Three New Fabrication Inventions from Stone Pro and Braxton-Bragg, After a Great Deal of Hard Work, Several It- Even in a Tree Stand

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Volume 22, Issue 260 The Beacon of the Stone Industry February 2016 My New Year’s Cleaning ike a shiny new penny, Jodi Wallace the upcoming year offers Owner, Monarch Solid us the opportunity to look L Surface Designs through new eyes with optimism and excitement for adventures of April) are always my biggest yet to come. Having survived stress months, since jobs are usu- the holiday madness, we now ally slow in coming. I make a lot have the chance to reflect on the of follow-up calls to customers, previous year with less stress trying to get them to commit to a and less emotional attachment. signed contract, and gently nudge It’s a chance to review and give to get things actually scheduled thought to what worked and what and started. Nothing feels worse didn’t, evaluate ideas you may to me than having to call my guys have had simmering on the back and telling them not to come in Stone Pro and Braxton-Bragg have a proven history of burner, or brainstorm new oppor- because there is no work in the introducing tools and products that solve a fundamen- tunities for the coming year. shop. tal problem facing fabricators and installers. We review But I also view some of this these three new products that raise the bar for efficiency. There’s usually work for our quiet time as an opportunity for shop in January, whether it‘s a “new year’s cleaning” (my ver- finishing up jobs that started in sion of a spring cleaning, except December, or jobs that I have it’s for my business). Although Three New Fabrication Inventions been able to talk homeowners we aren’t making money if we into delaying, with promises of aren’t working the jobs that pay, from Stone Pro and Braxton-Bragg reduced lead times since things it’s an opportunity for the guys tend to be on the quieter after the to prepare for when things pick ust when you thought tools Peter J. Marcucci than traditional technology has al- holidays. But February – March back up. for stone fabrication couldn’t lowed to this point. Additionally, (and occasionally the beginning Please turn to page 7 Jget any better, they just did. technological leap is needed. Elipse pads are stickier and, there- Stone Pro, in conjunction with Allow me to introduce fore, hold onto diamonds longer Braxton-Bragg, has raised the “TrifectaMate Technology:” a before being released, yielding The Stone Detective bar with the new Elipse polishing physically and chemically dif- more linear feet of polish per pad system, Stone Pro Seam Machine ferent material far superior to with faster results. The “Eat More Cold Cuts” Case and Stone Pro Vacuum Template. conventional resins, and propri- Moreover, Elipse pads use poly- Getting it right the first time just etary to the Elipse 3-step & 6-step crystalline diamonds (PCD)— the t’s starting to get cold Frederick M. Hueston, PhD got a whole lot easier. polishing systems available from same diamonds used in oilfield here in Florida. This Braxton-Bragg. drilling where a 100 percent duty Imorning, I think the ther- it’s cold outside, that’s all.” I The Revolutionary Elipse Put simply, the TrifectaMate cycle is required. They are little mometer plunged down to almost broke out in the song, 3-Step Wet & 6-Step Dry resin allows a higher concentra- more expensive than conventional 59 degrees; guess its time to Baby It’s Cold Outside, but I Polishing Systems are the tion of diamonds (more than twice diamonds, but offer substantial break out the winter flip-flops. can’t sing worth a darn. And New Kings of Cool! as much, depending on the grit) gains in performance. besides, Flo would not thank For over two decades, pads Please turn to page 2 Due to the brisk air I was me for driving out her (tip- made of phenolic resins have been in the mood for a cup of hot ping) customers! the de facto standard of the indus- chocolate rather than my Just as Flo replaced try. They undoubtedly get the job morning cup of joe. So off to my joe with a cup of hot done but are severely limited by my favorite greasy spoon I went. chocolate, my cell phone rang. It two things: their ability to hold I walked in and sat on my desig- was one of my steady clients, a higher quantities of diamonds, nated stool, said hello to several manufacturer of a stone sealer. and worse, “diamond dropout” of the locals. Flo poured me a They had a problem with a cli- renders them useless, often pre- cup of joe and I looked at her and ent who used their sealer, and the maturely. This technology has said, “Not this morning, Flo – countertop was still staining. been pushed to its limits, and, in give me a cup of hot chocolate.” Let me first tell you about this the past few years, has gotten as She had a look of shock on client. They have a 100 percent efficient as current manufacturing her face. The locals all gave me money-back, replacement guar- technology can make it. To bring a stare, like I might be off my antee for life. polishing pads to the next level, a rocker. I laughed and said, “Hey, Please turn to page 8

Shop www.braxton-bragg.com for Stone & Tile industry products Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net for more Stone & Tile industry news | 2 February 2016 Slippery Rock Gazette to keep you from polishing one Curing the Decades-Old Three New Products area too long. You get a better Problem of Seam Warpage polish with less fatigue in the Stone Pro’s new and mighty field or in the shop. As a plus, any Seam Machine will help bullet- center water feed right angle tool proof your installations will work.” If you’re not fully confident about the way you’re finishing So what prompted Brandt to seams these days, take a good look think in this direction? “Well,” at the Stone Pro Seam Machine. he continued, “for over 40 years, No, it’s not just a remake of the I’ve been infatuated with the same old – same old — it’s a re- stone industry, and I always made think of the standard, and by all tools to make the job easier and criteria, it breaks the mold. improve quality. The orbital motion of an orbital sander sands a How is the Seam Machine dif- lot faster and cleaner with less ferent from the others, you ask? motion from the operator, but Barry Brandt continues, “We’ve the mechanics while trying to made seaming tools in the past, incorporate the center water feed but they were all rigid and had through an orbital motion, one rods that ran from one side to that would last, was a tough and the other, and the only flex that expensive task. But when I got to you really got was if you were Continued from page 1 thinking about it, it’s no different pushing and bending the stone. One last point: due to the Unfortunately, by doing this, makeup of the patented TrifectaMate formula, the Elipse final polish pad will achieve a superior finish on all materials, even engineered stone, with no worries of color transfer from pad to material.

Putting a New Spin on Polishing: The Innovative Elipse Backer Pad Perfected and manufactured by longtime fabricator/tool designer Barry Brandt, the cutting-edge Elipse Backer Pad is the capstone of the groundbreaking Elipse from a tire that’s out of round. many times you’re pulling the cup Polishing Systems. You simply counter-weight it to loose from the stone, because the What’s so great about this keep it balanced. So that’s what tool had to flex. backer pad? Simply put, it rotates we did! “We made the Seam Machine with an elliptical motion, and “Some natural stones are dif- so it pivots. Each arm comes out There are plenty of seam setters on the market, but none match when coupled with Elipse 3-step ficult to polish, especially the independently, so when it lifts the features of the new Stone Pro Seam Machine. The arched or 6-step pads, introduces addi- ones with both hard and soft one side of the stone, it pushes design allows you complete access to clean up seams while it is tional performance to the system, spots, making it very difficult if the other side of the stone down, still setting up, while holding the stone locked in place. Brilliant! explains Brandt. “It flat out does a you’re not moving the polisher independently. Not only that. We better job and also keeps the fab- fast enough. The elliptical motion put an arch design in it, so you can ricator from fatiguing, because of the Elipse Backer Pad takes a get your hand underneath to clean the polishing head is moving in lot of the human error out of the the seam while it’s setting up. an elliptical motion. The backer process because of the crosshatch “Unlike all other seaming tools, pad is offset and balanced with pattern. It allows someone with ours has no obstructions to pre- the pad, not just by itself, so you less experience to get professional vent you from cleaning. None don’t get any vibration.” And results, immediately. That’s the of the other seaming tools on the that’s only one of the notable dif- key, allowing almost anybody to market offer this. They will do the ferences between the Elipse and be able to surface polish, espe- job, but not nearly as neat, clean regular polishing pads. cially when polishing glued seams and fast as this one.” “Additionally, the scratch to make them virtually invisible. Each Seam Machine has a 12- pattern you get on the material “This type of backer pad has volt, integrated power source. It’s with the Elipse is always cross- been something needed for a long an independent, autonomous unit. Says inventor Barry Brandt, “Unlike all other seaming tools, hatched, so the polishing is twice time, especially with engineered There’s an independent vacuum ours has no obstructions to prevent you from cleaning. None of as fast. You also don’t get any stone, where if you stayed in one pump on each unit, so there’s no the other seaming tools on the market offer this. They will do ripples because the head is con- area too long, you’d get a burn hoses to get in your way. the job, but not nearly as neat, clean and fast as this one.” stantly orbiting. It naturally does spot.” a better job, because you’re not Please turn to page 38 counting on your hands and arms

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Shop www.braxton-bragg.com for Viper CNC Profile Wheels Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net for more Stone & Tile industry news | 4 February 2016 Slippery Rock Gazette younger, less qualified peo- another job. I know some- Don’t Forget the ple have gone up the lad- one else who went back to der. She’s been looking for school to get a higher de- Boomers another job for over three gree and she has been look- years with no luck. No one ing for almost a year now. I write this I Sharon Koehler ever tells her it’s her age It just seems like that if you AS am 60 years Artistic Stone Design because that would be ille- were born before the mid old, and by the time gal. However, she is certain ’60s, people don’t want to you read it, I will be 61. that’s the problem because hire you. that is the only thing that’s Baby Boomers, as a All my life I always I am not ready to stop. I am changed. whole, are a productive, ex- thought that I would take not ready to slow down. I’m I know a couple of other perienced bunch that have early retirement at 62 and healthy. I contribute to a was supposed to and some- The problem is that there people in their mid to upper good work ethics, and in be done working. I always team. I see the value in what times more. I was reliable, are other “Baby Boomers” 50s that are having the same spite of the gray hairs on thought that after a life- I do and so do other people. dependable, invested and out there that are not so problems. One guy lost his our heads, we are capable time of working I would be I can see no reason to stop. involved. lucky. Yes, it used to be job because the company of learning and growing. ready. When I was growing At least not right now. But I’m lucky. I work for that people retired at 65 (or he worked for folded. It up, that was the way things Yes, I wear glasses be- a great company. I have 62) and that was that. But took him three years to find Please turn to Page 22 were done. Moms mostly cause maybe my eyesight purpose. I have a reason and times have changed. People stayed home. Dads worked isn’t like it was at 20, and I have enough giddy up to are living longer, healthier for the same company for sometimes my back aches go a few more rounds. But lives. They are more active 20, 30, 40 years and then re- or my knees pop. The 50- mostly I have a boss that and can or sometimes must MIA+BSI to Participate tired at 62 or 65 with Social yard dash is no longer in is wise enough to see that contribute longer than 62 Security, Medicare and a my future and I do make over 50 isn’t a bad thing. I or 65. (I met a 70-year-old in 16th China Xiamen pension. Life was simple more than one trip to haul applied for my current job cashier in a store today, who then. Life was good. groceries from the car but when I was 56 years old. was proud to tell me how old International Stone Fair I got my first babysitting that’s OK. Spryness has I’ve had it for over four she was.) job when I was 12 and my been replaced by wisdom, years and can see no reason Unfortunately, the sticking first “regular” paycheck job and quickness has been re- to stop (unless of course my point in society seems to be at 15. I’ve been working placed by “slow and steady boss knows something that that if you are over 50 you for over 40 years! But I’m wins the race.” I did not I don’t.) The funny thing won’t be around in the work not ready to stop. It’s not a take one single sick day is, as I look around, I don’t force much longer. If you financial thing or an econ- in 2015. I showed up for think I’m the exception. I are over 50, you are coast- omy thing. It’s a me thing. work every day, did what I think I’m the rule. ing into retirement, or if you are over 50, health problems may plague you. Companies don’t want to invest time WANT PRODUCTIVITY ? and resources into someone that won’t be around long. I have a friend who is my age. She is smart and de- Why work wet? pendable. She has worked for the same company for over 15 years. When she first started working there, BULLET PROOF™ she was promoted regularly. Fabricator’s Apron 95 Then, once she hit her mid- $ 50s that all stopped. She has 66. IA+BSI will pro- MIA+BSI will present Order Item stood by and watched as 9121 Mvide education educational sessions on and networking at the the following topics as 79 16th China Xiamen part of the 2016 World $56. International Stone Fair, Stone Congress: to be held March 6-9, 2016, in Xiamen, China. •Sustainable Natural 2016 MIA President Stone David Castellucci said: •Thin Veneer Stone “As MIA+BSI continues •Commercial Installation to grow and create more •Stone Exterior Wall hey invented Stone Sleeve™ programming for our Cladding “Thugs to let international audience, •MIA+BSI’s Natural Fabricator’s Sleeve people know you love trade shows such as the Stone Promotional Order Item Xiamen Stone Fair offer Campaign them without saying 9127 an invaluable opportunity •Flooring, Finishes, and anything.” to meet and network with Friction Available from our international mem- •Doing Business in the –Bill Keane bership and ensure they United States American Cartoonist are made aware of our Creator of Family Circus programs.” 800-575-4401 • www.braxton-bragg.com 1922-2011 Please turn to Page 5

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SLIPPERY ROCK GAZETTE® The Publisher’s Pen The Beacon of the Stone Industry Innovation in the Stone Industry Online Edition www.slipperyrockgazette.net I write this column, crates have been it to the problem that you face. The problem Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net to list your Classified ad, and to view our online Classified listings. AS loaded and shipped to Las Vegas. And with diamond polishing is that when you have when you read these words, the show will be a tool that creates a rotary motion, you will Rich Hassert Publisher over, crates re-packed and many exhausted folks spend time removing swirls and scratches that will begin planning for next year. the rotary motion puts into the surface. Larry M. Hood Editor/Design Director As wood-workers discovered years ago, an or- G. William Brown Graphic Designer This year Stone Pro demonstrated innovation bital or elliptical motion minimizes this prob- Aaron J. Crowley Stone Industry Consultant in spades. They presented four new products at lem–creating a better finish much faster. But the Braxton-Bragg booth. The first was the when you work with stone or quartz, you need Joel Davis Special Contributor Hydraulic Beaver. If you need to put a chis- water for cooling and dust control. And you Frederick M. Hueston Stone Care Consultant eled edge on 6cm of stone or quartz, this is need to put a certain amount of pressure on a Carmen Ghia Helpful Trivia Dept. the machine to do it. The second is the Vacuum diamond pad to get it to do its job. Existing Sharon Koehler Artistic Granite & Tile Hole Template. This tool uses CNC vacuum pod random orbital sanders stall with pressure and technology and a shop vac to enable you to lack water delivery systems. Rufus B. Leakin Guru of Folklore drill perfectly placed holes in horizontal or Barry was thinking about this problem while Peter J. Marcucci Feature Contributor vertical surfaces on smooth or textured main a tree stand with his bow and arrow waiting Bob Murrell Restoration Consultant terial, and it cleans up after itself. Truly for a deer to stroll by. The idea of achieving amazing! an elliptical pattern through an off-center Sarah Rohr Special Contributor In the visual feast department, the new Seam hole in a backer pad somehow came to him. The Anne Tenna Human Resources Dept. Setter makes all other seam setters look, well, very real problem of vibration also appeared Sam Venable Ironical Humor Dept. like toys–not tools. The beauty of this beast to him and this is where many would be tempted Jodi Wallace Special Contributor is that it allows for easy glue removal and the to give up. His next idea was a car tire and independent action of each pod will take the wheel—achieve balance through weight! Boomer Winfrey Varmint County Correspondent bow out of stone better than anything else we There were a great many other details that have seen. had to be figured out, including using a dif- Please email address updates to [email protected]. Please note that subscription requests, classified ad submission form and our Last but certainly not least, is the Elipse ferent type of resin bond, different types of 2016 Advertising Guidelines are available online at www.slipperyrockgazette.net Polishing System. A little over a year ago, diamonds, higher concentration of diamonds, and Barry Brandt, owner of Stone Pro, called me using a CNC machine to individually machine the and began asking questions about diamond pol- backer pads, but those are all just the details ishing pads. As we talked, it became clear to of execution. me that Barry had a great idea but it was not Featured in this Issue clear to me that it could work. So I drove to So, regardless of what you are doing, keep Effingham, Illinois to learn more. thinking. Innovation can occur at any time, Three New Fabrication Inventions from Stone Pro and Braxton-Bragg, After a great deal of hard work, several it- even in a tree stand. by Peter J. Marcucci ...... Begins on p. 1 erations of design, long hours with patent law- yers, and many hours of testing, the elipse Have a good read. My New Year’s Cleaning, by Jodi Wallace ...... Begins on p. 1 polishing system was born. – Rich Hassert Innovation is often defined as the process of The Stone Detective, by Frederick M. Hueston ...... Begins on p. 1 taking the knowledge that you have and applying Don’t Forget the Boomers, by Sharon Koehler...... Begins on p. 4 MIA+BSI to Participate in 16th China Xiamen International Stone Fair ...... Begins on p..... 4 MIA+BSI to Participate in Xiamen Stone Fair

The Publisher’s Pen, by Rich Hassert ...... Page 5 Continued from Page 4 Begins on p. 7 Varmint County, by Boomer Winfrey ...... MIA+BSI will also partner with MIA+BSI delegation to China. Stolen Concrete Forms Recovered Using GPS Technology ...... Page 8 Xiamen Jinhongxin Co., Ltd. As part of the MIA+BSI dele- countries who represent every as- to present a one-day study tour gation, participating members pect of the natural stone industry, MIA+BSI Announces 2016 Safety Initiative ...... Page 10 of factories in the Shitou Fujian will receive three complimentary offering them a wide array of tech- region of China, which will nights lodging, bus transportation nical and training resources, pro- Painfully Powerful Puckering, by Sam Venable ...... Page 14 take place on March 8. Xiamen for the factory tours, and several fessional development, regulatory Jinhongxin Co., Ltd. has also VIP reception invitations. There advocacy, and networking events. New MIA Training Video Release Planned ...... Page 15 agreed to underwrite a Mandarin are a limited number of spaces Two prominent publications—the translation of the Dimension available for this delegation. For Dimension Stone Design Manual Selling, by Sarah Rohr ...... Begins on p. 24 Stone Design Manual, Version more information, please contact and Building Stone Magazine— Begins on p. 25 8, which will be available in late Jeff Handley (jhandley@marble raise awareness in both the indus- Stone Restoration and Maintenance Corner, by Bob Murrell ...... 2016. This is one of several trans- -institute.com) or visit www. try and the design communities The Slippery Rock Classifieds ...... Page 32 lations of the Dimension Stone marble-institute.com/china. for the promotion and best use Design Manual planned for this of natural stone. Learn more at Emco-Williams Helps Update a Landmark, by Joel Davis ...... Begins on p. 28 year. Together, MIA and BSI serve www.marble-institute.com and Members are invited to join the more than 1,900 members in 55 www.buildingstoneinstitute.org.

