Granite Cutting Tools

Granite is an igneous rock, composed of quartz, feldspath and a heavy ore. As a rule, the ore found is white mica or muscovite, black mica or biotite, pyroxenite, or amphibole. The ore grains from these are very hard and considered highly "integrated."

Granite and other stones have been quarried the same way for long ages. In parts of England, some stone quarries have been in continuous use since before the Romans landed and wreaked their particular havoc. (The Romans' first and second failed attempts at conquering were in 55 and 54 BC.)

Some quarries in England and elsewhere are for limestone, where the stone is cut and shaped underground while it is still soft. Once in the open air, limestone hardens due to chemical reactions. Granite quarries have been in use for hundreds of years, and possibly longer, in England. Some of the eastern states in the U.S. are also well known for their granite, and attracted stonecutters from England in the early days of this nation.

Finishing the Granite

Traditionally, granite is so hard that it has been easier to split it out with wedges, rather than cut it. Granite cutting machinery is available to those wholesale suppliers who need it. Because it is so hard, granite doesn't incur the damage ("bruise") that some soft stones do. Those include marble, as equally beautiful as it is.

Granite can be split out (or sawed between wooden marker rails) closer to the desired finished size. This creates less waste and involves less carving time, should that be wanted. Blocks of granite that have been released will fit exactly together, if used in walls or bridges. The work that remains is that of a series of polishings, beginning with coarse grit and water, and progressing to fine grit and water. The final mirror stage involves polishing it with a tin oxide.