Surface Finishes
The surface of a stone can be prepared or worked to a number of different finishes. Below are examples and descriptions of some of the most common surface finishes used on Stone Age Creations products:
POLISHED - A polished stone finish is the most labor intensive and generally the most expensive. The process of polishing a stone usually includes 7 steps of polishing a stone with progressively finer grit polishing pads. Even before the polishing process begins a stone is often worked with saws, chisels, and grinders. As you can imagine, to go over the same surface of a stone sometimes more than 10 times to achieve a polished finish takes a lot of time and patience. Granite, basalt, and jade take a polish well and will have a finish that is reflective and smooth as glass. Stones like sandstone and limestone will become very smooth, but usually not 'polished.'
FLAME FINISH - A flame finish is applied using a torch at temperatures of nearly 3,500 degrees. By super-heating the surface of the stone it will quickly expand and pieces will flake off. This leaves a surface finish that is textured to resemble the natural weathering process. A flame finish can only be applied to certain stones. Most types of granite or basalt are fairly easily to flame finish while most sandstone and limestone can't be flame finished.
NATURAL - A natural finish means just what is says. . . The surface is as Mother Nature created it over thousands of years. The stones we use with a natural finish are collected or gathered as opposed to quarried because the quarried stones we use are typically sawn or blasted from a larger rock formation. We offer a selection of different sandstones, granites, and basalt with a natural finish.
CHISELED - A chiseled finish is created, as the name implies, by breaking a stone with a hammer and chisel. Depending on the type of chisel used and skill level of the person using it, this can provide a very rough surface or a slightly irregular finish. A chiseled finish can be applied to any stone.
BUSH-HAMMER - A Bush-Hammer is a specialized stone-working hammer with a head that resembles a meat tenderizing hammer. Because the head of the hammer is usually small (about 1-2 inches square) it takes a long time to apply this finish to a large surface area. The pointy ends of the hammer leave the surface of the stone fairly smooth with small indentations. A bush hammered finish can be applied to nearly all stones.
GROUND - A ground finish is achieved by going over the surface of a stone with a diamond impregnated grinding wheel. A ground finish is the last step in smoothing a stone surface before beginning the polishing steps. A ground finish can be applied to nearly all stones.