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Shop braxton-bragg.com for the Stone Pro Coring Vacuum Template Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net for more Stone & Tile industry news | Slippery Rock Gazette February 2016 7 My New Year’s Cleaning • Put together a remnant list Varmint County so I know what we have available for walk-in cus-

Boomer Winfrey Continued from page 1 • Sort through and get tomers, with small projects, The Truth Behind Varmint County’s Varmint County It’s also a good opportu- rid of material that we that don’t require a lot of Fueding Moonshiner Clans Correspondent nity to catch up on some can’t do anything with. material. This is a great of the “housekeeping” No one has the space to way to get rid of discontin- hen last we that seems to always get hold onto all the remnants ued colors, excess inven- left you, dear overlooked (or ignored) and scrap, so it’s a good tory, or on occasion a way readers, we W when the shop is going full time to determine what to recuperate money when had just recounted the tale throttle. should actually be kept you had to replace (wrongly of how Varmint County To employees it’s “just and what should be tossed. ordered) material, (sigh… I came by its unusual a shop,” so their logic is, have done that twice lately.) name… as a compromise “Why clean it when it is • Put away leftover mate- to prevent a blood feud going to just get messed rial that can be used for • Fabricate and install new between the two families up again?” But to us, and future projects in its proper displays for the showroom. of the county’s “found- especially my husband and place. It is a definite pet Business is slow, so this is ing father,” Louis Lowe. son who still come in on the peeve of mine that guys always the perfect time to weekend to use tools, it’s just don’t return material work on a couple of proj- Louis, you might recall, “our” shop. It frustrates the where it belongs when ects for us. For example, was the founding father, heck out of Ken to have to they are finished with it. I have several sets of cab- literally, being not only a spend an hour putting tools If they took only a couple inets sitting here with bare Revolutionary War hero, away in their proper place minutes more and put stuff plywood, just waiting for hunter and trapper, but a and sweeping up before he away it would completely things to slow down a bit, bigamist with two wives can even start anything. And eliminate having to do and an ugly existing vanity and families who were waters of Varmint County County and its isolated more importantly, when we this. (Yes, wishful think- top I have been impatiently unaware of each other. much to their liking and county seat, Primroy, but allow employees to treat ing on my part, I know!!) waiting to replace!! For the next few decades, stayed, keeping pretty much the Confederates found our shop with such disre- For me personally, I the county was populated to themselves as they pur- little to tempt them into gard, it’s not a far reach to • Clean and organize usually try to take a little mostly by Louis’ offspring, sued their favorite pastime occupying the place, a log start treating jobs that way tools, equipment and both time and write down a few either members of the in the broad valley that courthouse facing a muddy as well. So although it is an shops. It offers a good goals I want to accomplish “Cow” Lowe clan or the stretched from the base street with a handful of cab- ongoing battle, it is not one opportunity to figure out for the upcoming months. “Go” Lowe clan, depend- of McCracken’s Peak to ins, hog pens and a single I am willing to give up on. what needs to be fixed, ing on how one pronounced another rock promontory saloon. I use the available help to: or on occasion, replaced. Please turn to page 12 the name. known as McCracken’s Jebediah Haig, however, Slowly, however, a phe- Nose. took note of the rich taste nomenon occurred that When the War Between of the local water and dis- locals referred to as the the States broke out in 1861, tilled products made from “Louis Curse.” It seems the Hockmeyers remained it, the abundance of unat- that the male descendants loyal to the Union, since tached Lowe females and of the old pioneer had diffi- many of their kin still lived vast tracts of unclaimed culty siring male heirs. Of in Pennsylvania. Those who land. When federal au- Louis’ 12 sons, only two did not migrate north to join thorities began to round up fathered sons of their own. the Union Army stayed out the Louisiana Haigs who Those two Lowes, one in of the fray altogether, merely refused to take an oath of Pre-scored every 1/8˝ for excellent snap each clan, managed to fa- taking potshots at any sol- allegiance to the reunited Resists splitting when nailed or screwed ther only girls. diers, Confederate or Union, nation, Jebediah led two The Lowe females mar- who wandered too close to dozen Haig families north Convenient packaging ried into new families their whiskey stills. to a new home, so isolated Water, rot and insect resistant with strange new names Following the end of the that nobody cared about Greater load bearing capacity than like Hockmeyer, Aslinger war, a second migration oaths, past loyalties or the wood shims and Pinetar. By the eve occurred as members of the Haig’s favorite pastime, the of the Civil War, not a Haig clan began to settle into manufacture of powerful 95 Lowe remained in Varmint an isolated hollow on the op- spirits. $6. County with the exception posite side of McCracken’s With Union sympathizing Order Item of aging widow Cloretta Peak. The Haigs were Hockmeyers on one side of 17992 Lowe, whose daughters Louisiana Cajuns who McCracken’s Peak and un- had both married into the were all unapologetic reconstructed Rebel Haigs Hockmeyer clan. Rebels, having served in the on the other side, both spe- The Hockmeyers mi- Confederate Army until the cializing in the production grated down from up north war ended. and sale of fine spirits, the in the aftermath of the 1791 Captain Jebediah Haig stage was set for a feud, and Available at Whiskey Rebellion, when had discovered the region one was not long in coming. Pennsylvania farmers re- when his regiment occu- Strangely enough, it was belled against a federal tax pied neighboring Burrville neither the clan’s political on homemade whiskey. during Kirby Smith’s inva- loyalties nor their compet- Although the tax was later sion of Kentucky. The Rebel ing whiskey enterprises repealed, the Hockmeyer commanders sent Jebediah’s that set off the bloodshed. clan found the cool spring company to scout Varmint Please turn to Page 9

Shop www.braxton-bragg.com for Nelson Shims Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net for more Stone & Tile industry news | 8 February 2016 Slippery Rock Gazette The Stone Detective

Continued from page 1 kimonos, and to my consid- Most stone sealers on the If the countertop should erable surprise, she bowed to market will repel water and stain they will remove the me and asked me to follow oil, but not hot oil. stain or replace the counter- her to the kitchen. I walked The oil was splattering top. Well, over the past few in the kitchen and she on the countertop and pen- years they have replaced a pointed to a granite counter- etrating right through the lot of countertops! top next to the stove. polymer. If you look at the I listened as they told me There were two sections melting point of the poly- they had a customer with a of granite, one on each side mer you will find that some kitchen in Iowa that I needed of the stove. They were both oils exceed that tempera- to take visit and trouble- badly stained. I mean really ture. I looked at the lady shoot. Iowa? I thought. Isn’t bad. One section was so dark and told her exactly that. that corn country? One way you couldn’t see the miner- She asked me what can be or the other, I was about to als in the granite. done. I looked her straight find out. I told them that I asked her if I could have in the eye and told her she as soon as I could get on a a small glass of water. I needed to start eating more plane I would head up there poured the water on the cold cuts. I really said that, and take a look. Luckily countertop and waited to see but then I laughed, and so there was a flight leaving the if it would absorb into the did she. I told her to place a next day, so I made my res- stone. It did not absorb in the mat on the countertop when ervations and I was all set. stained area or the unstained she is cooking. I told her When I touched down in area. we could attempt to pull the Iowa, I picked up a rental car I next took out my small stain out but it would be less with a GPS and headed for bottle of oil and placed it on expensive to replace the top. the customer’s address. The a unstained section of the Another case solved, and drive out there was boring countertop. I waited several now for another long drive, and all I saw was corn field minutes and the oil did not back through the cornfields. after cornfield. So I guess penetrate. Now this was get- I have a sudden urge for the rumors must be true! ting odd. sushi. And baseball. Driving down the long, My tests showed the coun- straight highway, my eyes tertop was sealed properly The Stone Detective is a were getting heavy, and and should not have stained. fictional character created I started seeing mirages. I stepped back and started by Fred Hueston, written Stolen Concrete Forms Recovered I swear I saw a bunch of asking her some ques- to be entertaining and ed- old-timey baseball players tions. I asked how often ucational. He has written walking out of one of those she cooks on the stove and over 33 books on stone Using GPS Technology fields. 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She was wearing what was causing the stain. forensics.com. and marine applications, rant was issued, leading to and operated company one of those formal Japanese HOT OIL. That’s right. announces the quick and the recovery of all of the headquartered in Saint successful recovery of forms. Hoover and other Helens, Oregon, and has $20,000 worth of alumi- concrete companies have recovered millions of dol- num concrete forms from fallen victim to the theft lars worth of stolen cars, J.T Hoover Concrete in of these forms represent- trucks, boats and con- GPS AnyPlace offers inter- Bear, Delaware. ing hundreds of thousands struction equipment. esting tracking technology of dollars in losses. GPS AnyPlace has di- for large assets protection, The concrete forms were “After I received a rectly or indirectly placed whether on the jobsite or in stolen in the early morn- 5:30 a.m. report that the a production storage facility. over 30,000 GPS track- Tracking systems have been ing hours from Hoover’s concrete forms had been ing systems in various used for asset recovery on facility. Notification of stolen, we immediately applications worldwide. fleets of vehicles, construc- the theft was done via tracked our covertly in- These systems encompass tion equipment and other a wireless GPS track- stalled GPS system. This a wide variety of mobile devices. ing system designed and is the first application and fixed applications, configured to notify the of our newly designed including fleets of vehi- owners of asset move- unique solution for the cles, boats, cars, trucks, and other devices. They can customize their prod- garyryan@gpsanyplace. ment and location via a concrete industry. 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Shop www.braxton-bragg.com for Stone & Tile industry products Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net for more Stone & Tile industry news | Slippery Rock Gazette February 2016 9 Varmint County childhood and it will toughen ‘em up.” Continued from Page 7 It apparently worked. Both Hockmeyers and Caleb’s son, Shirley Bandit, Haigs quickly married into served as Sheriff from shortly the local population, which after the Spanish-American as I pointed out earlier, was War until he dropped dead heavy on female descen- from a heart attack in the dants of old Louis Lowe. 1960s, having just seen his The Haigs married into first long-haired hippie pro- the “Go” Lowe clan while testing on television. the Hockmeyers took their The dedication ceremo- But I digress. We’ll revisit wives from the “Cow” Lowe ny for the Louis Lowe the Bandits at another time. clan. An uneasy truce ex- statue at the county To make a long story short, isted between the two sides courthouse fueled the the Hockmeyers and Haigs for a number of years, until Haig-Hockmeyer feud. began a blood feud that 1879, which happened to lasted for nearly a century, mark the 100th anniversary upgraded to a fancy two- with many men from both of Louis Lowe’s arrival in story structure made of Crab clans falling victim to gun- what would one day become Orchard stone, imported all shot or knife wounds. Varmint County. the way from the Plateau, The bloodbath per- One might say that old complete with a bell tower. sisted, uninterrupted, until Colonel Cornelius Jass, a All of the descendants of many young Haigs and Confederate veteran who Louis Lowe were invited, of Hockmeyers found them- migrated into the county course, but when Judge Jass selves serving together in after the war and eventually addressed the crowd, he was World War II, using the became the County Judge, not sure which pronunciation skills honed from a century was responsible for the to use. “We’re here to honor of feuding to stab and shoot Haig-Hockmeyer feud. our first settler, the great Nazis instead. Cornelius got this bright hero Louis, uh, yes, Louis, Returning from the war, inspiration to celebrate the regardless of how he pro- many of the younger gen- county’s first settler by ded- nounced his last name.” eration had lost the taste for icating a monument to him One of the Hockmeyer killing, especially if their in courthouse square, the wives called out, “That was enemies were their former old log building having been Lowe,” pronouncing it as in brothers-in-arms. “cow.” But the feud was not of- “The world gets better every day - then worse again in the evening.” A Haig wife responded, ficially ended until the - Kin Hubbard “No, it was Lowe,” pro- Blizzard of ’77, when Caleb nouncing it as in “go.” Hockmeyer’s six-year-old The two women began granddaughter became lost in screaming at each other until the snow. The child was dis- their husbands tried to inter- covered by Elijah Haig, who vene, but that led to Anjou rushed the child to Granny Haig and Buford Hockmeyer Haig’s cabin. Granny ap- trading blows. Knives were plied her best home reme- “[The American drawn, a shot or two rang out dies to ward off frostbite and President] has to take and soon a dozen Haigs and hypothermia and the child all sorts of abuse Hockmeyers were cooling was returned unharmed to a from liars and dema- their heels in Sheriff Caleb relieved grandfather. Bandit’s jail. A grateful Caleb and Elijah gogues.… The people Caleb migrated into the agreed that it was time to can never understand county with the stream of bury the hatchet. The one why the President does newcomers after a railroad exception would be an an- not use his supposedly into Primroy opened up the nual Haig-Hockmeyer free- great power to make rich coal seams in the moun- for-all each Fourth of July ’em behave. Well, all tains above the town. A coal at the county fairgrounds, camp soon sprang to life that “Just so the youngsters don’t the President is, is a became known as Upper completely lose their fightin’ glorified public rela- Primroy, while the county spirit,” the two patriarchs tions man who spends seat soon became Lower agreed. his time flattering, Primroy. Next month we will com- kissing and kicking Caleb Bandit had been a plete our review of Varmint people to get them to do Texas Ranger before mov- County’s rich history, as we ing east, and swiftly earned look at Doc Filstrup’s crowd what they are supposed the job of “High Sheriff.” He of poker-playing politicians, to do anyway.” would begin a tradition of how they got here and how Harry S. Truman giving his sons female names they have lost out in recent because, “They’ll have to years to Varmint County’s 33rd President of the U.S.A. fight their way through females.

Shop www.braxton-bragg.com for SKM Super Met-Al Grout Pens Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net for more Stone & Tile industry news | 10 February 2016 Slippery Rock Gazette requirements, best practices for MIA+BSI Announces 2016 Safety Initiative to small and medium-sized busi- material loading and unload- nesses across the United States. ing, and large-scale commer- IA+BSI is commit- member fabricators, installers, Scott McNulty, Industrial Safety cial installations. Natural Stone ted to a renewed quarriers, and stone distributors Consultant for the Bureau of 3. Release of new safety video. Installation: Best Practices for Mfocus on safety in North America. Additional Workers’ Compensation and Production is underway for a Safety and Success will be avail- for 2016. The first phase of sets are available for purchase OSHA. The webinar is available new safety video, Natural Stone able at no charge to members the 2016 Safety Initiative here: www.marble-institute.com/ for download at www.marble- Installation: Best Practices for as part of MIA+BSI’s Online will include the following: bookstore. institute.com/webinars. This Safety and Success. This video University. Hard copy DVDs will webinar will help participants will build on the vast library of be made available for purchase 1. Release of a new safety 2. Free OSHA On-Site understand OSHA’s On-Site available training videos and from the bookstore. poster set. In the first week of Consultation Program webinar. Consultation Program, which of- will focus on eight key areas of 2016, a set of seven safety post- A free webinar took place on fers free and confidential safety commercial and residential in- 4. Increased emphasis on ers were mailed to all MIA+BSI Tuesday, January 26, featuring and occupational health advice stallation safety, including PPE quarrier and producer safety. MIA+BSI, along with the National Building Granite Quarries Association, are as- Finally, a Stone Router that is easy to use sembling information to expand safety resources for quarry worker safety. Resources are being devel- and does not require 220 volt power. oped that will be helpful both for new and existing employees. 13 amp, 2100 watt Milwaukee 6117-33D David Castellucci, 2016 MIA Board President, said: “One way to demonstrate the strength of MIA+BSI is through an increased emphasis on safety. By creating a library of educational resources and adhering to the highest standards across the board, we not only protect all of our members, but we keep our reputation high.” Aaron Hicken, 2016 BSI Board Fits on Narrow Surfaces President Elect, agrees: “It is time to Profile Inside of Sinks to put safety and compliance at Uses Standard Profile Bits the forefront of the entire natural stone industry to ensure the success of our operations and, above all, the welfare of our workforce.” Learn more at MIA at www. marble-institute.com and BSI at www.buildingstoneinstitute.org. Aqua Base For more information about the Glides on a Cushion of Water! 2016 Safety Initiative, please visit www.marble-institute.com. The Predator has all the power needed to quickly profile the inside of your sink as well as the edge in record time!

