[Jeff here, stunt blogging today...]
Today we got word that the
soapstone slab was being cut.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNs_ZZAmplabRzeuQUap-U21dfQnWMsrACRhpof0ynrfhPQjUP9f90Vj8V9SVNuYt2BgNtSnoTFoFa_xaKPMMw8SWBKhjb57ja03z3_JDzffWmTR57HkCd0sZ9F-ARFQfSvxd0sSkdD0m/s320/stone1.jpg)
Jeff headed over to
Portland Marble Works to observe the operation.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkqAP5lIrvGX3Clp97VpeFSvaaqe8BPNJVQB2rnKEwGPZV6ZvtIkEIJLgRextTIowHmznU31h7QfGGq9DTDwRcaDZ93fylP4tWP-nYWozcJ8WK8RgsEQdpappeISTR5voVtbFtGjD2XiA1/s320/stone2.jpg)
They have an impressive wet saw with laser guide.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3UFr6xNDHCp01_ASMNWCGSs7MTOhYn44hQHLqyHA5ih26L5ycJ3KUlS-ufbevWyXtlYcQyUZJa8gMyC-HSZcEDmJ1fgDwPnUl52sLnGli_thyphenhyphenxdwE7lwcwI7ifioKRackEmJFa6Gg2RSl/s320/stone3.jpg)
It puts out a lot of water that mixes with the talc dust that comes from the cut.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCS_Nr-ecameXRxC7TMskniZ7jDNyrmCn9OBiG5vomCz82s87irUoBdiy4ZET0DH6VrzGI84Uf6Qr6wxSWJkRQ9JHN0C5lLZXde3SBPx0BZ1vS3NEqeNtWGNYWBnf_Io1HmAodA0UrnHmf/s320/stone4.jpg)
The saw is operated by a hanging control panel.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilunDMGQ6wlOggn1EHNV7sjZHXeHKJNc2Ln6QyGDp8AbBdb1AsFHkUCWZbu66ofDkXNkPVgaULBrukgbN1B-bp0Yu29M0YC5WpOfEe7Xcf2JEAOy-s9xkKt7W0_fcekIqk5v8pGzY5r1UQ/s320/stone5.jpg)
A lot of care went into marking and setting up each cut.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6-YGAR3GyPgnL_YuMXb5nq8oxT1FXvKAWwR6f1ksQZiUF6nbNIPYZqx7Cbgh04CLj1LRJMeb7uZerC0djxp3N806HojLtuweI5o4GtrNiwKdmXqLW1DPCvrQLMYPR9MbcHnZrH0aaWVm/s320/stone6.jpg)
The saw cuts all the way into the table which is covered with a gritty compound that actually sharpens the diamond coated blade. Every three weeks or so, the table gets a new coat.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1Wygng_LNUPbY5Szgns4ox8HXCmZ48vZiDOM9QC3HKqM-mrOX_vsE2-kUB7X4qXsGCyOpoRilvor8Of_N4OnRjNOarAe8-k_b0g1AHwOgt9FUwqckTX8W0cjKdK1AS6mri5UROENB0tL/s320/stone7.jpg)
Here is an "art shot" of the mirror surface of the water on the stone slab.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1oMBFnxz4x5R0Lp_CLURnbfJHPi_v7r5CEbBJ8IqEZ8eO8sl71Mg_qvjdkGvrIV4KKmoySk59eaNWmhH-hZMmYrB1Bev55l4bpGqm_4_FGoReCr879R7zepCiHBCy8R5qfB7wq0euccW/s320/stone8.jpg)
One rectangular piece ready for edging.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDI7H7B7chajME6cfhGLTWGybQuDSISefXDXT1MhJF__yrgbBHz4TD76hhPmljWXnscwPOpihlVeLfu8kofe2Ta9UCIYA_NqIEuyCcyzI-b19fd39KTV39WrSyj7oD4vEiJXB-5urlOwFg/s320/stone9.jpg)
And finally, a look at the control panel.
Great blog post!
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