SFA: What's the Answer?
Pod Marks on Quartz
PSPR_Premier
Has anyone had problems with pods leaving black rings on lighter colored quartz? It’s happened twice now and its super-annoying to both our installers and customers. Magic Eraser pulls 90% of it off, but it’s still visible to us. I should note that we clean our pods regularly, and leave the plastic wrap on the pieces as much as possible. Thanks! Premier Surfaces Master Monkey
Andrew H SFA Member
Get used to it ... ‘cause it's never going to change. Get your installers a bottle of Bar Keepers Friend to go with that Magic Eraser. It should take care of it.
Andrew Haldeman
Stone Crafters
Egg Harbor Township, N.J.
Stonecrafters-nj.com
Dave.Scott SFA Member
Dawn dish soap mixed with toothpaste.
Dave Scott
Slabworks of Montana
Bozeman, Mont.
NSI, SFA, USGB
"What we leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others" -Pericles
Omni Cubed Larry SFA Sponsor - Friend
Just an FYI, when you use acetone to clean the vacuum cups or pods, it will cause the rubber to break down over time. Even if you use acetone on the stone, then put the cups on there before it has completely evaporated, it can mess up the rubber. When you vacuum the rubber to the stone, they are coming in very close and tight contact with the stone. The rubber is actually being squeezed against the stone and the oils and black carbon in the rubber can leach out, especially if the rubber is slowly breaking down from acetone contamination. You are smart to leave the plastic wrap on as much as possible. I would consider adding plastic wrap to light-colored material if it doesn't have it already. Be careful removing the wrap on some stuff as it can "pop" some material out of the surface. You can also use a poultice to pull out the stains. Larry Livingston Omni Cubed Inc. http://www.omnicubed.com 877.311.1976 office 530.748.3111 direct
Todd Luster SFA Director
We use Soft Scrub with bleach; they come out easy.
We buy the small bottles at the dollar stores and buy several.
We get them for our pods and our vacuum lift.
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Todd Luster SFA
Tile Marble and Stone LLC
http://www.gotgranite.biz
Shawnee, Okla.
todd.luster@stonefabricatorsalliance.com
Alex_Bores SFA Sponsor - Guardian
I agree. Do not use acetone. Soap and water will be your best agent for cleaning the pods. The soap will condition the rubber, not dry it out. But I had a customer that had the same problem and switched to the Helix pods and no issue.
Alex R Bores Account Manager Helix Professional Tools O#:602.535.0661 C#: 480.266.7178 Abores@Helixtools.net https://vimeo.com/184568875
Another reason the customer switched to Helix pods.
"The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten."
Joe Durfee SFA Director
One more reason I like running face up on the new router!;)
Like Todd, we use Soft Scrub when we get them on the old router.
Joe Durfee
Production Manager
American Floor Covering
Cell: (860) 338-9632
Team Motorboat
Andrew H SFA Member
Face up! Joe, how does the machine put out a consistent edge on different pieces? Does it probe the surface so the bit is indicated from the top so the edge is uniform across different parts?
Matt Lansing SFA Director
Also make sure to pull the parts from the CNC the second the cycle is done. If you leave the parts sit on the pods, it makes the pods bleed into the stone much worse.
Matt Lansing
Stone Innovations, Inc.
Plover, Wis.
"The difference between an obstacle and an opportunity is our attitude towards it. Every opportunity has a difficulty, and every difficulty has an opportunity."
Peterstone
How's it going, new here! Best solution for me is acetone and dust ... Granite/quartz dust ... Easy as pie and won't ruin the polish like Bar Keepers does if you rub vigorously in one spot.
Paolo_Prussiani SFA Sponsor - Guardian
That's one of the reason why PRUSSIANI makes cnc routers that works face-up since 1995 ....
Take a look at this tutorial video if you have a minute:
Paolo Pezzoli
Sales Area Manager
Prussiani Engineering S.p.a.
ph. +39.3462881622
mark s SFA Member
Matt Lansing wrote:
Also make sure to pull the parts from the cnc the second the cycle is done.
+1 on this. I can't think of a time it's happened since we made it a firm policy to remove the parts as soon as the CNC is done.
Question about the face up approach - how do you deal with stone that has matting on the back?
Mark S.
Custom Stone Interiors
St. Cloud Minn.
"I spent most of my money on motorcycles, women, and beer. The rest I wasted." author unknown
Joe Durfee SFA Director
My pods have foam seals that are about 1/2" thick that compress. Never had a problem with any type of back.
badboat SFA Member
We use Magic Eraser and Goof-off. Cleans it fast and no finish issues.
Mike Gladstone
GCI Surfaces
Clearwater, Fla
727-571-1071
ThomasGraniteTopsIRE SFA Member
I was going to comment face up but people have already beaten me to it :lol:
In regards to stone that has mesh backing it’s still not an issue. The vacuum still holds because of the foam seal around the top of the pods. Also our with our CNCs (all Prussianis) we have the clamps that also help to hold the stone down even more.
We get this problem though from our Elephant vacuum lifters on white stone. We use a product called Astonish or Pink Stuff and lightly rub it and it removes all marks.
Thomas Sullivan
Granite Tops
Slane, County Meath
Ireland
thomas@granitetops.ie
00353-867773634
Making granite & quartz countertops more affordable
https://www.facebook.com/GraniteWorktopsIre
https://www.instagram.com/granitetopsire/