Another Design Breakthrough Modern Technology Power to Spare David DeLarm is at it again, taking design David’s goal was to use modern technology to Like every other component of the Predator, to a higher level, making things simple and create a tool easier to control and use. the choice of the Milwaukee 6117-33D was affordable. no accident. With a 13 amp, 2100 watt, The Predator will profile the edge of stone variable speed motor, the Predator is strong He has capitalized on innovative materials and using standard profile bits, and requires only and durable. design concepts pioneered when he created the 3” of surface to balance the tool. This allows Raptor next-generation rail saw. the Predator to profile sink cutouts as easily as Unlike a belt-driven router that can bog down, edge profiles. you will be amazed at the strength of this Phil: What would you do if Milwaukee. Even with harder to shape profiles you were stuck in one place Item # Description LOW Intro Price like ogee, the Predator has power to spare! and every day was exactly 5365 Predator Electric Edge Router, Variable Speed $1,395.00 Great LOW Price! the same, and nothing that you did mattered? Call now or visit www.braxton-bragg.com to place your order Ralph: That about sums it www.braxton-bragg.com Fax 800-915-5501 up for me.

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Shop www.braxton-bragg.com for Omni Cubed products Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net for more Stone & Tile industry news | 12 February 2016 Slippery Rock Gazette Cops Surprise Motorists with Cash My New Year’s Cleaning heriff’s deputies in a central the holiday week. The newspa- Deputy John Thompson said Continued from page 7 website in a while, so I know there SGeorgia county have been per reports that the money came one motorist cussed him out at I don’t have time for anything too is some editing and updating that I surprising motorists, some of from an anonymous benefactor. the traffic stop before learning complicated or large, but just a need to work on.) whom expect a ticket. Bittick said the donor had seen about the money. In case you few small things I need to handle. Customers find us through both the concept somewhere else, and were wondering, Ms. Potty- Right now, my list includes: referrals and from searching on- Instead, they’ve gotten $100 thought it would be a great idea Mouth didn’t get a $100 bill. The • Inventory my samples and line, so I haven’t done any official bills. in light of tensions nationwide bad-tempered lady’s name was compile a list of what I need paid “advertising” in a while, but The Macon Telegraph reports between police and the public. not revealed. replenished by my sales repre- if I did, this would be a good time that Monroe County Sheriff The Telegraph reports that sentative for each of my quartz to set up a meeting with the sales John Cary Bittick gave officers some of the recipients were so Source: The Macon Telegraph, brands, so I start the year fully representative and discuss rates 54 $100 bills to hand out ran- moved they broke into tears. But www.macontelegraph.com stocked with samples to lend out. and any changes to be made. domly over three days during not everyone. I recently moved some displays • Contact distributors to confirm around and had a chance to clean I have up-to-date pricing on their out cabinets and drawers, but products (I have gotten burned on cleaning out and discarding old this several times this past year), and no-longer-needed magazines, This KDrill core and make sure all my work- brochures or other documentation sheets and binders are up to date. would be perfect to add to the list.

bit drilled 2,972 • Request brochures I might have I admit there isn’t anything earth- run out of and sort through dis- shattering or sexy about the items I continued color updates so I can have on my “To Do” list, but these holes. How many make sure my display racks are things definitely make a difference current. I am almost obsessive in in how my customers perceive my could you get? ensuring my samples racks are up showroom and my business. to date. I have closed several jobs Although we all know the year because customers were upset may start out slow, spring will be they chose something at another here before we know it, and both Actual KDrill Call Daryl Sims at 877-493-0394 and tell Core Bit used by shop only to find out it was dis- homeowners and businesses will him that you are ready to be wowed! Stone Spectrum continued, and the other shop be ready to take on new projects. never pulled it from their display. Taking some time now to organize Advances in stone working machinery and CNC Tooling have improved your shop and showroom when • Send follow-ups to custom- things are a bit quiet, in anticipa- drastically in recent years. KDrill Thin Wall Core Bits offer superior speed and ers on outstanding propos- tion of a busy spring, is a good way life. Our customers have reported from 600 to 2,972 holes from one core bit. als to see what I should hold to welcome in and start the New and what I should “recycle.” Year. Braxton-Bragg offers KDrill CNC Core Bits that will save you time and money. Simply put, these core bits last longer! They also offer faster cutting speeds • Upload new pictures on our Jodi Wallace is the owner of on granite and quartz. website and delete some of the Monarch Solid Surface Designs, in older ones that are just “so-so.” Fresno, California. • Works equally well on granite & quartz (I haven’t spent any time on our • Faster cutting speed Minnesota Mom Sinks Half-Court Shot • Exceptionally long life • ½ gas thread NEW! KDrill Blind Hole Core Bits • Available in 1/4” to 3”

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19410 KDrill CNC Blind Hole Core Bit, 1/2” $59.95 Minnesota mom says she to make the half-court shot and 19400 KDrill CNC Core Bit, 1” $59.95 Asaid a little prayer before knock $4,000 off tuition next year. 19401 KDrill CNC Core Bit, 1-1/4” $64.95 hoisting a basketball half-court Grace gave her mom the basket- 19402 KDrill CNC Core Bit, 1-3/8” $74.95 and sinking her shot to win thou- ball and on the final try Angela 19403 KDrill CNC Core Bit, 1-1/2” $79.95 sands of dollars off her daugh- launched it under hand. It bounced, ter’s private school tuition. swished through the net and the 19404 KDrill CNC Core Bit, 2” $94.95 crowd went wild. The mother and 19405 KDrill CNC Core Bit, 2-1/2” $119.95 Angela Ramey and her daugh- daughter screamed with joy. 19406 KDrill CNC Core Bit, 3” $149.95 Fax 800-915-5501 www.braxton-bragg.com ter, Grace raised the most money The Rameys were in New York in a school fundraiser at Bethany for an appearance on ABC’s Order online or call 1-800-575-4401 before Academy in Bloomington, “Good Morning America” to cel- 5:45 p.m. Eastern for Same Day Shipping. Minnesota, earning three chances ebrate the winning basket.

Shop www.braxton-bragg.com for KDrill CNC Core Bits Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net for more Stone & Tile industry news | Slippery Rock Gazette February 2016 13 Fans of Honest Colorado Busboy Will your next breakfast bar cause this Raise Money to happen to your customer’s child?

for Big Tip SEE THE The following can all be caused by ANIMATED VIDEO WWW.BRAXTON- a simple head injury: struggling Colorado busboy BRAGG.COM get Awho returned $3,000 in cash • Prolonged loss of consciousness only You can that he found on the floor is get- • Persistent or severe memory riginal The O ting rewarded with a big tip. loss, confusion race • Persistent vomiting I-B People impressed with Johnny • Seizures at Braxton-Bragg Duckworth’s honesty have raised more than $3,800 through go- • Suspicion of intentional injury (abuse) fundme.com. • Severe, persistent, or worsening headache He found the cash one Tuesday • Behavioral changes (eg, lethargy, decreased at Randy’s Southside Diner in alertness, extreme irritability) Grand Junction, Colorado and • Signs of a skull fracture or bulging fontanel handed it over to his boss, Randy (the soft spot on an infant or toddler’s head) Emmons. • Significant scalp bruise, trauma or brain injury The money was in an enve- lope behind a booth. There was Imagine if you were to blame for this Fewer Call-Backs Industry Leading Guarantee also a bank ATM slip inside, and happening to one of your custom- Now you can offer your customers a more Go ahead and give the I-Brace a try on your next the bank was able to return the er’s children. That’s exactly what hap- securely braced breakfast bar with no return breakfast bar and rest assured you’ll be backed by money to its owner, who gave pened to one fabricator in Kentucky. trip needed to install costly, old-fashioned–and the industry-leading “Better! Faster! Cheaper!” Although, instead of a customer’s child… it potentially dangerous–corbels. guarantee. Duckworth a $300 tip. was his own nephew. Emmons told KKCO-TV that Duckworth rides his bike to work, Better Design = Safer Product and his paycheck is being gar- The patent-pending I-Brace granite support installs in just minutes, eliminates the need for nished for medical bills. corbels or wood supports on breakfast bars and Duckworth says he never can be kept in stock – on the truck or in the thought of keeping the money, shop. Plus… never again will you need to saying “I work for a living.” worry about your work inadvertently causing injury. Old-style corbels ——————— You Get More Profit What good does it do to sell an extra 10 square feet of granite if you have to spend Is Honesty a Trend? the profits on high-priced wood corbels? ———————––––––––––––– $300/ea $11/ea olice in California say a Faster Install Times MADE IN THE USA waiter returned $32,000 in Now you can install a breakfast bar or canti- P levered island top and have it securely braced Item # Description MSRP OUR Price cash after some diners acciden- in minutes, with no special hardware or tools 12458 The Original I-Brace Countertop Support, 13˝ Long x 2-1/2˝ Wide, 3/16˝ $16.95 $10.99 tally left it behind. required. All it takes is 2 to 4 I-Braces, a length 12460 The Original I-Brace XL Countertop Support, 20˝ x 2-1/2˝, 3/16˝ Thick $22.95 $14.99 of 2 x 4, a few inexpensive screws, construc- 12461 The Original L-Brace Upper Bar Support, 10˝ x 2-1/2˝ Thick $23.95 $15.99 The Fresno Bee reports that a tion adhesive, and you’re ready to set the island 12462 The Original L-Brace Upper Bar Support, 15˝ x 2-1/2˝ Thick $29.95 $19.99 top in place! mother and son forgot the cash, 12464 The Original Upper Brace Upper Bar Support, 10˝ x 2-1/2˝, 1/4˝ Thick $17.95 $11.99 which was in a navy blue bank 12465 The Original Upper Brace Upper Bar Support, 15˝ x 2-1/2˝, 1/4˝ Thick $22.95 $14.99 bag, at an Applebee’s restaurant Typical breakfast bar islands use 2–4 braces per side. one Wednesday night. The money Centers should be spaced every 18-24˝. was from a family restaurant and rental income, and they were on their way to the bank when they www.braxton-bragg.com Fax 800-915-5501 stopped for dinner. When the waiter found the money he told his boss, who Order online or call 1-800-575-4401 before 5:45 p.m. Eastern for Same Day Shipping. called police. The money was ultimately returned to the family. The server Darth Who? of Rochester reports that a west- family ties to his name. with leukemia in 2002. was not identified. He told police ern New York man legally The “Star Wars” fan says A spokeswoman for the he did not want any publicity. arth Vader is a tattooed changed his name last year to he chose Darth Vader for his Department of Motor Vehicles Carrie Hellyer, an area director D43-year-old former Marine match the villain in the original new name because the char- confirms that Darth Vader is his for Applebee’s, said the waiter who owns a gym and is raising “Star Wars” films. acter carries an aura of leader- legal name. said he just wanted to do the right funds online for a bone marrow The former Eric Welch, of ship and toughness. He tests his thing. transplant. Canandaigua (kan-un-DAY’- own toughness by competing in Source: Rochester Democrat & gwuh), says he grew up in foster half-marathons and endurance Chronicle, www.democratand- Source: The Fresno Bee, The Democrat and Chronicle homes and didn’t have strong events. Mr. Vader was diagnosed chronicle.com www.fresnobee.com

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Painfully Powerful Puckering You’re in the Army Now. • Most people incorrectly as- mportant note to travel- Sam Venable sume the term “French kiss” ers who may visit Saint Department of Irony originated in France. Actually, it IPaul, Minnesota, or the was coined by the English in the South Pacific’s Trobriand 1920s as a slur on French culture. Islands the next few days: iven the flu The French call it “tongue kiss” Avoid kissing at all costs. Gepidemic, you or “soul kissing.” might want to opt for • In Belgium, you are expected You see, Valentine’s Day is nothing more intimate to bestow three kisses on anyone nigh. I know you’re thinking than a sincere hand- 10 years your senior. thoughts of love, if not outright lust. I know you feel inclined to shake, followed by mu- the Trobriand Islands are quite How did I learn about Michael pucker up. tual hand-washing… aggressive. Christian’s “kissology” book? Fine. Abundant kissing is per- “The custom begins with gentle Through a news release from a missible, even expected, this perusing some neckin’ news that directly from a dispatch filed by hugging and kissing,” he writes, toothpaste company, that’s how. time of year. (Then again, nothin’ has left me drenched with sweat. the Minneapolis-Saint Paul Star “progresses on to biting each Far be it from me to stoop so low says lovin’ like cooties by the Cold, fearful sweat; not the han- Tribune: “After talking with the other’s lips until bleeding com- as to shill for this dental indus- dozen. Given the flu epidemic, ky-panky variety. Read on: couple, officers returned to her mences—(aaaiiieee! one more try giant by revealing the brand you might want to opt for noth- Not long ago in Saint Paul, po- home to look for the tongue, but time)—and concludes with biting name—but if you want to, ahem, ing more intimate than a sincere lice charged a 43-year-old woman they couldn’t find it. Police said off the eyelash tips” (aaaiiieee! get Close Up with the partner of handshake, followed by mutual with assault after she planted the woman might have swallowed III). your choice on Valentine’s Day, hand-washing with plenty of hot the world’s most horrendous it.” Here are a few other kissing be my guest. water and antiseptic soap. But I French kiss onto the mouth of her Wow. Is this what the song tidbits, courtesy of Christian’s Just keep your tongue-lopping, digress.) 47-year-old boyfriend. One thing “Love Hurts” is all about? If so, manual: lip-gnashing, eyelash-trimming However, if you do insist on led to another, and in the height count me out. • The Japanese have always mouth away from mine. lip locking this Valentine’s Day, (or depth, as the case may be) of But if you think the Minnesota been extremely shy about kissing; steer clear of the two locations this oral ecstasy, she wound up situation is bad, check out the public puckering is taboo. Sam Venable is an author, stand-up I mentioned at the start of this biting off—aaaiiieee!—an inch physics of South Pacific smooch- • The longest kiss in movie his- comedian, and humor columnist for essay. Especially if you’re not and a half of the guy’s tongue! ing. According to Michael tory (three minutes, five seconds) The Knoxville (TN) News Sentinel. into extreme pain. Seriously. Christian, author of the book “The was between Jane Wyman and He may be reached at sam.ven- I offer this warning after Hold on; it gets worse. I quote Art of Kissing,” participants in Regis Tommey in the classic film [email protected].

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Shop www.braxton-bragg.com for Stone Shield Enhance and Sealer Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net for more Stone & Tile industry news | Slippery Rock Gazette February 2016 15 • The Relationship Between New MIA Training Manpower and Equipment Video Release Planned • Large-Scale Commercial Backorders Installations roduction is cur- • Identifying Safety rently underway for Concerns Early in the • Tile Setting Best Practices Pthe latest MIA+BSI Process Leaving You safety video: Natural Stone An official release date Installation: Best Practices • Requirements for Personal will be announced in for Safety and Success. Protective Equipment mid-February, 2016. For This video will consist of more information, visit Less Than eight training modules cov- • Installation Case Studies www.marble-institute.com. ering the following topics: • Best Practices for Material • Overview of Installation Loading and Unloading Satisfied? Safety

Filming for Natural Stone Installation: Best Practices for Safety and Success took place in December at the MIA+BSI offices in Oberlin, Ohio. Corporate sponsors are listed above, by logo.

Not If We Can Help It… (And We Can!) We Deliver 99.27% of Our Customers’ Orders in 2 Days or Less.

