[Marius Alexandru]

Good evening,

I want to do a Marble Polishing Course, can you guys recommend a good one? By Looking online there isn't that many available.

Also what would be a good machine for a someone new to the business?

[Kev Martin]

The actual process of Marble Polishing is relatively simple.  It is the run up to the final polishing process that can be complicated. This is evident when you start to come across some of the stones with different hardness or difficult colours and even more so when you start to get into green and dark marble.   Now ask yourself do you only want to restrict yourself to Marble Restoration or progress to Limestone, Granite and Porcelain.  It is the understanding of the process  of grinding, honing and polishing that needs to be learned.  Like carpet cleaning the basics can be taught on a course but the rest comes with a helpline and experience.
So my advice in the first instance is to get it clear in your own mind exactly what you want to do and once we know that I will then try and advise you accordingly on what I think is the best route to take and what equipment to purchase.

I found it so difficult when  I wanted to learn that I ended up not only paying people to teach me but working for nothing and paying all my travel and hotel bills for a cumulative total time of around 4 months over a 5 year period in Italy,  Spain, UK, Germany and then the USA.  Since then I have done 2 advanced courses as well.  As my Italian Teacher once famously quoted when I asked him "How long it takes to learn?" he said "I have been doing it 35 Years and I know nothing"   I still occasionally ask for his help and advice

[Marius Alexandru]

Hi Martin,

Thank you for your answer.

To start of I would like to do just marble polishing and then learn the other stones also. But for now marble will be my first goal.

[Kev Martin]

I would try either

1.   Martin Shelley designer and seller of the Tilemaster.  Derek West or Andrew Briscoe both of whom you can find on here will point you in the right direction if you can't find Martin!  Derek has a Tilemaster now and Andrew Briscoe flogs them!
2.  Mike Philbin at Nulife I think he uses Cheetah Pucks
3.  John Kelly at Restormate runs courses at his place!
4.  Or Eddie Lane he is in Ireland

They will all be able to show you how to restore and polish marble

[derek west]

Hi Martin,

Thank you for your answer.

To start of I would like to do just marble polishing and then learn the other stones also. But for now marble will be my first goal.

Personally i think you need to do it the other way round, learn the basics of stone cleaning first then move on to marble polishing, but if you don't want to listen to reason then i would probably say mike at nulife would be the best alternative, you will still learn other stones but the focus is on getting a shine on marble so you will mostly get what you want. hope this helps.

[Kev Martin]

I would just buy a Tile master.  Martin will be demonstrating them at Wickstead Park at the the Carpet Cleaners Carnival next weekend.  Just pop there and buy one along with some of his potions and your away.  Everyone who has one swears by them.  Good Luck

[will_turton]

Pretty poope comment there Kevin, you lose when you slag opposition off

[Kev Martin]

I am not sure what your talking about?  I meant every word!  If you read the thread the OP stated he only wants to do Marble at the moment and doesn't want to spend a lot.  The Tilemaster is working for lots of people to do basic cleaning and polishing work therefore, it is the obvious solution for him in my opinion.

[Og]

Get a flex wet polisher, with six pads.

[Kev Martin]

Get a flex wet polisher, with six pads.

Og,

It's great to find someone else who likes Flex.  I found them ever so difficult to use and it took me over two years before I became what I deem as proficient with one. Can you pass on your experience for the other forum members?

Any particular model you recommend?
Any tips you can pass on regarding  polishing, cutting of lippage or how to remove dishing? 
What do you find the optimal speed is for marble polishing? 
Which are the best pads and where do you source them? 
What grits do you start with and end on ideally? 
Where do you get your pads from? 
Do you use a flexible backing pad or a rigid one?

My Son Tony covers this sort of polishing on our Hard Floor Courses albeit briefly.

Kev

[Og]

http://www.uktoolcentre.co.uk/Shop/p~97378~LW-1503-Wet-Stone-Grinder-110v.html?refid=GoogleShopping&utm_campaign=googleshopping&utm_source=GoogleBase&utm_medium=Product+Search&gclid=CNXzyZaK8c8CFQEA0wodBlYAhA

My experience comes from memorial masonry and stone worktops.
I've always used a rigid backing pad but perhaps that's because it's been suitable to the task. Lots of edge polishing.
I have used a variety of hand pads to varying effect.
Think most of our stuff was from masonry supplies.

A good tip; go over with the first pad (brown?) then dry off ( we used a propane torch, be super gentle), you'll see any areas you've missed. Repeat this, all the way through.

We use to apply a wax at the end,to bring out the polish (maybe tenax? or somesuch, it's been a few years.) warm the wax and remove excess with wire wool (granite only!).
 

[Kev Martin]

Interesting choice there.  Great tip with the torch but you deffo need to be careful!  Not my choice for several reasons regarding polishing marble countertops or tiles but I understand why you used that model as in stonework. 

It is 110volt means a transformer
The head is a little small but would be OK  with a 125mm or 150mm fitted
The water feed is useful but inexperienced users struggle
It is too quick an RPM for marble polishing
It is not variable speed
The design of the hand grip is a pain trying to polish under kitchen cupboards or close to skirting
The newer models are a lot more ergonomic and are controlled from the rear

[Og]

Oh they'll chomp through marble if you're not careful! But they will polish up nicely too. Impractical to use inside.

[Jonathan Evans]

Derek made a very good point you need to learn more than just how to polish marble. I would suggest trying Kevin's course or Steve Riley's through John Kelly not done Kevins but I have done Steve's and depending where in the country you are might dictate which.
Mikes New life course will show you how to put a shine on stone, another course to consider would be Tile doctor in Carnforth as they have a good system which is easy to follow and cover other tiles too.
There is another 2 in London which escape me but 1 is a free 1 day course the other I think is a £120 for the day haven't done either but not heard anything bad about them.

Or you could splash out on a trip to Italy and do the free course with Klindex, not done that either but love frascatti so might in the future : ) 

[Kev Martin]

Derek made a very good point you need to learn more than just how to polish marble. I would suggest trying Kevin's course or Steve Riley's through John Kelly not done Kevins but I have done Steve's and depending where in the country you are might dictate which.
Mikes New life course will show you how to put a shine on stone, another course to consider would be Tile doctor in Carnforth as they have a good system which is easy to follow and cover other tiles too.
There is another 2 in London which escape me but 1 is a free 1 day course the other I think is a £120 for the day haven't done either but not heard anything bad about them.

Or you could splash out on a trip to Italy and do the free course with Klindex, not done that either but love frascatti so might in the future : )

Andrew

I don't do Marble Polishing Courses so he is better going to Mike at Nu Life or someone else!  The Italian thing is just a trip.  There is no course as such they just show you what Klindex Machines can do!  I can do that with a lot more machines!

[Jonathan Evans]

Thanks Kevin, I guess I was trying to say in reality you shouldn't really just do a polishing course as you need to understand a lot before you attempt it.  You need to know what and why and if it is possible not just how.
One thing putting a shine on a flat sample board another going into a house with a badly laid floor, more lippage than a classroom of chavs and a light weight machine.
Which is why I suggested your course or Steve Riley's, a trip to Italy would still be great though.  One thing I have learnt is you never know what you don't know until you clean a stone floor. Exp if someone has laid it poorly and covered it in a topical seal.