with Uba Tuba?
I'm not about to take a torch to my counter but I have thought about using my Dremel to remove the wax/resin and then fill in the cavity with epoxy.  Will the epoxy adhere even if some resin is left in the cavity?  Would using a Dremel on my countertop be plain stupid on my part???  Be kind... 
Thanks again!
Barb

[barbp]

Stone Dude -  where you suggesting that I use glue over the green wax/resin areas and then shave it down with a razor blade? The kind of Krazy Glue I can get at the grocery store??? I was thinking that I need to remove at least some of that nasty green stuff before attempting any kind of improvement. Hence my brilliant idea of using a Dremel.
Thanks again!

[Mark D.]

Barb,
the problem with the dremel is you may not remove all of this green fill, and depending on the tip you use it may or may not grind the granite. How large is the green filled area? CA is an acrylic that is very much like super glue for stone, but it goes on clear and yellows over time. With your stone that might not be a bad thing as it will match the stone a lot better than the fill color you have now.

As for the chip you can glue that back o=in with any epoxy. Use a knife grade and have some razor blades handy to scrape off the excess.

The problem with the torch for the inexperienced is that you can overheat crystals in the slab causing them to burst which will mar the surface of the stone. Like Stone Dude said that is better left to the experienced.

Since their is only one good restoration person in your area it would seem normal that he is very busy. Leave another message and see if he returns your call. If he is good he will be busy. If he isn't good he should be over in 20 minutes or so....

Here is some CA
http://www.defusco.com/Glues:-Epoxy,-Polyester,-etc.-Waxes-&-other-Stone-treatments/c82_505/p2702/SUPERFAST-STONE-CHIP-REPAIR-KIT---CHEM-SET/product_info.html

Here is a knife grade epoxy
http://www.defusco.com/Glues:-Epoxy,-Polyester,-etc.-Epoxy-for-Natural-Stone/c82_500/p2371/INSTANT-INSTALL-29-MINUTE-EPOXY---20oz-KNIFE-GRADE/product_info.html

If you want to color the epoxy, look here:
http://www.defusco.com/Glues:-Epoxy,-Polyester,-etc.-Coloring-Kits/c82_504/index.html

Glad to be of service,
Mark

[Stone Dude]

there ya go. ca glue is pretty much super glue. you can buy it from stone suppliers, i get mine from the hobby shop. you might be able to chop out the green with a sturdy nail and hammer (be careful) if it becomes overly difficult you might want to call in someone for help.

[Forum Administrator]

Man...that wax doesn't even get close to matching. It looks like he chewed some mint gum and stuck it in there...  What a pro!

[Stone Dude]

Mark, thats how it was done....before i was born. theyre functional, but ugly.

[barbp]

Mark, Stone Dude -
Thank you for your help!  I will order those products today & let you know how I make out. 
Any thoughts on how I can get the overall edge where the fabricator used the diamond buffer thing (sorry - don't know name) to shine like the rest of the countertop? The fabricator used a stone enhancer on the area but that did nothing. 
Thanks again!  You guys rock!
Barb

[barbp]

Mark -
I'm not sure which coloring kit to order for uba tuba.  I'm leaning toward black.  There are two different brands - which is best?
Also, would I get better results if I ground up some uba tuba and mixed it in? Can I mix it in with both the superfast chip repair kit and the knife grade epoxy? Would I still need the colorant? I have a small piece of uba tuba left over that I could beat on with a hammer and get some powder.  Good idea?  Bad one??
Thanks again!
Barb

[Mark D.]

If you use ground up stone from that piece the color will go to the darkest color in the ground up stone. On your stone that means it would be close to black. Try it and see if you get the color you like. You can grind up a little off the bottom of the slab. Put it in a paper cup and add water to it and that will pretty much be the color you end up with. Use a new batch of stone dust for the mix if you go that way.

As far as the coloring kit I would just get the Tenax poly kit for this. Here is the link:
http://www.defusco.com/Glues:-Epoxy,-Polyester,-etc.-Coloring-Kits/c82_504/p1439/6PC-TENAX-POLY-COLOR-KIT/product_info.html

I wouldn't even try coloring the superfast chip repair kit. It will go on clear like glass.

Glad to be of service,
Mark

[barbp]

Thanks Mark.
I'm feeling a bit dense... sorry.
If I use the ground up granite with the epoxy - do I need the colorant too? You said you wouldn't try coloring the superfast chip repair - would that be the same for mixing granite dust into it? 
Since the superfast chip kit goes on like glass - can I use that to restore the shine to the counter's entire edge or would that be pushing it?
Thanks again!  You have been a tremendous help!!!
Barb