And you’ll know UP FRONT if an item is not in stock for any reason. If you’re sick and tired of backorder hassles, call 800-575-4401 or visit: www.Braxton-Bragg.com Fax 800-915-5501 www.braxton-bragg.com Order online or call 1-800-575-4401 before 5:45 p.m. Eastern for Same Day Shipping.

Shop www.braxton-bragg.com for Stone & Tile industry products Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net for more Stone & Tile industry news | 16 February 2016 Slippery Rock Gazette

The Really, Really Thirsty Thief Medical Center and ad- he major problem— mitted in unsatisfactory T one of the major hat’s the most impulsive gas station, only to see it moving condition with a severe problems, for there are Wthing you’ve ever done? away. After all, who’s going to ankle injury. Have you ever been desperate for steal a beer delivery truck? A re- Hopefully, his jail cell several — one of the alcohol? Combine the two and ally thirsty guy with a serious lack will be warmer than a many major problems you have a recipe for trouble. of judgement, that’s who. truck-full of Coors Light with governing people The culprit, 55-year-old in the winter. is that of whom you One guy in Georgia needed a bit Gregory Miller, drove the truck as Upon his release from more than a six-pack, resulting in far as a nearby Bojangles restau- in park. Bad move, Greg. The the hospital, police get to do it; or rather a lamebrained attempt to hijack rant, when he noticed police were truck kept moving…right over say he will likely face several of who manages to get an entire semi of Coors Light. in pursuit. He jumped out of the his leg. He was trapped under the charges, including theft and elud- people to let them do The driver had left it running semi-truck, attempting to elude wheel and captured at the scene. ing police. it to them. To summa- and unattended when entering a police, without putting the truck Miller was taken to Midtown rize: it is a well-known fact that those people who must want to rule You’ve Got To See This Video! people are, ipso facto, Patent Pending those least suited to do it. To summarize the summary: anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no #1 Seller! account be allowed to Most Popular Sink Support do the job.” –Douglas Adams Why Pay More to Install a Sink? Sink Harness the fastest and most economical system The Restaurant at the Why pay more than $5 for a sink install available, it’s also the most versatile. End of the Universe kit, when you could use the Hercules® Be the Go-To Guy to Repair Failed Installs Universal Sink Harness and complete While the Sink Harness was being developed and your install project in minutes, with no tested, we discovered another notable benefit of return trip needed? the Sink Harness: it’s a great system to repair failed ® undermount installations. Many fabricators are asked The Hercules Universal Sink Harness from to repair someone else’s poor sink installation job. The Braxton-Bragg is another great innovation that can Hercules® Universal Sink Harness will get the job I Didn’t Know save installers time and money. done quickly. You can become known as the guy who contractors and home owners in your area call for help. That Was Illegal, At Last, a Simple, Fast Alternative Call for a The Hercules® Universal Sink Harness is a simple, Supports the Heaviest Sink Loads Officer ingenious alternative to expensive brackets that only FREE Some clips and anchor systems rely on the countertop work on some installations, and a time-saving, more Sample! to support the sink–not so with the Hercules® professional alternative to building a scrap wood Universal Sink Harness. Just like a suspension bridge, Houston man is facing a support system to hold the sink in place while the the Hercules® Universal Sink Harness helps to Ajail term after he stopped caulk or adhesive dries. It installs without drilling into provide support and over-all strength to a countertop traffic on a busy freeway expensive countertops or cutting notches into your installation. It actually transfers all weight to the to propose marriage to his customer’s cabinets, and without using messy epoxies cabinet and doesn’t add additional stress to the weakest girlfriend. or relying on adhesives to secure sinks. One of the most and most easily damaged part of the countertop: the immediately recognizable benefits is that you won’t sink cut out. It does its primary function admirably have to make a return trip to remove bracing or jury- well, support the sink under the heaviest of loads. Vidal Valladares was rigged 2 x 4 supports. charged one Tuesday with ob- You Can Even Try One for FREE! structing a roadway, a Class B Fabricator Tested in Thousands of Installs Braxton-Bragg wants to prove it to everyone The Hercules® Universal Sink Harness has been misdemeanor punishable by up fabricator- and installation-tested under demanding who’s faced sink-installation problem, or just wants to save money and keep their shop to six months in jail and a fine conditions, and can be used to install the most popular of up to $2,000. types of sinks, including ceramic, stainless steel, and See the animated video! profitable. Call Braxton-Bragg and we’ll send even cast iron undermount. It is effective on either http://www.braxton-bragg. you a Hercules® Universal Sink Harness FREE A video of the Sunday stunt double bowl or single bowl steel or ceramic vanity to try! Visit www.braxton-bragg.com for the posted online shows Valladares sinks. Just imagine–one simple, inexpensive kit can do com/HerculesSinkHarness complete Universal Sink Harness video. on one knee in the middle of all of those sinks! Not only is the Hercules® Universal Interstate 45, proposing to Michelle Wycoff amid a ca- Item # Description MSRP OUR Price cophony of angry shouts and truck and car horns. (She said ® MADE IN THE USA 17310 Hercules Universal Sink Harness Kit $9.95 $4.95 yes.) Valladares does not have a published telephone number www.braxton-bragg.com Fax 800-915-5501 and couldn’t be reached for comment. Order online or call 1-800-575-4401 before 5:45 p.m. Eastern for Same Day Shipping.

Shop www.braxton-bragg.com for the Hercules Sink Harness Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net for more Stone & Tile industry news | Slippery Rock Gazette February 2016 17 Did You Know that Bubble Wrap Was Originally Intended as Textured Wallpaper? Why spend $36.00 MORE One of Bubble Wrap’s first big shipping assignments? Protective wrapping to at ? help cocoon the enormous and delicate IBM com- puting machines during transport, in 1959. GranQuartz hat’s a common at work, Fielding and his Website Wproduct that nearly partner, a Swiss inventor everyone has used or re- named Marc Chavannes. ceived at some point in their They are trying to invent a lives? Bubble Wrap. textured, plastic wallpaper with a paper backing. beginnings, the company Alfred W. Fielding and They started out by seal- has grown to annual sales of Screen Capture Mark Chavannes co-in- ing two shower curtains around $4 billion with a net 12-30-2015 vented Bubble Wrap in the together in such a way that profit of around $255 mil- late 1950s. Today, Sealed it would capture air bub- lion. For reference, about Air Corporation, the Saddle bles, which would make 10 percent of Sealed Air’s Brook, New Jersey-based the textured appearance for revenue comes from Bubble company he co-founded in their wallpaper. It fails. But Wrap, so around $400 mil- 1960, is a worldwide man- along the way they realize lion worth of Bubble Wrap Braxton-Bragg sells for less! ufacturer of packaging ma- their invention could be is sold annually. terials with annual revenues used for packing material, One common misconcep- in the billions. Fielding’s thus, giving birth to what tion about Bubble Wrap is story is one of those inspi- is now known around the that it is created using ma- rational invention tales with world as Bubble Wrap, and chinery that inflates and a creative, unintended twist the Sealed Air Corporation, then seals each and every - a success story that even the company that has de- bubble. In fact, it’s made today engineering students veloped and marketed it. by trapping air bubbles in can learn from as they look Through its technology, between two sheets of plas- forward to their careers. Sealed Air Corporation es- tic as they are heated and The early history of Bubble sentially built a specialty passed between rollers. Wrap demonstrates, for chemical business in pro- inventors, that keeping an tective packaging. Fun with Bubbles open mind to possible ap- Sealed Air continually plications is a clear advan- The Early Years of does extreme demonstra- tage - ultimately, you may Bubble Wrap tions showing how much start out trying to invent one It was three years after the better Bubble Wrap per- thing, only to hit on an even initial creation of Bubble forms at protecting fragile better idea. Wrap that Frederick W. items. In one such demon- Inventor & Bowers, a marketer at stration, they dropped an Entrepreneur Sealed Air, which makes 815-pound pumpkin from a The story begins in 1957 Bubble Wrap, finally came height of 35 feet onto lay- in a garage in Hawthorne, up with the perfect use for ers of Bubble Wrap. The New Jersey, with two en- their product. On October pumpkin survived the fall Check OUR trepreneurial engineers hard 5, 1959, IBM announced without a scratch. their new 1401 variable Among its many uses, word length computer. Bubble Wrap can be used NEW LOW “Anyone Bowers got the idea that as a cheap burglar alarm by Bubble Wrap could be used placing large bubbled bub- who reads as a good packaging mate- ble wrap on the floor in price! advice rial to protect the computer front of your door. Another books about while it was being shipped. common, but annoying use: He then pitched the idea stress relief, by popping romance to IBM and demonstrated the little bubbles, one–by– has one Bubble Wrap’s protective one. A final weird fact, Item # Description MSRP OUR Price problem to abilities. His demonstration and a mystery: the amount 9375 Makita® 5˝ Grinder, 9565CV $282.95 $145.95 went over well and IBM of Bubble Wrap produced begin with: began purchasing Bubble by Sealed Air annually is Fax 800-915-5501 bad taste in Wrap to protect their 1401 enough to wrap the entire www.braxton-bragg.com literature.” and other fragile product Earth (at the equator) with they sold and shipped. Bubble Wrap about 10 Order online or call 1-800-575-4401 before – Roger Ebert From those humble times. Where does it all go? 5:45 p.m. Eastern for Same Day Shipping.

Shop www.braxton-bragg.com for the Makita 9565 Grinder Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net for more Stone & Tile industry news | 18 February 2016 Slippery Rock Gazette Other Great Tools from As Close as You Can Get to Level Floors Raimondi and Straight Walls… Just 3 Easy Steps!

AS SEEN ON HGTV

Raimondi Large Format Tile Free Mover Designed for moving big tiles around the shop and homes doing a remodel or new construction, the Raimondi Large Format Tile Free Mover “We love the Raimondi Leveling System! We use it for floors, for walls; it really complements our Granite helps protect the significant investment that a business has made in materials. Workers can Transformations system. No lippage on our seams, no lippage in our mosaics. It saves us a lot of time. We tried freely move large format tiles and take the slabs other systems but we love this one.” out of the crates with ease and safety. Slabs are Craig Walters, held in a vertical position for applying adhesive Granite Transformations on the back.

ccurate tile setting requires perfect tile Step One: • Use the special traction-adjustment pliers to set leveling to prevent lippage. Uneven Set the Support the wedge. A floor conditions–a commonly encoun- • Spread the adhesives, insert tered problem–makes it difficult to properly set support underneath and along Step Three: ungauged and thin tiles or even larger format tiles. four sides. Remove the Support • According to tile size, set one or • When adhesive sets, separate protruding part of Problem… more supports on all tile sides. support from base. As a result, tiles that seem perfectly leveled during • Set the tile, tap in with a rubber mallet. • Use traction-adjustable pliers, rubber mallet, or installation, often show a variance in height after feet to remove support. the thin set or adhesive cures. Step Two: • Snaps parallel to the joint. Insert the Wedges Solution… • Insert wedge in support slot carefully, not passing FREE SAMPLE Now, thanks to the new Raimondi Leveling breaking point. We’re so sure you’ll love the new Raimondi Tile Spacers, the installation process is faster, and they Leveling System that we’d like to send you a free eliminate or reduce grinding needed to remove sample kit. lippage. We’ve also prepared a special starter kit just for An added benefit is that the low-cost Raimondi you that gives you everything you need to make system provides a HUGE savings over the other your first project a breeze. To order your starter leading brand of lippage reduction systems. kit or to claim your free sample, call 1-800-575- 4401 today. 3 Easy Steps… LIPPAGE Both the setting and removal of the leveling spacers are quick and easy.

http://www. braxton-bragg.com/ RaimondiTileLevel Scan This QR Raimondi Large Format Free Cut Tile Guides SEE THE Code to See a Video Demo With the increased popularity and use of VIDEO large format tiles during home remodels comes increased risk to businesses. Breaking one or WWW.BRAXTON- more of the expensive tiles due to outdated cut- BRAGG.COM ting tools can break your bottom line, too. That’s where Raimondi comes in — invent- ing the right tools to easily cut big tiles in one pass.

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Shop www.braxton-bragg.com for Raimondi Tile Installation products Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net for more Stone & Tile industry news | Slippery Rock Gazette February 2016 19 Modern Hansel & Kentucky Man Arrested for Eating approached Wagner, and noted his dilated eyes, slurred speech “Always do sober Gretel Story Not Carpet Lint… and Drug Possession and unsteady gait. A search of his person revealed a little of what you said you’d So Entertaining to olice in Louisville, Store employees told police this and a little of that – officers Minnesota Mom P Kentucky say that 50-year- they found Wagner in the shoe found bags of Lortabs, a bag of do drunk. That will old Jeffrey Wagner admitted section chowing down on carpet unidentified pills, crystal meth hat was your favorite fairy to smoking crystal meth before lint. Seriously. and an unknown white powder. teach you to keep Wtale as a child? Reportedly, going into a Burlington Coat He allegedly said he was Wagner was charged with pos- some folks prefer “Hansel and Factory store and having a veri- “eating sparkles,” WHAS 11 session of a controlled substance your mouth shut.” Gretel.” Not for the quaint repre- table feast, WLKY in Louisville reported. and public intoxication. It’s not sentation of German country life, reported. Police arrived at the scene, known if he has legal counsel. – Ernest Hemingway for the memorable values instilled by the story arch, or for the chill- ing idea that evil exists most fer- vently under a harmless guise… but because a house made of food seems pretty darn cool. Are You Paying More than Unfortunately, somebody took this moralistic fable and trans- formed it into a real disturbance. A mother in Minnesota received 40¢ per Sink Cutout? an anonymous letter expressing *Average sink is 4 linear feet that her children “look delicious” and that the sender would like a ™ taste. Scorpion CNC Finger Bits The mom responded publicly Soft Bond for Hard Stone on Facebook, berating the creep for her cannibalistic “urges.” In retaliation, the sender arranged for magazine subscriptions to be sent to the house, addressed to “Your Tasty Children.” According to the Huff Post, the culprit turned out to be a neighbor frustrated with the children being noisy and leaving their toys in her yard. Champlin, Minnesota police say neighbor Carrie Pernula, 38, ™ admitted that she was behind the letter and address labels. Deputy Police Chief Ty Schmidt says she’s been charged with stalking and disorderly conduct. It’s not Looking For The Right Finger known whether a restraining Bit to Tackle The Right Stone? order was issued for Pernula to keep her distance from the family. Consider the Scorpion CNC Finger Bits... With the Scorpion CNC Granite Finger Bit, this customer is The Scorpion™ Soft Bond Finger Bit is ideal for hard averaging 1100 feet per bit, which works out to about 40¢ per stones like granite. Hard stone requires the finger bit sink. With his previous bit, he was only averaging 500 linear feet. bond to be softer, so that the diamonds are exposed sooner to cut the stone. Softer stones are milled best with a finger bit that has a harder bond matrix, so that “After running it extensively we took it off the diamonds are not exposed as fast. and it still had life after cutting 1,068 feet. you need We realized it had given us over double the Item # Description MSRP OUR Price linear feet of work from any fingerbit.” 16017 Scorpion™ CNC Granite Finger Bit, 20mm x 40mm, $183.95 $119.95 All is love. 1/2 Gas Thread, Orange, Twin Seg., 5,500-5,800 RPM Josh, Stone Spectrum LLC 16018 Scorpion™ CNC Granite Finger Bit, 20mm x 40mm, $183.95 $119.95 But a little choco- 1/2 Gas Thread, Orange, 5 seg., 5,500-5,800 RPM late now and then doesn’t hurt. www.braxton-bragg.com Fax 800-915-5501

Charles M. Schulz Order online or call 1-800-575-4401 before 5:45 p.m. Eastern for Same Day Shipping.

Shop www.braxton-bragg.com for Scorpion CNC Finger Bits Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net for more Stone & Tile industry news | 20 February 2016 Slippery Rock Gazette Introducing the Elipse 6-Step Wet Polishing System with exclusive TrifectaMate Technology™ and the revolutionary Elipse Backer Pad

The Most Advanced 6-Step Polishing System Since…EVER! Elipse puts a new spin on polishing… A spin NEW! that allows you to save as much as $2 per foot on production costs.

How?

Elipse combines TrifectaMate™ Pad Technology with the genius of one of the stone industry’s finest minds, Barry Brandt, and the efficiency of elliptical patterned orbital polishing backer pad.

This breakthrough combination allows you to harness the power of elliptical motion without losing the center water feed vital for stone polishing. The result is a READ THE nearly perfect polish with less physical pressure and Elipse story less manipulation of the hand-held polisher. STARTING ON PAGE ONE! In other words, you get a better polish with less effort from your polishing craftsman (50-80% less human energy needed). The combination of cutting edge engineering, manufacturing and labor reduction is the reason we can confidently say you’ll save up to $2 per foot on your production costs. And the same state-of-the-art engineering, manufacturing and labor reduction also works for Quartz fabrication!

