Equipment for Marble and Stone Masons

A stonemason uses diamond blades and stone-cutting discs for cutting, grinding machines and backing pads for grinding, and chemical modules for polishing. For shaping you need mallets, hand mallets and stone-dressing hammers, with wooden or fibre handles. For moving slabs there are slab trolleys and vacuum lifters. Choose tools according to the type of stone, the slab size and the finish required.

Diamond blades should be chosen according to the material. Marble and granite need blades suited to stone, while porcelain stoneware needs blades designed for hard materials. Check that the diameter is compatible with the angle grinder and whether the blade is intended for dry or wet use. Wet cutting reduces dust and keeps the blade from overheating.

Choose the grinder according to the surface to be treated and the power needed. Backing pads and grinding modules must be used in sequence, from the coarsest grit to the finest, up to polishing. Use the pad suited to the type of stone and follow the order given by the module manufacturer, because skipping a grit leaves visible marks.

Slab vacuum lifters are used to lift and lay slabs of stone, porcelain stoneware or glass without handling them by hand. Choose the lifter according to the weight and size of the slab, and check that the vacuum is stable before lifting. Do not exceed the stated capacity and never stand under the load. Lifting equipment requires periodic inspections under D.Lgs. 81/2008 (the Italian Legislative Decree on workplace safety).

Octagonal mallets, gem-head mallets, stone-dressing hammers and hand mallets differ in weight, head shape and type of work. Heavier mallets are used for roughing out, while dressing hammers are for finishing and precise chiselling. Choose a handle that is comfortable to grip and compatible with the head. Choose the weight according to the effort you can sustain and the type of stone to be worked.

A water-repellent impregnating treatment protects stone and concrete from water and stains without changing their appearance. Apply it to a clean, completely dry surface, by brush or roller, following the absorption times given by the manufacturer. On marble and porous stone it is best to test a hidden spot before the full treatment.

It is used by stonemasons, floor and wall-covering installers, kitchen worktop fitters and workshops that work natural or agglomerated stone. It is needed for cutting, shaping, grinding and polishing worktops, thresholds, floors and wall coverings. For on-site jobs, plan how the slabs will be handled before starting, because the weights are high and slabs must be handled by at least two people.