Edge Polishing Tools for Textured or Brushed Stone

Throughout 2011, the stone industry saw a HUGE growth in textured, brushed, antiqued slabs. In fact, almost all slab companies are now stocking these textured, brushed slabs.

However, during the Stonexpo/Surfaces show, we had a lot of conversations with fabricators who are buying these textured slabs and leaving the edges with a standard polished edge.

They were not sure the best tools to use to create a texture, brush finish on the edges that would match the pre textured slab. 

Tenax Filiflex and Airflex brushes are the best tools to match these edges, as most of the slab producers are using the Tenax system to create the texture in the first place.

 A great, simple way to match these edges is by using water fed electric or air tools. After you get the profile you want, simply use the 4” snail lock Filiflex, grits 36, 46, 60, then Airflex 120,220,300 and that’s it. This will match 90% of the finishes slab producers are creating.

 As a suggestion, Tenax recommends using a snail lock back up pad with the 4” and 5” brushes. They are 5/8-11 thread and screw onto the polisher. This serves 2 great purposes: 1) it’s a super-fast quick change system and 2) this creates a very nice stable, even pressure across the brush, allowing for a better finish.

 Tenax created a video of using the brushes by hand. You can go to the video page or simply click hereor go to videos tab and look for Tenax Antique Brushes used on a hand machine

Most homeowners will prefer to have their edges match the top when purchasing a textured granite countertop. A set of 6 Tenax brushes, along with a snail lock back up pad will allow you to create and match the edge perfectly to the top.

Tenax StrongEdge Water Clear Flowing Epoxy

Tenax also has produced StrongEdge in a single cartridge. This cartridge may be used in a standard caulking gun. StrongEdge cartridge comes with 2 mixing tips. The great advantage of this cartridge, is virtually no excess waste, no clean up, no cups or stir sticks to use, and a perfect 2:1 mixing ratio.

Tenax StrongEdge Clear Epoxy

Tenax Polyester Colors in 2oz and 8oz Bottles

Tenax received so many requests to create a better polyester color system. The problem was that no manufacturer made a color that was most practical for the fabricators and the way everyone uses them. The colors aren’t right, the colors leak and poor out in the tool box, the nozzle is too big and too much color comes out, or simply priced too high.

Tenax has addressed all these concerns with the new Tenax Colors in new totally redesigned bottles!

Tenax colors come in 2 different sizes: 2oz for the jobsite and 8oz large bottles for the shop. Both sizes offer a spill proof twist-lock cap that actually screws on so that the color doesn’t spill during shipping or when thrown into the toolbox. Also, the tip was designed specifically with the idea of just a small amount of color per drop so that the colors can be much easier to control from the bottle.

Additionally, Tenax offers 6 pure brilliant colors for super easy color matching. These rich colors allow for a much easier and faster stone color match.

Most importantly, Tenax has offered these new bottles at a very affordable, competitive price.

As always, Tenax listens to what the market is saying and we take the lead in creating the tools that fabricators need to increase efficiently and profitability in their fabrication business.

Click on the below link to open up in high quality PDF:

Polyster Color Bottles

Tenax Blade for Engineered Glass, Onyx, Alabaster

Tenax offers a premium quality blade for cutting onyx, alabaster, glass, glassos, engineered glass material. With very, very tight segments, this special class of continuous rim blades will offer a super smooth, chip free cut.

Tenax Glaxs 1 Piece Marble Lamination

Franks Marble and Granite submitted this really cool lamination job using the Tenax Glaxs Adhesive.

Check out the 1 piece S curve lamination on this white marble.

Great idea using the pins to make sure everything is lined up correctly.

This is an excellent example of the type of application that Glaxs should be used on.

Notice that the seam is practically invisible.

Tepox V Color Match System

Tenax has developed the absolute best system for color matching the edges of dyed stone.

The BIG question is, what is the best way to apply the Tenax system to achieve the best and longest lasting results. 

Tenax has produced a video showing the process.

 In this video the steps were:

1)      Bring the stone to a 400 grit polish

2)      Dry the stone. The stone should be as dry as possible to allow as much penetration of the Tenax products as possible.