Will the Elipse 30 Grit System be the Death of Cup Wheels?

Item # Description MSRP OUR Price Eliminate the need for a cup 4-1/4˝ Elipse® Wet Polishing Pads, Hook & Loop-Backed wheel with the Elipse 30 Grit 22508 Elipse® Granite-Marble-Quartz Wet Pad , 30 Grit, Purple $41.95 $24.95 Pad and Backer Pad system. ® 22509 Elipse 6-Step Granite Wet Pad, Step 1, Red $41.95 $24.95 Now you can move straight from coarse removal ® 22510 Elipse 6-Step Granite Wet Pad, Step 2, Yellow $41.95 $24.95 to polishing thanks to the Elipse Pad designed ® 22511 Elipse 6-Step Granite Wet Pad, Step 3, Blue $41.95 $24.95 specifically for the Elipse Backer Pad. 22512 Elipse® 6-Step Granite Wet Pad, Step 4, Green $41.95 $24.95

® 22513 Elipse 6-Step Granite Wet Pad, Step 5, Orange $41.95 $24.95 Featuring the one-of-a-kind TrifectaMate™ ® 22514 Elipse 6-Step Granite Wet Pad, Step 6, Pink $41.95 $24.95 diamond compound and manufacturing process, ® 22516 Elipse Granite-Marble-Quartz Wet Pad, Buff $49.95 $29.95 you can rest assured this pad will be the death of 22507 Elipse® Backer Pad, 4-1/4˝ $49.95 $29.95 cup wheels as we know them!

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Shop braxton-bragg.com for the New Elipse 6-step Polishing System Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net for more Stone & Tile industry news | Slippery Rock Gazette February 2016 21

Elipse is Also Available in 3-Step Dry System

The same state of the art engineering, manufacturing NEW! and labor reduction is also available in a 3-pad, dry polishing system

All the game-changing, paradigm shift- ing, revolutionary changes available in the Elipse 6-Step Wet Polishing System, can be found in the Elipse 3-Step Dry Polishing System. This really does put a new spin on

how you polish! USES: The 3-Step Dry System is suitable for Granite, Marble, and Glass. NOT Recommended for Quartz. (For Quartz, try our 6-Step Elipse System.)

NOTICE: For use with Elipse Backer Pad ONLY - Water feed will be blocked if used with standard As Seen at back-up pad. StoneExpo 2016

MUST-SEE VIDEO WWW.BRAXTON- BRAGG.COM

Call Andrew Geronimo toll free at 800-575-4401 to place your order. Item # Description MSRP OUR Price 4-1/4˝ Elipse® Dry Polishing Pads, Hook & Loop-Backed 22517 Elipse® 3-Step Granite Dry, 4-1/4˝ Pad, Step 1, Red $57.95 $34.95 22518 Elipse® 3-Step Granite Dry, 4-1/4˝ Pad, Step 2, Lt. Blue $57.95 $34.95 22519 Elipse® 3-Step Granite Dry, 4-1/4˝ Pad, Step 3, Orange $57.95 $34.95 22520 Elipse® 3-Step Granite Dry, 4-1/4˝ Pad, Steps 1-3 $172.95 $103.95 22507 Elipse® Backer Pad, 4-1/4˝ $49.95 $29.95

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Shop braxton-bragg.com for the New Elipse 3-step Polishing System Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net for more Stone & Tile industry news | 22 February 2016 Slippery Rock Gazette you can believe it, If Hollywood wanted to Finally, a Manufacturer Who Listens to a Repairman change my birth date. I was Now the Strongest Guarantee in the Industry—12 Months! born after Valentine’s Day, so they wanted to change it to February 14. A Latin lover should be born on ONLY Valentine’s Day. I said no. –Cesar Romero $ 2-15-1907–1994 1,995 Romero’s last role was The Joker in the iconic 1960’s Batman TV show.

Boomers I am Bill Roberts and I approve this message! Hercules® Single Speed Continued from page 4 with Hydroplaning System Who doesn’t want that on their team? We have A Repairman’s Story Little Things Matter 21 Improvements Later lived through the Cuban My name is Bill Roberts and I repair Often it was the little things that mattered. Well, to make a long story short, the Missile Crisis, Woodstock, routers for Braxton-Bragg. Over the years, An engineer in a lab does not know the manufacturer has implemented the Vietnam War, the moon I have worked on hundreds of routers real world of a stone shop, and how the 21 improvements in the design of the Hercules® Router. These improvements walk, the JFK and MLK made by most manufacturers including shape of the power cord, the thickness of Sector, Stinger, MEM and others. a belt, or the type of bearings used can make it perform better and last longer. I assassinations, the rise of affect performance. believe you will agree with me that this computers and technology, I Have Seen a Lot of Wear and Tear… is the most reliable router you have ever plus the end of a century. Routers get a lot of hard use. Some parts Single Phase Power used. (Remember the Y2K scare?) simply wear out, and some occasionally It costs more to produce a powerful We know our stuff, and the break. Over the years I saw patterns and router with single phase power than with Now the BEST Guarantee only thing stopping us from often wondered why manufacturers did 3-phase, but when asked about making in the Industry—12 Months! showing you what we can do not beef up more of the critical parts. it 3-phase, I told them that many shops Because of the changes, the router is only had single phase power…and they now backed by a 12-month guarantee— is YOU! Nobody Listened listened! the longest in the industry. I would have We don’t want to be put From time to time, I communicated ideas to say that this is the most reliable router out to pasture. We don’t but for the most part, did not see any that Braxton-Bragg has ever sold. want to be seen and not changes. heard. We are capable of so much more than checking Finally, Somebody Did receipts or saying hello and Then about three years ago, I was asked to provide detailed information on my goodbye. We are overlooked experience with Hercules® Routers. Since Item # Description MSRP OUR Price and underrated resources. Hercules® is our best-selling router, I had 5368 Hercules® Router Edge Profiling Machine, Single Speed $3,448.95 $1,995.00 We can be role models for a lot of practice repairing them. Now with Hydroplaning System younger staff. We can lead I finally got the chance to take one F.O.B. Knoxville, TN teams for projects. We can completely apart and find the most worn run companies. All we are components. asking is that you give us Fax 800-915-5501 a chance. The next time a www.braxton-bragg.com “Boomer” applies for a job at your company, talk to Order online or call 1-800-575-4401 before 5:45 p.m. Eastern for Same Day Shipping. them. See what they have to offer. It might be the best decision you could ever make. Nebraska Deputy Saves Passed-Out Trucker revived enough to apply the Sharon Koehler is a 10- brakes, stopping the big rig and year veteran of the stone a heroic move worthy the semitrailer truck by sprinting erratically traveling north on U.S. averting certain disaster. industry and currently head INof a Hollywood ac- across a highway lane, jumping Highway 81 at about 65 miles Volk says the driver appeared of marketing for Artistic tion-hero, a Nebraska sheriff’s onto the tractor steps and grab- per hour, had fortunately slowed to be sick and officials specu- Stone Design in Richmond, deputy boarded a moving semi bing the mirror and a handrail on to about 20 mph as it neared the lated that he may have had a Va. She has been a regu- to save the unconscious driver, the cab. state’s ninth-largest city, allowing diabetic episode. lar contributor to various who had apparently passed out Deputies responding to a 911 Volk to leap into action. Radio station KNEN in trade magazines for several at the wheel. call about a reckless semi on U.S. He jumped from a cruiser onto Norfolk reported the incident years. Please send your Highway 81 caught up with the the highway, then into the truck’s in December, 2015 and the he- thoughts on this or any Sgt. Todd Volk, a 22-year truck in Madison County, but it cab, where he tried to awaken the roic rescue was picked up by other article to sharon@ veteran of the Madison County wouldn’t stop. slumped driver, and applied the national news. artisticstonerichmond.com. Sheriff’s Office, intercepted The semi truck, which had been truck’s parking brake. The driver Source: www.knenfm.com .

Shop www.braxton-bragg.com for the Hercules Edge profiling machine Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net for more Stone & Tile industry news | Slippery Rock Gazette February 2016 23 4 Reasons Why Fabricators Say… “Viper Wet Polishing Pads Can’t be Beat!”

Familiar Quote Diamonds with multiple At Braxton-Bragg, we cutting surfaces are the GREAT hear this question about main reason Viper® 7-Step Viper® 7-Step Granite Granite Wet Polishing Pads Wet Polishing Pads from perform at a high level from LOW fabricators all the time: start to finish. Other pads PRICE! start out working well but Are Diamond Pads quit on you before the job is Really Different? done, and yet appear to still Year after year, Viper® is have life remaining. the industry choice. Is this just dumb luck or is there a 3. Bond of a polishing pad reason? is as critical as the diamonds used. The Viper® Polishing 4 Things to Look Pad’s bond achieves a for in a Pad balance of flexibility and 1. Consistency is the strength. Our unique resin primary reason why the bond holds diamonds in Viper® Polishing Pad is place until their useful life so popular, but how is is exhausted, providing this maintained? It turns great pad life. The bond also out that Viper® 7-Step has good flexibility keeping High-quality diamonds (3x more than the competition) Granite Wet Polishing Pads the pad in constant contact Computer controlled production for consistency, pad after pad are manufactured under with the work surface, even Can be used at 1,500-5,000 RPM precise computer controlled when polishing inside or conditions from start to outside radiuses. With use of buff pad, reach 102 reading on gloss meter finish. Nobody is just Item # Description MSRP OUR Price sprinkling diamond powder 4. Price of Viper® 7-Step Viper ® 7-Step Granite Wet 4˝ Polishing Pads Hook & Loop-Backed at their own discretion. Granite Wet Polishing 1730 Viper ® 7-Step Granite Wet, 4˝, 50 Grit, Lime Green $22.95 $14.95 Computer controlled Pads is the final piece to 1732 Viper ® 7-Step Granite Wet, 4˝, 100 Grit, Red $22.95 $14.95 processes produce absolute the puzzle. Combine our 1734 Viper ® 7-Step Granite Wet, 4˝, 200 Grit, Yellow $22.95 $14.95 consistency, reliability and unbeatable price with 1736 Viper ® 7-Step Granite Wet, 4˝, 400 Grit, Light Blue $22.95 $14.95 dependability. Viper® has consistency, quality and 1738 Viper ® 7-Step Granite Wet, 4˝, 800 Grit, Green $22.95 $14.95 it, many others do not. superior bond, and its 1740 Viper ® 7-Step Granite Wet, 4˝, 1,500 Grit, Orange $22.95 $14.95 no wonder fabricators 1742 Viper ® 7-Step Granite Wet, 4˝, 3,000 Grit, Pink $22.95 $14.95 ® 2. Quality is another say, “Viper Granite Wet 55070 Viper Granite Wet Polishing Pad, 4”, Buff Light and Dark Stone $59.95 $35.95 key to Viper® being the Polishing Pads can’t be preferred polishing pad. beat!” Also available in 3˝and 5 ˝

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Order online or call 1-800-575-4401 before 5:45 p.m. Eastern for Same Day Shipping.

Shop braxton-bragg.com for the Viper 7-Step Polishing System Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net for more Stone & Tile industry news | 24 February 2016 Slippery Rock Gazette “This four-step system is the best solution I have come Selling across for polishing engineered stones. There is no Sarah Rohr color transfer from the pads. The process is quick and they work equally as well on our natural stones.” was recently in the market Ifor a car. Unfortunately, my –Phil Kuczma, Shop Manager, Italian Marble and Granite trusty family Toyota Corolla Inc., Clarence Center, N.Y. was rammed and totaled by a double cab Dodge Ram (aptly named), leaving me, my husband and our 10-month-old Quartz baby without a car. Luckily, Use for Silestone, Caesarstone, with the insurance settlement NEW! and Cambria we were able to begin the search for a new vehicle.

We are cheap folks. We don’t buy new cars. I sense that even when we can Highest Polish, No Bleeding, No Burning really afford a spiffy car, we will still opt for a deal and get a used car. 50% Labor Savings Which means that we are entering the wild and unruly world of used cars. In this world of used cars, I NoNo OrangeOrange Peel!Peel! am brushing up on my bargain- ing skills, my personal b.s. / lie detector, and as a business person, I am reviewing good selling techniques and really ur Talon™ 4-Step Polishing Pads have been designed specifically for Polish Faster and Get a Greater Shine Sooner! atrocious ones. O wet use on quartz. In other words, the proprietary design of these quartz polishing pads Take for instance the digital allows the fabricator to achieve the best quality finish and shine, while tool called Yelp. I Yelped “best These pads, with only a 4-step process, perform better and offer a better saving you time. used car dealers + the name of finish than a traditional 8-step pad set. my city.” And because of the next generation resins used in Talon™ 4-Step Pads, Call Today for a 30-Day, No-Risk Trial… they are non-marking and will not bleed like other pads. Call 1-800-575-4401 today and give the new Talon™ 4-Step Quartz Wet It dragged up a whole mess Polishing Pads a try. of bona fide auto sellers whose If you don’t agree they save you time and money, then just let us know customers were singing their within 30 days and we’ll buy them back from you. praises. I read review after review Item # Description MSRP OUR Price about a man, lets call him Ralph for our purposes... who was 18278 Talon™ 4-Step Quartz Wet Polishing Pad, 4˝, Step 1, Red $38.95 $25.95 WORKS IN hailed as a Jedi of car salesman- 18279 Talon™ 4-Step Quartz Wet Polishing Pad, 4˝, Step 2, Blue $38.95 $25.95 1/2 ship, a gentleman and a scholar. 18280 Talon™ 4-Step Quartz Wet Polishing Pad, 4˝, Step 3, Orange $38.95 $25.95 THE TIME! I called the dealership, I asked for Ralph and told him my story 18281 Talon™ 4-Step Quartz Wet Polishing Pad, 4˝, Step 4, Pink $38.95 $25.95 and my needs. He then began to tell me why my choice to by a cheap car was a bad one, he www.braxton-bragg.com Fax 800-915-5501 gave me his philosophy on car buying, he told me about cars Order online or call 1-800-575-4401 before 5:45 p.m. Eastern for Same Day Shipping. he had that were greatly over my budget. Let’s take this point by point… never tell a customer they are making a bad or wrong Ya’ll Cut that Out, Now compact disc (CD) or tape • It is illegal to use a lasso to player. So, MP3 players are OK? catch a fish. Really. choice, that is not how to edu- ust so our friends in Kentucky • Students may not hold hands cate or even change a mind, it Jwill not feel picked-upon, you while at school. • Any person who participates • It is illegal to dare a child to will most always backfire, it should know that there are also in a duel may not hold any pub- purchase a beer. turns the listener off completely. some seriously nonsensical (or an- • It is a crime to share your lic office in the state. If someone didn’t ask your tiquated) laws restricting frivolous, Netflix password in Tennessee. • It is illegal to place tacks on philosophy on a given subject, dangerous or unseemly behavior • Stealing a horse is (still) pun- a highway. don’t share it as though your in Tennessee. So don’t get caught • No person shall operate ishable by hanging. professorial knowledge is some- in any of the following illegal ac- scooters, roller skates or in-line • Skunks may not be carried thing they want. (Ironically, tivities, and be warned, all you skates on a permitted public • Tattooing a minor is a misde- into the state, sold, bartered, that’s what I’m doing right here horse-thievin’, skunk-swappin’, roadway or sidewalk while meanor. (OK- maybe that one exchanged or otherwise trans- in this article. So it goes.) minor-tatooin’ rascals… listening to a portable radio, makes sense.) fered – a class C misdemeanor. Please turn to page 34

