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IGGYRULES · 05-16-2012, 07:04 PM

I disagree with most of the the above and I've worked with alot of granite myself. The part where you need professional help is the edges. If you can get a slab that has the edges done you can easily cut and drill through granite. All you need is a small hand held wet tile saw with a diamond blade (don't get a serrated or turbo blade otherwise it will chip). You can also get coring bits from a tool store. There are a couple keys to doing it properly.

Cutting;

1. Run some green painters tape down the line where you want to cut, this helps keep it from chipping. Clamp a straight edge to the granite and run the table of the saw down it to keep you cut straight. Grab a wet sponge (if you're not hooking the water up directly to the saw) and place it next to the blade and squeeze out slowly. Cut really slowly. Your edge should turn out perfect and will be easy to epoxy together with another piece.

Coring;

Grab a 2 by 4 and drill the same size hole in it as you will be doing in the slab. Clamp the 2 by 4 down in the correct spot and fill the hole halfway with water. Keep watered down with a sponge or re-fill the hole as need be while you're coring with the diamond bit. Go slow with the drill/coring bit and you won't burn it out.

Epoxy;

Put your joints together and leave about a 1/8" gap. Tape both edges so that you have about 1/8" of slab showing on both pieces. You can level the slab from underneath the cabinet by screwing a drywall screw up where it's low to lift the top. You may need to add weight to the top as well to help get the joint perfectly aligned if slightly bowed. Get some 2 part 5 minute epoxy and some paint coloring. Mix as per directions and add color as needed to try to match. You can also use granite dust instead of coloring. If you have some extra granite from cutting or coring just run you diamond blade on it and grind until you get a small pile of dry powder. Add that to the epoxy and the color should match pretty good. Fill the joint when the epoxy starts to gel up a little. You can use a flat razor to cut flush when dry. If need be re-apply the tape and do again until satisfied with the results. Use some acetone to wipe the joint after you use the razor to get the sheen back on the epoxy.

05-16-2012, 07:04 PM	#9
IGGYRULES Scoring Winger Join Date: Sep 2002 Exp:	I disagree with most of the the above and I've worked with alot of granite myself. The part where you need professional help is the edges. If you can get a slab that has the edges done you can easily cut and drill through granite. All you need is a small hand held wet tile saw with a diamond blade (don't get a serrated or turbo blade otherwise it will chip). You can also get coring bits from a tool store. There are a couple keys to doing it properly. Cutting; 1. Run some green painters tape down the line where you want to cut, this helps keep it from chipping. Clamp a straight edge to the granite and run the table of the saw down it to keep you cut straight. Grab a wet sponge (if you're not hooking the water up directly to the saw) and place it next to the blade and squeeze out slowly. Cut really slowly. Your edge should turn out perfect and will be easy to epoxy together with another piece. Coring; Grab a 2 by 4 and drill the same size hole in it as you will be doing in the slab. Clamp the 2 by 4 down in the correct spot and fill the hole halfway with water. Keep watered down with a sponge or re-fill the hole as need be while you're coring with the diamond bit. Go slow with the drill/coring bit and you won't burn it out. Epoxy; Put your joints together and leave about a 1/8" gap. Tape both edges so that you have about 1/8" of slab showing on both pieces. You can level the slab from underneath the cabinet by screwing a drywall screw up where it's low to lift the top. You may need to add weight to the top as well to help get the joint perfectly aligned if slightly bowed. Get some 2 part 5 minute epoxy and some paint coloring. Mix as per directions and add color as needed to try to match. You can also use granite dust instead of coloring. If you have some extra granite from cutting or coring just run you diamond blade on it and grind until you get a small pile of dry powder. Add that to the epoxy and the color should match pretty good. Fill the joint when the epoxy starts to gel up a little. You can use a flat razor to cut flush when dry. If need be re-apply the tape and do again until satisfied with the results. Use some acetone to wipe the joint after you use the razor to get the sheen back on the epoxy.