Granite Fabrication Jobs
Granite fabrication jobs deal with the process of creating an individual granite slab. This process is rather complicated and involved in order to extract the material from a quarry to displaying it in a showroom. Granite, or dimension stone slab, is usually quarried from nations in Africa, Europe and South America. In order to remove the granite from below the Earth's surface and transport the slabs to granite fabrication jobs, huge machinery is utilized.
Fabricating Granite
The most common use for granite is to make countertops. Granite fabrication jobs for countertops involve cutting, sanding and polishing the stone so they are ready for installation. Each piece must be moved by a massive conveyor belt during the fabrication process. Any pieces of granite that are not large enough for countertops will be cut in order to make tiles.
The Finishing Step of Granite Fabrication Jobs
The last step of granite fabrication jobs is the finishing of the stone. Fabricators will finish granite in one of three ways: stained, polished and honed. When granite is polished, the slab will be sanded until shiny. Abrasive pads attached to polishing wheels will grind the stone until smooth. Honed granite has a matte appearance. In order to achieve this look, the stone is removed from the conveyor before it is buffed. And finally, the stained finish has a light gloss; stained granite only goes through half the fabrication process.
Tools for Granite Fabrication Jobs
Granite is a popular material used in commercial, residential and structural projects. This means there is a slew of granite fabrication jobs for skilled professionals. Most fabricating manufacturers incorporate special machinery in order to prepare granite for retail stores and builders. Depending on the particular project, fabricators will need to know how to operate certain machinery.
Gang saws, block saws and diamond-wire saws are all an integral part of granite fabrication jobs. These tools are used to cut blocks of granite into slabs. Block saws create certain shapes, diamond-wire saws cut the granite and bridge saws are operated via programmed controllers.
The polishing machine is also important to granite preparation; this tool gives granite a mirror-like shine. Polishing machines spin at high speeds. The abrasive material attached to the machine buffs the rough surface and creates a natural shine. With a polishing machine, the fabricator can make a tumbled, hammer, flamed or mirror finish. Router machines are another tool used for granite fabrication. These tools cut designs and create edge profiles for items such as fireplaces and hearths.
The final machine on this list is the computer numerical controller. These controllers are machines used to shape granite slabs. Out of all the fabrication tools, computer numerical controllers are the easiest to use and most affordable to own. They are known for their accurate routing and polishing as well as better quality results and higher production speeds. After granite fabrication jobs are complete, the pieces are distributed to retailers and customers throughout the United States and beyond. Sometimes, suppliers come straight to the granite shop to inspect the slabs.