Shop www.braxtonbragg.com for Talon 4-Step Quartz Wet Pads Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net for more Stone & Tile industry news the Cimex CR48DF which

| Slippery Rock Gazette February 2016 25 Planetary machines can be stan- Stone Restoration and dard single disc machines out- fitted with an optional planetary Maintenance Corner drive system all the way up to 3 Essential, Dual Purpose Equipment phase, radio/remote control, variable speed/drive, 500 kg or more art of the restoration machines. There are even Bobcat Bob Murrell type machines fitted with several and maintenance pro- Special Contributor P fessional’s tools is the of the three-headed planetary ma- equipment he needs to com- chines and still larger equipment plete certain tasks and / or proce- that resembles a large Zamboni dures. There are many types of (an ice rink resurfacing machine, floor machines or better termed, Photos provided by Bob Murrell in case you didn’t already know). machines for doing floors. There In many situations a single disc are machines for maintenance slow speed (150-300 rpm) ma- and there are machines for res- chine in either the 17 inch or 20 toration. Sometimes the same inch size, is the tool of choice. A gloss meter is an essential piece of equipment to evaluate machines can accomplish dif- Especially for polishing proce- your progress on a job, whether maintenance or restoration. ferent tasks, or can be used for dures, these machines can pro- Gloss meter readings before (left) and after (right) polishing. both of these two applications. vide superior results. Of course to increase production with this demonstrated these machines your supplier to determine which A particular process usually de- setup, simply add machines and for well over 20 years with great is best for you. termines the need for a specific people. These machines can be success and no major negative There are also other pieces of machine. For example, heavy very handy as they normally issues of any kind. I like both equipment which are used in rou- grinding of a large square foot- only require 110v power which the Majestic Heavy Duty ma- tine maintenance such as high age project may require the use is common most everywhere in chine as well as the Mastercraft speed burnishers, auto-scrubbers, of a planetary head machine for North America. Smaller diameter Quarry Master when it comes to and floor (carpet type) driers slow speed machines are also very single disc slow speed machines. which are among some of the ma- the best efficiency. As previously A single disc, slow speed ma- discussed, planetary head ma- useful for bathrooms and vesti- They are both made in the USA chines that come to mind. chine (150-300 rpm) like the bules, stairs, and other horizontal and perform reliably under harsh Burnishers are high-speed machines are much more effective Mastercraft Quarry Master when it comes to lippage removal surfaces. restoration conditions, which is chines typically used in combina- is useful for polishing smaller One of my favorite floor ma- a must. They are available with tion with white pads or diamond (grinding), honing, and other spaces like bathrooms and heavy stock removal applications chines is a planetary polisher and either modern dual capacitor AC impregnated pads to brighten and vestibules, stairs, and other yet requires only normal 110v or DC rectified motors. Each has render surfaces more consistent on most stone, terrazzo, and con- horizontal surfaces. crete floors. power. They are strong and reli- their own advantage, and this is looking. able. I have personally used and a personal preference. Talk with Please turn to page 26

Makita 4” Stone Polisher FREE “It’s all the power you need.” FREIGHT! The Makita PW5001C is the most used wet polisher in the stone industry with a built-in GFCI for safety. Makita® 4˝ Wet Polisher Variable Speed Darrell Lynch is waiting for your toll free call at 800-575-4401. • Five variable speeds 2,000–4,000 RPM (no load) • Built-in GFCI with reset and test buttons • Built-in water connections OUR Price: $319.95! • Powerful 7.9 Amp motor • 5/8-11 spindle thread Item # Description MSRP OUR Price • 5.1 lbs. 9001 Makita® 4˝ Wet Polisher, PW5001C $568.95 $319.95 • 4˝ Hook & Loop Back-up Pad included ® • 1-year limited manufacturer’s warranty 9376 Brush Set for Makita PW5001C $19.95 $11.95

Distributed By Order a PW5001C 4˝ Variable Speed Wet Polisher, Item #9001 from Braxton-Bragg and the freight is on us! Offer includes ALL 50 states and Puerto Rico Call 800-575-4401 • www.braxton-bragg.com

Shop www.braxton-bragg.com for the Makita PW5001 Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net for more Stone & Tile industry news | 26 February 2016 Slippery Rock Gazette is also much more expensive to Stone Restoration and Maintenance Corner own and operate. As of 2013 the Continued from page 25 The static (SCOF), and some- Occupational Safety and Health Burnisher speed is typically be- times the dynamic (DCOF), co- Administration recommends that tween 1,000-2,000 rpm. Finishing efficient of friction are used to walking surfaces have a SCOF each project with a burnisher and quantify the slip resistance of a of .5. However, there may be cir- a white pad most always improves surface. I own and have experi- cumstances that require a higher the overall results and appearance. ence with two types of slip co- reading. Auto-scrubbers and ride-on efficient measuring device, the I know that I have not men- scrubbers are wet operation main- manual pull meter and the robotic tioned all of the possible pieces tenance machines used for typi- BOT 3000. Both work well, but of equipment used in the industry cally keeping large scale project the BOT 3000 is subject to less and forgive me if I have not men- surfaces clean and healthy. They human interpretation and there- Slip coefficient measuring made simple: BOT 3000 SCOF readings tioned anyone’s favorite machine. utilize non-woven pads, dia- fore normally more accurate. It – At Left, .34, and at right, exceeding the OSHA standard of .5. Please turn to page 28 mond impregnated pads, or even brushes (for the cleaning of grout and textured surfaces). Of course hand tools are required to complete many proj- Drills a Clean Hole, Every Time... ects. Doing the borders against the walls are some of the toughest Braxton-Bragg offers an exceptional line of quality, high performance core ® parts of a job. Commercial qual- bits. Viper Dry Core Bits are fast, long-lasting, and designed to handle the toughest ity right angle grinder/polishers coring applications quickly, efficiently and economically. are an absolute necessity. Once again, speed control is essen- Viper ® Side Protection Dry Core Bits feature very aggressive, high-quality diamonds, designed for tial for different aspects of the procedure. Grinding and honing a wide range of applications. These diamond core bits are for use on granite, marble and quartz. can be accomplished quicker at higher speeds like 1,500 - 4,000 • Diamond segments on side greatly reduce segment breaking rpm, while polishing provides the • Fast drilling best results slowing the machine down to below 1,000 rpm. I like • Long life the Flex and Makita brand tools for these operations, and they • Use wet or dry have suited me very well over the • 2,000 to 4,000 RPM recommended for wet use years. There are also small up- right border/edge machines avail- • 10,000 RPM recommended when using dry able for large projects. • Our testing proved over 60 holes done dry and more than Whether using floor machines or hand tools, working wet or dry 100 holes done wet: average of 30 seconds per hole also comes into play. Dry operations will probably require the use Viper Side of a dust collar or shroud in com- Mike King demos a bination with a dust extractor (dry Protection #1 Seller! long-lasting Viper® filter vac). Wet operations require Dry Core Bit Most Popular Side Protection the use of a wet vac and draping Core Bit Dry Core Bit or taping to protect adjacent or sensitive areas. Use of a gloss meter is very Item # Description MSRP OUR Price beneficial to help customers see 7560 Viper ® SP Dry Core Bit, 5/8˝-11 Threaded Arbor, 1˝ $67.95 $44.95 before and after definitive results. This is especially true when pol- 7561 Viper ® SP Dry Core Bit, 5/8˝-11 Threaded Arbor, 1-1/8˝ $71.95 $47.95 ishing is a specific component of 7562 Viper ® SP Dry Core Bit, 5/8˝-11 Threaded Arbor, 1-1/4˝ $74.95 $49.95 the job process. A gloss meter can physically put into perspective the 7563 Viper ® SP Dry Core Bit, 5/8˝-11 Threaded Arbor, 1-3/8˝ $77.95 $54.95 jump in light reflection and help 7564 Viper ® SP Dry Core Bit, 5/8˝-11 Threaded Arbor, 1-1/2˝ $82.95 $59.95 a client understand what has occurred during the honing and pol- 7565 Viper ® SP Dry Core Bit, 5/8˝-11 Threaded Arbor, 2˝ $97.95 $64.95 ishing processes. It can also be 7566 Viper ® SP Dry Core Bit, 5/8˝-11 Threaded Arbor, 2-1/2˝ $119.95 $79.95 used to make sure you meet a goal agreed upon by all parties. 7567 Viper ® SP Dry Core Bit, 5/8˝-11 Threaded Arbor, 3˝ $134.95 $89.95 Why have two different Slip/fall concerns are a fast 7568 Viper ® SP Dry Core Bit, 5/8˝-11 Threaded Arbor, 3-1/2˝ $149.95 $99.95 core bits, when Viper Side growing interest for hard floor surfaces, mostly in commercial Protection Core Bits applications subject to the public perform great wet or dry! or large amounts of pedestrians. www.braxton-bragg.com • Fax 800-915-5501 Casinos, airports, hospitals and

schools come to mind, to name Order online or call 1-800-575-4401 before 5:45 p.m. Eastern for Same Day Shipping. just a few.

Shop www.braxton-bragg.com for Viper Side Protection Dry Core Bits Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net for more Stone & Tile industry news | Slippery Rock Gazette February 2016 27 “Mad Scientist” devotes more than two decades of research and development to create a better polishing pad. His greatest creation – TrifectaMate™ Technology – is changing the way fabricators polish stone. “The Viper 3-Step Pads are the best I’ve used... Saves us 60% of And with good reason – it saves 62.5% of labor costs and polishing time and lasts twice as at least $49 on supply costs. long as the previous pads.” Here’s how… – Tim Zeng, Granite Installation Specialists

Steve Bussell testing Viper ® 3-Step Dry Pads on Black Absolute granite their diamonds too quickly – before the diamond is used up. This results in shorter life. It can also mean loose diamonds from the larger grit pad left behind to scratch the surface in the next round of polishing. We’ve solved these problems.

MUST-SEE How it’s possible – Part Three… VIDEO Finally, the diamond selection process. Many manufacturers have the same quality ON OUR WEBSITE! of diamonds. What they may or may not have is the quality control to choose the right size and type of diamonds to create the perfect set of polishing pads. We have the technology.

The Result – The Viper® 3-Step Dry Pad with TrifectaMate™ Thanks to TrifectaMate™ Technology, the Viper® 3-Step Dry Polishing Pad saves fabricators $49 when they order a set of pads – compared to comparable 8-Step pads. And because there are fewer steps, each job is completed in 62.5% less time than with comparable 8-Step pads.

Add in the fact that TrifectaMate™ Technology allows each pad to work harder for Are we cRaZy?! longer and the savings really begin to pile up. Best of all you don’t sacrifice quality. Our competitors thought we were crazy when we started selling fewer polishing pads to our customers. Not only did these pads cost less per set In fact, many fabricators who’ve already made the switch tell us the finished ($49.10 less per set), reports from the field told us they lasted longer too. product may be even better.

However, it wasn’t long before the competition tried to copy what our Best Uses for TrifectaMate™ Technology? “mad scientist” spent nearly two decades perfecting: a 3-part, proprietary Because this proprietary technology saves so much time and works DRY, we technology. A technology we’ve trademarked as TrifectaMate™ Technology. A believe you’ll find it ideal for job site installations. Still, once you get your hands on technology that allows any fabricator to polish stone faster – with fewer steps. a set, you’ll probably want to use it everywhere. This saves labor and supply costs. 30-Day Risk-Free Trial… And while we’re not going to give away the secrets behind this new technology, Order a set of the Viper® 3-Step Pads today and we’ll back them with our I can give you a little insight on how all this money saving is possible. no-hassle, 30-Day satisfaction Guarantee which says: “If you don’t love the way these pads perform, we’ll buy them back from you.” Not sure what could be more How it’s possible – Part One… fair than that. The first thing that makes TrifectaMate™ Technology so remarkable is the fact Call 1-800-575-4401 to start your risk-free trial or place your order online at: that our scientists formulated a unique way to hold more diamonds in each www.Braxton-Bragg.com/Viper3StepDry pad. And more diamonds means the pads can do more work. Our technology goes way beyond the “White” resins others claim is the answer. Item # Description MSRP OUR Price 17867 Viper® 3-Step Granite Dry Polishing Pad, 4˝, Step 1 $38.95 $25.95 How it’s possible – Part Two… The second part of our TrifectaMate™ Technology is that we’ve discovered 17868 Viper® 3-Step Granite Dry Polishing Pad, 4˝, Step 2 $38.95 $25.95 how to hold the diamonds longer as you use the pad. Most polishing pads lose 17869 Viper® 3-Step Granite Dry Polishing Pad, 4˝, Step 3 $38.95 $25.95

www.braxton-bragg.com Fax 800-915-5501

Order online or call 1-800-575-4401 before 5:45 p.m. Eastern for Same Day Shipping.

Shop www.braxton-bragg.com for Viper 3-Step pads Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net for more Stone & Tile industry news | 28 February 2016 Slippery Rock Gazette Emco-Williams Helps Joel Davis Photos by Joel Davis, Sinkmate Chopper Update a Landmark and Emco-Williams Joel Davis (4) he granite coun- by Edgemate Stone Tools tertop experts at T Emco-Williams Inc. partnered with a development company to save a historical FREE Viper treasure of the “Secret City.”

MADE IN THE USA 6 inch Con- Oak Ridge, Tennessee, was established in 1942 tour Blade as part of the Manhattan Project, the top-secret operation that developed the atomic bomb. What is now known as the Alexander Guest House was part of the city’s history from the start. “When Original and new interior surfaces were given new granite tops, in Oak Ridge was created the rehabilitation of the Historic Alexander Guest House. as part of the Manhattan Project during World War ultra-top secret classifica- Manhattan Project. The II, the Guest House, as it tions staying at the Guest name changed to the was called then, was the House, many under as- Alexander Inn in 1950. place where visitors of the sumed names for purposes It was sold to a private community stayed,” said of preventing espionage. owner in 1958, accord- Parker Hardy, President It’s a fascinating story.” ing to the East Tennessee and CEO of the Oak Ridge The Guest House was Preservation Alliance. Chamber of Commerce. built in 1943 in Oak Ridge “You had notable scientists to serve as guest quar- and military leaders with ters during the top-secret Please turn to page 29

Chopper TS6 uses a 6˝ contour blade. It will cut a 3 cm lavatory Stone Restoration & Maintenance Corner bowl hole in less than 4 minutes. Chopper’s patent-pending Continued from page 26 design has guides that follow the edge of a template. These guides There are plenty of other are adjustable allowing the operator to change the size of the sink pieces of equipment that hole using the same template. will be needed from time to time. Portable lighting, moisture meters, multi- Chopper’s design also allows the operator to quickly change the meters (for testing voltage blade’s depth for step cutting while holding the blade at the perfect and amperage), pressure washers and the list goes on angle. Chopper cuts on the line and leaves a vertical edge on the and on. Each company will finish side of the bowl hole, saving you clean-up time. This tool need to do their own assess- will step cut the corners of a rectangular sink hole, leaving very ment of what equipment will be required for their little material to remove with a clean up drum, saving you time focused applications. As and money. always I suggest that you consult with a reputable You should always bring a multimeter on the job- distributor and solicit their site for checking voltage, amps, and resistance. input for product equipment The principal reason to check voltage is to assure suggestions and options. Of proper machine supply and troubleshoot any other course ultimately, the types electrical issues. Item # Description MSRP OUR Price and brand choices are your 5100 Sinkmate Chopper TS6 Saw $3,065.95 $2,911.95 decision as the owner of the stone, terrazzo, ceramic in the industry with thou- company. tile, and decorative con- sands of contractors hav- 7421V Viper Contour Diamond Blade, 6” FREE cretes. He helped develop ing attended his school Bob Murrell has worked some of the main prod- over a 25-year period. He Fax 800-915-5501 in the natural stone indus- ucts and processes which is currently the National www.braxton-bragg.com try for over 40 years and revolutionized the indus- Sales Manager for M3 is well known for his ex- try. Bob started one of Technologies based out of Order online or call 1-800-575-4401 before pertise in the restoration the largest and most suc- Cohasset, Massachusetts. 5:45 p.m. Eastern for Same Day Shipping. and maintenance of natural cessful training seminars

Shop www.braxton-bragg.com for the Sinkmate Chopper Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net for more Stone & Tile industry news | Slippery Rock Gazette February 2016 29 BEST-SELLING BRIDGE SAW BLADE FEATURING ARRAY TECHNOLOGY

Emco-Williams installed New Venetian Gold granite tops in common areas, of the Alexander Guest House, like this bar in the former lobby, reception desks, and the patron dining area.

Continued from page 28 housing. Some of the re- The stone that was put in vamped properties cater there by Emco-Williams, The Alexander Inn re- to Alzheimer’s patients. it is just extraordinary the mained in private owner- The run-down Alexander work they’ve done. It is ship for years and was listed Inn became the Alexander gorgeous. It’s absolutely a in the National Register of Guest House. showplace.” Historic Places. The con- “It was exciting that we The restoration brought dition of the property dete- were able to participate in some old Manhattan riorated. In 2013, the East Rick Dover’s endeavor to Project workers full cir- Tennessee Preservation take a broken down old cle, Hardy said. “There are Alliance had placed the hotel and guest house and people who have moved structure on its list of en- reconstruct it and make into the Guest House as dangered historic buildings. a living area out of it for an assisted living facility “The Viper Array Bridge Saw Enter Dover Development older people and save who actually stayed there Blade takes a bite out of the Ter- and Emco-Williams. the building,” said Bill when they first came to 20mm! Dover Development is Grove Sr., owner of Emco- this community as part of minator Xtreme blade and has at Segments well-known for taking on Williams Inc. the Manhattan Project, or least 20% more life. It’s also priced neglected historical proper- The restoration was during the Cold War.” a lot lower than Terminator.” ties. Most are granted a sec- masterful, Hardy said. “It Cutting Speed ond life as affordable senior really is an amazing job. Please turn to page 36 – Mike Weldon, The cutting speed of this Viper ® Courtesy Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce Stone Fuzion blade is equal to any blade on the market. 20mm Segment and Silent Core Blade Array Diamond Technology Using the best new technology, these Array Technology means that the premium blades cut even the hardest diamonds used on the Viper ® Array stone without causing your saw to blades are evenly spaced to provide draw increased amps. the same quality from the first cut of the blade to the last.

