The Dimensioning Process

Once a slab has been polished, it is taken to the dimension area. Streaks and flaws undetectable before polishing are now more visible. A skilled worker carefully inspects each slab to verify the granite is free of all defects. Rejecting at this early stage all slabs that do not meet Rock of Ages’ rigorous manufacturing standards is crucial, because any further work on the stone would be a complete waste once the flaw were detected during one of the other rigorous inspections that occurs after each step of fabrication.

After a slab has passed inspection, a technician draws lines on it to minimize any waste of material, in much the same manner as one would lay a pattern out on fabric. These lines guide the operator of the Hydro-splitter as he divides the slab into pieces.

The Hydro-splitter or “Guillotine” is a hydraulically powered machine. The operator, by using a system of buttons, positions the slab exactly, using the lines drawn previously to determine each “cut.” A row of steel wedges is lowered to the surface of the slab precisely along one of the lines. Hydraulic pressure builds to over 20,000 pounds per square inch, splitting the granite along the predetermined line. The resulting dimensioned pieces are now ready to be finished by skilled stonecutters employing both hand implements and pneumatic tools.