3)      Apply Tepox V directly to the stone. Do not dilute. Apply full strength.

4)      Allow the Tepox V to completely dry. This can be force dried, as a heat gun, or it can be allowed to dry naturally.

5)      After the stone is dried, apply Tenax Ager over top of the Tepox V

6)      Allow the Ager to completely dry. Again, this can be by force or room temperature.

7)      Finish polishing the stone. In our video, we used the Weha 3 step polishing pads.

8)      Force dry or allow the stone to completely dry

9)      Apply Tepox V to the stone to fill in the newly exposed pores from the polishing process. Work with the Tepox V until the color is matched to desired look.

10)  Force Dry or allow the Tepox V to completely dry

11)  Apply Ager as directed over the Tepox V and completely dry

12)  Finish with Tenax Proseal-Ultra premium sealer to fully lock in the Tepox V. 

For stones that are lightly dyed, it may be possible to achieve the results after the polishing process. But it is very important to follow the Tepox V application with Tenax Ager and Tenax Proseal to achieve a long lasting result.

Tenax Glaxs for white and light marble and stone featured in the Slippery Rock Gazette

Tenax Glaxs is getting ALOT of buzz around the stone industry.

Because of its special properties and filling a great need in the stone industry, especially for light and white marbles, as well as other stones, The Slippery Rock Gazette wanted to write an article on it.

Check it out glaxs SRG

If you have used Glaxs or have questions, comment and let us know!

Below is the article if you want to read it here.

GLAXS ADHESIVE GLUES & SEAMS WHITE STONE WITH NO YELLOWING 

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT FABRICATORS ENCOUNTER WHEN WORKING WITH THASSOS, CARRERA MARBLE, OR OTHER WHITE AND LIGHT MATERIALS, IS GLUING THEM TOGETHER, CREATING SEAMS, OR FILLING CRACKS.

One of the most frustrating things during fabrication is doing a lamination, profiling and polishing an edge, only to have a “shadow” or “bleed” at the seam left by the adhesive. This happens when the adhesive being used is absorbed into the stone on both sides of the seam, darkening the stone. This creates a grayish color line that is very noticeable and makes the seam stand out.

Even worse is getting that dreaded call back from a homeowner complaining that there is a yellow line in the middle of the stone edge from where the adhesive has yellowed from UV exposure.

Tenax has addressed this very issue with a product called Tenax Glaxs. Tenax Glaxs is a new generation, Bi component material, designed to specifically address both the “shadow” effect, as well as sun-fading or yellowing under normal, UV exposure.

Tenax Glaxs is a water-clear material that will not create a shadow or bleed into the stone.

It does not change the color of the stone when absorbed by the seam, allowing the stone to retain its authentic color.

Tenax Glaxs has been extensively tested with an accelerated UV weather-testing simulator which tests, UV rays, rain, fog, hot, cold, etc.

All the elements that stone could possibly see. The results have proven that Tenax Glaxs will maintain its non-yellowing UV resistance for at least 15 years.

Tenax Glaxs is also a very strong adhesive. This allows Glaxs to be used for laminating marble, granite, limestone, and other natural stones, as well as engineered stone.

Tenax Glaxs is designed to cure between 15 and 25 minutes, allowing time to work with the stone, yet fast enough to keep up production for the project.

Because Glaxs is a Bi component material, the mixing ratio is extremely sensitive. Unlike polyester or epoxy adhesives that allow a small “fudge” factor and still the adhesive to work correctly, Glaxs must be mixed at an exact ratio. To assist the fabricators with this ratio, Tenax produces Glaxs in a special breakthrough pouch that allows the exact mix ratio.

Simply squeeze one end of the pouch and break the seal that separates the A from the B, and cleanly mix the two parts together. After mixing for 1 minute, tear one end of the pouch, squeeze the Glaxs out of the pouch, and easily apply to the stone.

When working with white and light colored stone, fabricators can rest assured that there is a great product that can eliminate the biggest headache in finishing these stones, and have confidence that the stone will not develop yellow streaks years down the road. Glaxs is VOC free and non-hazardous. The reaction time is independent of the outside temperature