Item # Description MSRP OUR Price 9881 Viper® Array 20mm Segment Silent Core Blade, 14”, 4,500 RPM $344.95 $258.79 9882 Viper® Array 20mm Segment Silent Core Blade 16”, 3,800 RPM $389.95 $289.95

Fax 800-915-5501 Dignitaries at the Alexander Guest House ribbon-cutting ceremony are: front, from left: www.braxton-bragg.com David Bradshaw, Joseph Lee, Ray Evans, Mark Watson (City Manager), David Wilson, Rick Dover (middle), Teresa Scott, Mayor Warren Gooch (with scissors), Rick Meredith, Order online or call 1-800-575-4401 before Parker Hardy (President of the Oak Ridge Chamber). 5:45 p.m. Eastern for Same Day Shipping.

Shop www.braxton-bragg.com for Viper Array Silent Core Blades Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net for more Stone & Tile industry news | 30 February 2016 Slippery Rock Gazette

Shop www.braxton-bragg.com for Groves products Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net for more Stone & Tile industry news | Slippery Rock Gazette February 2016 31

Shop www.braxton-bragg.com for Groves products Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net for more Stone & Tile industry news | 32 February 2016 Slippery Rock Gazette The Slippery Rock Classifieds

Classified Ad Guidelines Slippery Rock website. •All faxed ads must be typed–No hand- Ads not meeting guidelines will not written ads–No exceptions. be published. •Please review all your ad info before submitting– NO refunds will be given •$30.00 per print ad, per month. Ads for ads that are submitted with the may be renewed by contacting the wrong contact info or content and then Slippery Rock Gazette. Free online ads! published. •Maximum of 70 words or less per ad •Best way to submit an ad is by going •Payment must be made at the time ad is online at www.slipperyrockgazette.net submitted. Credit or Debit Card only. A for a free ad, or use the online form for Credit Authorization Form is available a print ad, then fax payment to 865-688- by fax, or download a PDF from the 8254, (Attn: Karen Richards). Readers Please Note: 2016 Classified Ad Deadlines The information contained in our Classifieds section is provided by Issue Ad Submission Deadline third parties and not an endorsement March 2016 Monday, February 1, 2016 of particular products, companies or employers. The SRG® encourages all April 2016 Tuesday, March 1, 2016 interviewing employers to carefully ThassosThassos WhiteWhite MarbleMarble May 2016 Monday, April 4, 2016 conduct prescreening of all prospective employees, and purchasers of used equipment are encouraged to use cau- Buy factory direct. We ship all over the U.S. that you’re interested in becoming a tion and common sense. Buy from the #1 U.S. source for White Thassos since 1988! participant in this program and we will For Sale We produce the whitest Thassos available in slabs, 2cm, 3cm print for you custom postcards and developed a unique 3-in-1 formula and tiles 12 x 12, 12 x 24, 18 x 18, 24 x 24 and slabs, with FOR SALE: New, in stock, Upstate brochures to hand out to your clients that will clean, polish, and protect your New York; Steinex Hydraulic Stone and prospective customers interested granite countertops. It is non-toxic, over 150,000 sq. feet in our Houston warehouse. Splitters & Extreme Duty Conveyors. in your countertop services. biodegradable and safe to use around 242 ton MENHIR “H-frame,” 39.37˝ The postcards and brochures will be food preparation areas, children, Blade length & 23.62˝ Blade Height. printed with your company name and and pets. Supreme Surface Granite 55 ton BROADWAY “H-frame,” address. The space | Your Business Cleaner & Conditioner, leaves a streak 23.62˝ Blade length & 11.81˝ Blade Name & Address | will be replaced free shine, every time—even on black Height. 132 ton IGLOO “C-frame,” with your pertinent information to let granite! But Tom wasn’t satisfied. To 18.9˝ Blade length & 17.72˝ Blade your customers know how to contact learn what others thought of his new Height. 77 ton IGLOO “C-frame,” you directly. You will also receive a granite cleaner he gave it away—free. 17.72˝ Blade length & 15.75˝ unique discount code that is linked to “We sent our free samples across the 2502 Dunlavy • Houston, Texas 77006 Blade Height. SHERPA Motorized your Braxton-Bragg account, so that USA to everyone that wanted it… www.eurostonemarble.com Conveyor w/High Sideboards, we can track your customers and for Yes, everyone! All this, just for their 13.12´x 3.28´, Dual Track & Single you to receive a rebate from us when feedback on how we could improve Track Conveyors 9.84´ x 3.28´. For someone purchases Supreme Surface our product!” Log on to http://www. more information or to schedule an Products. For more information about consumerstonecare.com . DEMO & CLOSEOUT appointment, please contact André @ this program, please contact one of our (518) 260-2158 or email apexequip salesmen at 800-575-4401. Tools and Equipment [email protected]. Join Us $100 sale on these gently used tools & tooling. All warranties ______What makes Supreme Surface apply from the date you purchase. No risk, only great savings! Cleaners so special? ioSeal. The stone Each Month! • #930599 (1) Demo Makita Hypoid Saw, Sale $100 FOR SALE: The Basic Stone conditioner in Supreme Surface clean- For your subscription requests, ad- • #8800299 (1) Demo Flex LW1503 Polisher, Sale $100 Saw– A Thin Veneer Saw. The Basic ers is a proprietary ingredient called dress changes, and Saw can increase your profit with ioSeal. This amazing technology ion- • #386699 (10) Hercules VS Wet Rear Exhaust Air Polisher, Sale $100 its low purchase price, low mainte- ically bonds with the surface of your FREE CLASSIFIEDS, • #889699 (2) Flex LW1509 4-1/2˝ Center Water Feed Grinder, Sale $100 visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net nance expense, decreased labor and natural stone, sealing it and protecting • #413440 (3) Demo Viper 3cm F Brazed Profiler, Sale $100 its high productivity. After years of it from hard water spots, mineral build- • #9060D (1) Hercules Profile Router Bit, 2cm A, Sale $100 use and testing, the design has been up, and stains. Supreme surface clean- refined until it is ready for the mar- ers are the brainchild of stone industry • #9063D (1) Hercules Profile Router Bit, 2cm B, Sale $100 ket. The Mighty Stone Saw is its veteran Tom Munro who embarked • #1813099 Demo Talon Pos. 2 E30 Bevel Bit, Sale $100 big brother. See the video at mighty on a quest to find the BEST granite cleaner. What he found, however, was Call 800-575-4401 or visit the CLOSE OUTS page stonesaw.com and email the develop- no one product that offered a no-rinse, at www.braxton-bragg.com er at [email protected] or call streak free (even on black granite), 1-931-248-1759 for more information. ______eco-friendly formula that would clean, polish, and protect granite and other Become a Stone & Tile Inspector natural stones against stains, and was Stone Forensics is now offering its made in America. Visit the Stone Stone Care popular Stone Inspection Seminar Forensics website/ Since the perfect stone cleaning prod- as an affordable, self guided Power- training page and uct didn’t exist, Tom invented it... see what seminar Braxton-Bragg’s Supreme Surface Point presentation. Together with a chemist that he met Take Dr Fred’s Stone and Tile In- graduates say Stone Care Program. Braxton-Bragg about the class! though his stone design business, Tom spection course and learn how to firmly believes in offering not only take your skills to the next level as the best products for stone fabricators a certified stone inspector. Evaluate and installers, but also in providing installations, understand crack prop- our customers with a way to retain agation, troubleshoot failures, learn and maintain great working relation- problem solving for stain removal, efflorescence, lippage, and more. ships with their customer base. This is why we have launched Supreme • Learn physical and chemical Surface Stone Care Program for stone testing, troubleshoot problems fabricators that purchase their supplies • Earn Up to $300 per hour • Includes class manual & three directly from us. It is easy to sign up technical calls to Dr. Fred and we do all of the work for you! All you have to do is let us know Call 321-514-6845 Visit www.stoneforensics.com

Shop www.braxton-bragg.com for Stone & Tile industry products Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net for more Stone & Tile industry news | Slippery Rock Gazette February 2016 33 Add $200 Pure Profit To Every Job!

Item # 20200 Double Bowl 50/50 Stainless Steel Sink: 32-1/4˝ x 18˝ Bowl Size: 14-1/2˝ x 16-1/4˝ Compare to Bowl Depth: 8˝ Kohler K-3180

Comparable Models: • Kohler K-3180 ™ • Blanco 501-106 • Elkay EGUH3118 • Franke UDSK900-18

Vallé ™ 18 Gauge Stainless Steel Undermount Sink Made of surgical grade 304 stainless steel

Quality Practical These designer Vallé™ 18 Gauge Stainless You’ll be able to please the most demanding Give your customers the function and Steel Undermount Sinks could easily retail in homeowner with these quality sinks. convenience of a professional sink. The bowls a showroom for $250-$500.00. However, our Manufactured from heavy gauge, premium in our sinks can accommodate large pots offering is priced so right that it can become a 304 stainless steel, our Braxton-Bragg sinks are and pans without spill over. The undersides true money-maker for fabricators! remarkably resistant to stains and corrosion. are fully coated, and come with extra rubber padding for superior sound deadening. They’re Gonna Buy It Anyway Design & Style Don’t let your customer buy the sink The stylish looks of our sinks compliment Durable from someone else and bring it to you for the latest trends in modern kitchen design. In our search for a suitable sink to offer our installation–give your customers a beautiful, The high luster satin finish and superb crafts- valued customers, our main goal was to find cost-effective alternative with our high-end manship will add long-lasting beauty to any a professionally manufactured, consistently Vallé sinks! kitchen. high-quality product. Our stainless steel sinks hold up to heavy use, look good in any new or remodeled kitchen and are easy to maintain and clean. What more could you ask for?

Item # Description MSRP OUR Price 20200 Vallé™ Stainless Double Bowl 50/50, 14-1/2˝ x 16-1/4˝x 8˝ $149.95 $128.95

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Order online or call 1-800-575-4401 before 5:45 p.m. Eastern for Same Day Shipping.

Shop www.braxton-bragg.com for Valle Stainless Steel Sinks Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net for more Stone & Tile industry news | 34 February 2016 Slippery Rock Gazette Selling out to other car salesman, a car didn’t meet our stan- ® though my ears were perked dards he offered a thought Continued from page 24 to hear some real respect and or two about why they Hercules Variable Speed And finally, give the honesty…which is where might not be up to our spec- customer what they ask Daniel comes in (his actual ifications, though he did not Wet Air Polisher for; showing people things name–because he deserves to harp on the subject or deny greatly out of their reach be honored and recognized). our claims, which was im- does not fulfill their need. When I called he gave me pressive in and of itself. He with Side Exhaust As product and service pro- great descriptions of each treated me with the same re- viders it is our job to make car. He said, “We only sell spect and regard as my hus- our customers feel seen, cars that run well and have band, when he was speaking heard, understood and hon- clean titles, and we play no it was to both of us. Save time ored. Even and especially games.” I broke my hus- Daniel said, as we were when we don’t agree with band out of work early so we collecting our belongings to AND money! their choices. could drive the 45 minutes leave, “Buying a car should Get maximum productivity After I got off the phone out of the city to this man’s be like buying milk at the with Ralph, I was irritated lot. grocery store (only a bit big- with a high-quality tool that and then I remembered the In the first handful of ger and more complicated), word “Mansplaining” which cars Daniel showed us, he where you know what you fits your budget! is defined as: pointed out one that was are getting, its quality and Verb-informal greatly over our budget, and how much you are actually Gerund or present seeing our dismay he did going to pay for it.” He then participle: mansplaining not repeat that selling tactic genuinely wished us the (of a man) explain (some- for the rest of the hour and best and said he hoped we’d thing) to someone, typically a half we were on his lot. I find what we were looking a woman, in a manner re- noticed his office was tidy for, not mentioning that the #1 Seller! garded as condescending or and uncluttered, it was warm sale would not be his, as he Most Popular patronizing. “I’m listening and inviting, he had festive did not seem have what we to a guy mansplain econom- decorations up, and the of- needed. ics to his wife.” fice looked like a very well I left, saddened that I organized place of business. would not get to buy a car This interaction did not Daniel himself was kind and from him. That’s the hall- Five specialized bearings make me leery of reaching listened to our needs. When mark of a great salesman. increase tool performance

YOU SAVE00 $ 116

• Spindle speed: up to 4,500 RPM • 88 Db • Side Exhaust • Air consumption: 16 cfm @ 90 psi • Weight: 3 lbs. • Length: 7” • Center water feed • 5/8–11 spindle thread • Built-in water dispenser • Reversible side handle • Textured, rubber coated body for secure grip • 90-day warranty

Comes with: Wrench, adapters, 12 foot water hose, air lubricant; back-up pad sold separately

Item # Description MSRP OUR Price 3803 Hercules® VS Wet Air Polisher, Side Exhaust $288.95 $169.95 Back-Up Pad Sold Separately

Fax 800-915-5501 www.braxton-bragg.com Order online or call 1-800-575-4401 before 5:45 p.m. Eastern for Same Day Shipping.

Shop at www.braxton-bragg.com for Hercules Air Polishers Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net for more Stone & Tile industry news | Slippery Rock Gazette February 2016 35

“Since using Akemi Platinum we haven’t used any other polyester. It’s clearer and ‘tints right.’ Akemi Platinum is better than anything else.”

Tim Nelson, Supervisor Classic Stone Works Linville, NC Why is AKEMI Platinum the CLEAR leader? Why is Akemi Platinum the clear leader? The Clear Choice Bond Strength Akemi Platinum provides a permanent bond With Akemi Platinum polyesters, there is Bond strength is essential in laminating or that cures faster and clearer than any other no trade-off. The clarity of Akemi Platinum making repairs. Akemi Platinum’s strength polyester adhesive. makes it easy to match the color of the stone. makes it perfect when layering or joining Akemi begins with the best raw materials The appearance of the stone comes through integrity is needed. Akemi Platinum’s strength and engineering, and has more than 75 years more exact and clear. Akemi Platinum “colors and quick cure time eliminates failures in of experience in formulating products for right,” making it easy to tint and match stone. laminating and in seaming countertops. stone applications. Akemi is also dedicated to providing the best in adhesives with its top of Curing Time Another way that Akemi insures a good result the line Platinum Premium Clear Polyester. Akemi Platinum cures in only 30 minutes.* in comparison to other adhesives is that Akemi That means you have less down time with Platinum allows more forgiveness when it Appearance and Clarity Akemi Platinum before you can safely mill, comes to measuring out the mixture. So when Appearance and clarity are a priority in profile, polish or drill. too much or too little hardener is added, the making a seam, lamination or repair invisible. High quality resins and ingredients insure results can still be strong and secure. ** Clear epoxies and “water-clear” polyesters take Akemi Platinum performs exceptionally in hours to cure to a polishable stage, and while many applications such as seams, laminations **Best results will be always be achieved when transparent polyesters may cure in less time, the and repairs. Best of all, it is ideal for working following manufacturer’s instructions. amber appearance they have must be overcome. with granite, marble or engineered stones. Each option requires a trade-off to be made; will you choose quick curing time, or are you *Curing varies with temperature. Cure time is faster willing to sacrifice appearance and clarity? at 70° or higher, and will be slower at 70° or less. Call now to order Akemi Marmorkitt 1000 Platinum Knife Grade Call toll-free 1-800-575-4401

YOU Item # Description MSRP OUR Price SAVE% 4623 Akemi Marmorkitt 1000 Platinum Knife Grade $40.95 $29.95 29 Polyester Adhesive, Quart Price includes the correct amount of paste hardener.

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Order online or call 1-800-575-4401 before 5:45 p.m. Eastern for Same Day Shipping.

Shop www.braxton-bragg.com for Akemi Platinum Knife grade Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net for more Stone & Tile industry news | 36 February 2016 Slippery Rock Gazette Emco-Williams Helps Update a Landmark

Joel Davis Continued from page 29

“There are pictures of Robert Oppenheimer at the Guest House,” Hardy said. “We think Enrico Fermi was (also) there. This was in a time when the city of Oak Ridge was a top secret community. You couldn’t enter the city without a badge identification. Maj. Gen. Leslie Groves (the military head of the Manhattan Project) had The former Alexander Inn, on the National Register of Historic Equipment in the over 17,600 square foot Emco-Williams a two-room suite at the Guest Places, was a Cold War era fixture in Oak Ridge. The deterio- Sevierville, Tennessee production facility includes an House.” rating structure was rehabilitated by Dover Development, and Elettromechannica Bridge Saw, two Bavelloni CNCs with Emco-Williams served as the granted a second life as affordable senior housing. automatic tool changers, and a Sasso inline polisher. stone expert for the project. “We put in all the bar tops for the kitch- includes more than 40 colors of for its stone expertise. This of years to learn the right way. Grove said. “We like all of them. enettes and also the vanity tops,” granite slabs. wasn’t always the case. “I had “What sets us apart is we have We buy a lot of things from Grove said. “We did all the tops Emco-Williams employs 15 no background in stone,” Grove many years of experience in fab- Braxton-Bragg such as dollies in the reception area, the lobby people. It fields two to three in- said. “First of all, Emco-Williams ricating products for the bath and and racks and things of that na- area, and various other places. stallation crews. Two are dedi- wasn’t a stone company. It was the kitchen,” Grove said. “We ture, and we buy silicones and It was a considerable amount of cated to installation. One crew and still is a cultured marble do a good job. We have a good polishing wheels and so forth.” granite. (We put stone in) all the floats between fabrication and manufacturing company, but we record of quality, and we have Emco-Williams has a long his- common areas, which would in- installation as needed. added stone about 13 years ago.” a lifetime warranty on all our tory. The recent years that have clude the restrooms and the lobby The company has two show- The company came into the products. We stand behind them. been especially challenging. The and the reception desks and the rooms. One is in Knoxville. It stone industry through glass. It Having been in business 53 years, economic downturn of the last dining area for the patrons.” is 11,000 square feet. The other used to manufacture glass shower it is a little bit to stand on.” decade hurt. The company used Bainbrook is in Sevierville. It is about 900 enclosures. Emco-Williams was founded “We about died,” Grove said. Brown for the vanity tops and the square feet. The fabrication facil- “After we did it a while, we saw in 1962 by Hubert Williams. “We were doing many, many jobs kitchenettes. It was supplied by a ity in Sevierville is about 17,600 a company that came up for sale,” “I came along 27 years ago,” in 2008, new construction and so distributor in Nashville. The gran- square feet. Grove said. “My son and I went Grove said. “I had just retired. forth. ite used in the commons areas Emco-Williams does both res- down to look at it. They gave us I came home and my wife said, Please turn to page 37 was New Venetian Gold. idential and commercial work. It a list of the equipment we would ‘Go get a job,’ so I bought the Emco-Williams has a more than completes four to five jobs per buy. One of the machines on there company. Simultaneously, my 53-year history. It was founded day. It offers cultured marble was a glass machine made by a son was graduating from Middle Emco-Williams employees in Sevier County, Tennessee, in and cultured granite. It also of- granite machine company called Tennessee State University, so he Jon Burns (seated) and Chris Maples check settings on one March 1962. It is one of the oldest fers natural stones like marble, Bavelloni. joined us.” of the company’s two Bavello- continuously operated cultured slate, and granite. It offers stone “I called to find out a little bit The company is a Braxton- ni CNC machines. “Our CNC marble companies in the country. from four distributors. Two are about the glass machines. We Bragg customer. It uses many machines are the backbone of In November 1999, Emco- in Atlanta. One is in Nashville. talked to a salesman, and he said, items offered by the distributor, our production,” said Grove. Williams Inc. moved into its One is in Knoxville. ‘You don’t want to buy that ma- 20,000-square-foot plant and In the company’s shop, its chine. You want to buy a granite showroom located at 1030 Old equipment includes a bridge saw, machine.’ So the next day, he Knoxville Highway in Sevierville, two Bavelloni CNCs with auto- came up here from Greensboro, Tenn. In 2003, the company matic tool changers, and a Sasso N.C., and it’s all history from added natural stone and quartz inline polisher. there. We bought a granite ma- to its product line. The inventory Emco-Williams is now known chine instead of a beveling machine. We bought a second one, and then a third one.” Grove never planned to enter the granite business. It turned out to be a successful investment. “That’s how we got in the granite business,” he said. “By accident. Best move we ever made. The best thing… is to know nothing when you buy a company. A lot of companies have bad habits. At least when you buy a company, you don’t pick up their bad habits. You go from your common interest and knowledge about manufacturing in general and what is The Emco-Williams Sasso “Flying Flat” Inline Edge Polisher has right and what is wrong.” become a workhorse for the company. Emco-Williams has had a lot

Shop www.braxton-bragg.com for Stone & Tile industry products Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net for more Stone & Tile industry news | Slippery Rock Gazette February 2016 37 Emco-Williams

For the kitchenettes and vanity tops in the guest rooms throughout the building, Emco-Williams installed a warm Bainbrook Brown granite.

Continued from page 36 “The next thing we know, we turned around, and we didn’t have any customers. We struggled. We cut hours. We didn’t lay anybody off. We went to the local bank, which was me, for capital.” Plugging away paid off, though. “Everything for the last year-and-a- half to two years has just been super,” Grove said. “A matter of the fact, 2015 was the best year we’ve had ever in 53 years.” Grove gave his employees the credit for the success. “They are totally responsible for our company’s success,” he said. “I’m just a pretty face.” The local market that Emco- Williams serves is a resort area. It includes three different cities: Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg. “All of them have hotels, motels, restaurants, timeshares, con- “Free Shipping? dos, etc., and, of course, people who work there have homes,” Grove said. “We also do homes in Knoxville and Sure, we offer free shipping…” Oak Ridge and places like that as well through East Tennessee.” Although the company does some Braxton-Bragg, when we Truthfully, I don’t know if our competition So, you get TWO shipping bills even radio and newspaper advertising, say FREE SHIPPING for is taking advantage of you… if they are though you placed one order for which that is not where the bulk of business AT UPS orders over $250, just incompetent… or they just aren’t you thought you were getting free comes from. “We advertise, but most that’s what we mean. paying attention. shipping. of it is referral,” Grove said. “Word of mouth. In 53 years, a lot of people out In other words, if you order $250 worth Either way, it ain’t right. For instance, let’s At Braxton-Bragg, we’ve streamlined there have our products.” of supplies or tooling, you’ll never see an say you place an order for $250 with one operations to ensure this nonsense never The Alexander Guest House was invoice for shipping charges on that order of our competitors. However, they don’t happens when you order from us. not the first project with Dover. — the entire order is covered. have everything on that order in stock at Emco-Williams has participated in one location. Go ahead and put us to the test and you’ll others. There are more planned. Makes sense, right? Well, it’s come to our see that we mean what we say when we There is also much commercial attention that this is not always the case. So, what they do is split the order into, say, “You’ve Got a Friend in Tennessee.” work waiting. “We’re thinking for example, one order of $150 from of doing some work in Branson, Apparently, our competitors like to charge one warehouse and $100 from another To eliminate the double shipping charge Missouri,” Grove said. “Pigeon Forge multiple shipping charges on the same warehouse. Now, according to their nonsense, give us a call at 800-575-4401 and Branson are kind of sisters. We order. system you have two orders that don’t or visit www.braxton-bragg.com . have a lot of timeshares and motels meet the free shipping requirements. coming up.” All this adds up to a busy year. “If the wheels don’t fall off, we should have an even better year in 2016 that we had in 2015,” he said. www.braxton-bragg.com Fax 800-915-5501

For more information please visit Order online or call 1-800-575-4401 before 5:45 p.m. Eastern for Same Day Shipping. www.emcowilliams.com.

Shop www.braxton-bragg.com for Stone & Tile industry products Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net for more Stone & Tile industry news | 38 February 2016 Slippery Rock Gazette Left: Shown in a 2 seamer configuration, each Seam Machine has Three New a 12 volt, integrated power source. It’s an independent, autonomous unit. There’s an independent vacuum pump on each unit, Products so there are no hoses to get in your way. Moreover, there is no power cord, because the power is also onboard. It will run for 10 Continued from page 2 hours, so if there’s no power at the jobsite, you’re still good to go. It also comes with a charging unit (wall wart), in case you need to “Moreover, there is no power recharge in the shop, or on a job site that has electricity (110v). cord, because the power is also onboard. It will run for 10 hours, Below: “The Vacuum Template came about after seeing install- so if there’s no power at the job- ers make clouds of dust in multimillion dollar homes, while dry site, you’re still good to go. coring fixture holes,” said Inventor Barry Brandt. One great “Also it comes with a charging bonus of this design– it can also be used vertically to core holes unit (wall wart) in case you need for stone shower fixtures, and even works on textured stone. to recharge in shop or on a job site with power. Typically, when working with granite and engineered stone, you can experience a 32nd to a 16th bow within a seam, explained Barry, but with the Seam Machine, which does The Seam Machine is made just as well on textured materials both pieces at once, it will take with stainless steel and alumi- as polished. Other companies do out the bow better than any ma- num and even looks “space age” make good tools, but I think they chine on the market. stated Brandt, adding, “It works missed the boat on this one. We definitely have engineered it be so much better, and because we use the tools we develop every day, we made it easy to learn and easy Left, top to bottom: to use. Once you do, you’ll throw A brief description the others away.” of how the template connects and A New Solution to Efficient works… On-Site Coring: The Stone Pro Vacuum Template 1) Use the friction Speed and quality are in a del- connect cone to icate balance, and the quest to attach a wet/dry improve both in lock step contin- shop-vac hose. ues to be the driver of innovation. In our industry, most times, the results of these innovations are 2) The Stone Pro fewer callbacks, higher profits vacuum template and a grander bottom line. comes with several coring templates– So what was the inspiration for just choose the size this outstanding tool? “Necessity to match your job & was the mother of invention for core bit. No more this one,” said Brandt. angled hole start, “The Vacuum Template came where you have to about after seeing installers make guess if you have the clouds of dust in multimillion Two features of the Stone bit centered! dollar homes, while dry coring Pro Vacuum Template design fixture holes. We were guilty of down tight to the stone. Then, ac- that make it superior to other doing it too, by holding the bit on cording to Brandt, there is more machines are its ability to se- 3) Simply drill the an angle to start the cut. But no than enough suction to hold the curely fasten to textured and hole completely one who starts a hole like that gets template in place, regardless if even vertical surfaces. through, allowing a perfect center. They’re always you’re drilling wet or dry. Brandt the template guide off a little bit, and it looks kind of does, however, recommend using to keep your bit hokey, definitely unprofessional.” a small amount of water while straight and cen- Constructed using industrial drilling. associated with coring on site, and tered. All the water, strength polymer, the Stone Pro “While you’re wet drilling let’s face it, it’s the little details mess, dust, etc. gets Vacuum Template is hooked to that perfectly placed hole, every like this that make your company pulled in by the shop a wet-vac via a friction-fit cone bit of that water is sucked into look professional.” vac. – reducing your which then attaches to the end your wet-vac. The core will fall So if your bottom line feels like on-site cleanup. of the unit. You select one of six through, but there’ll be no water it’s tied to an anchor, raise it by different size bit inserts, place or dust anywhere. Best of all? It talking to your Braxton-Bragg rep- one in the unit, and then align it also works in vertical applications resentative about these great new over your mark. Once aligned such as walls and equally well on tools, available from www.brax- and the wet-vac is switched on, textured materials. It’s a quick, ton-bragg.com. Call toll-free 800- the Vacuum Template is sucked clean solution to the problem 575-4401 for more information.

Shop braxton-bragg.com for the Stone Pro Coring Vacuum Template Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net for more Stone & Tile industry news | Slippery Rock Gazette February 2016 39 3.98 Now YOU can solve a $200 problem for only $495 4.10 and we’ll send you a FREE sample to prove it.

“We use them when the dishwasher Jeremy Williamson, SFA Granite Shop Manager is not on site. Works great, no Kitchen Craft Inc. return trips.” Osage Beach, MO

Item # Description Great LOW Price 10565 E-Z Dishwasher Bracket 24”, with Mounting Screws $3.98

The E-Z Dishwasher Bracket attaches to the cabinet with wood 10578 E-Z Compact Bracket 18”, with Mounting Screws $3.98 screws, as well as to the countertop with impact absorbing adhesive caulk or silicone. It is made to accommodate virtually any MADE IN THE USA dishwasher on the market and may be installed prior to or after NEW size for compact dishwashers! countertop installation. More than 684,379 sold! Michael Peay, a veteran home builder with 30 years of experience that includes Easy To Use hundreds of kitchen installs, was continually confronted with a nagging prob- The E-Z Dishwasher Bracket can be installed in 2 minutes and is a permanent lem—mounting the dishwasher. Out of frustration, Michael Peay invented and solution. If the dishwasher is not installed or not on site, simply fasten the E-Z patented the solution. Dishwasher Bracket to the cabinet with the hardware supplied, apply silicone to dampen the sound, and install the granite. As simple as that, your job is done, Installation Problem with regard to the dishwasher. Why is installing the dishwasher always on the punch list? There are many rea- If the dishwasher and countertop are already in place, simply bend the tabs sons; after all, who is responsible for this task? Is it the granite guy, the plumber, to fit in between the cabinets, apply silicone, put in place and fasten with the the appliance delivery man, or the general contractor? If the granite installer is hardware supplied. responsible and the dishwasher is on site, there is no problem, but many times this is not the case. So in order to preserve your good name and reputation it No More Call Backs to Install a Dishwasher! means an expensive return trip to install the dishwasher. This solution seems so simple, the only question you’ll ask is, “Why didn’t I think of this?” This product really works, and we’ll prove it to you. We’ll give Installation Solution you a FREE E-Z Dishwasher Bracket. We guarantee that you’ll agree this is a Can $3.98 solve this costly return trip? The answer is YES! It is estimated that real $3.98 solution. Call Braxton-Bragg and never have to make that expensive it could cost nearly $200 in time, labor and fuel to pull someone off another return trip again. Our knowledgeable sales staff wants to let you know “you job for this one chore. There is no need for the dishwasher to be on site and you have a friend in Tennessee” and we listen to you. Count on Braxton-Bragg for can install before or after the countertop is installed. And it is designed to fit all all your installation needs. standard dishwashers and install them correctly. Call today! Toll free 1-800-575-4401 Offer extended due to popularity! Call and receive a FREE E-Z Dishwasher Bracket!

www.braxton-bragg.com Fax 800-915-5501

Order online or call 1-800-575-4401 before 5:45 p.m. Eastern for Same Day Shipping.

Shop www.braxton-bragg.com for E-Z Dishwasher Bracket Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net for more Stone & Tile industry news | 40 February 2016 Slippery Rock Gazette K 4100 S lippery noxville A ppalachian

R , , TN ock 37918 G http://www. com/FabKing azette W braxton-bragg. ay Pad to obtain the ® Quick Set-Up 19,900.00* A Back Splash Machine for Free! A bonus application is that this the easiest back splash polishing system yet developed. The travel head runs true horizontal to insure a flat edge polish. You can use the 3-Step Viper fastest finish yet. If it’s delivered in the morning, you’ll be producing countertops by lunch. Unlike CNC machines, you don’t need long training pro - grams and you won’t waste stone trying to figure out how it works. All Braxton-Bragg products carry a 30-day, risk-free, money back guarantee. If you are not satisfied with your purchase, simply return it for a prompt and courteous re - fund. Great LOW Price Diamond Antiquing ® *Call for Equipment Financing Options Description Fab King Work Center F.O.B. Knoxville, TN Save Your Core Bits! Profile Without Tears! U.S. POSTAGE PAID KNOXVILLE, TN PERMIT #255 PRSRT-STD Without Spending Big Money Item # Item 14141 Offer the Latest “Leather” Surface

Unlike radial arm machines which can deflect 3/16” when fully ex - tended and prevent true edge polishing, the Fab King cantile - vered frame design presents a square and true tooling surface. You can use all of your favorite router bits. No need for a plexiglass scratch guard. Brushes you can offer the latest fin - ishes without the wait and expense of specials orders. It will drill holes in seconds without wobble and extend the life of your core bits. No need to inventory special slabs, with Viper Fax 800-915-5501 Full-Size Bed Strong Backbone Eastern for Same day Shipping.

Sink Cut-Outs in 6 Minutes! p.m. 5:45 Unlike smaller solutions, the Fab King fabrication bed offers a full 114” of linear travel and 30” of gantry travel. The Fab King can cut out any sink shape using a template (which means no mis - takes and precise dimensions) in as little as 8 minutes. Unlike other radial arm machines, the solid frame will not flex when the motor is under load. Edge profiling requires a solid structure and the Fab King delivers it with 4” industrial strength steel square tubing.

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$1,000 TOOLING! Real World Designed The Swiss Army Knife Approach a router, drill press, an in-line back Sink cut-outs in less than 6 minutes ! MADE IN THE USA Nobody knows a machine like repair - man. The designer of this machine has more than 20 years’ experience in the stone industry. Much of that time was spent trouble shooting and repairing stone equipment. 220 volt, single phase power and off the shelf components guarantee maximum uptime. and a radial arm sink cut out machine in one. The Fab King combines the functions of splash polishing machine , www.rye-corp.com Order online or call 1-800-575-4401 before

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