How do I cut sink holes

Source:www.stonediamondtool.com Date:2013/1/25 Read:980

Most sink holes are cut with a curved –“contour” type blade. The contour blade allows the fabricator to cut a round –radius- hole in stone. The two types of cutters most commonly used for sink hole cutting include a grinder and a Skil type “stone cutter” saw. The Skil type saw must have an arbor designed to accept a contour blade. Cutting sink holes with a grinder and contour blade is a tried and true method.  However, many people will find a Skil saw /contour blade combination the best way to cut sink holes.

The first step in cutting any sink hole is to trace out a sink template. Most sinks will come with a template. Position your template and outline the sink hole with a China marker or typewriter whiteout stick. Because sink hole cutting is preferably done wet, these waterproof tracing methods are best. All sink hole cutting should be step cut. The first cut that outlines the sink is the most critical. This first cut should be no more ½ inch deep. Make the second cut deeper. The final third cut will complete the sink hole. Prepare to support the sink hole cutout when it drops.

 After cutting out the sink, the inside cut edge of the sink hole will have a distinct curve. This curve should be ground out with diamond drum wheel, a circular grinding stone or a vacuum brazed drum wheel/profiler. The sink hole edge should be ground to a straight inside edge that has no curve in it. After the inside edge been ground straight up and down, the fabricator can begin to pad polish the sink hole.

Because of the tight radius of the hole, a backer pad of 3 inch is best. To this 3 inch backer pad attach a 3 inch or 4 inch pad. The 4 inch pad on a 3 inch backer pad gives the polisher extra pad flexibility. This flexibility will make a difference on the finished edge. Polishing the sink includes going through a sequence of pads similar to edge polishing. A common pad sequence is 50,100,200, 400, 800, 1,500, 3000, buff. 

If budget allows, you have a choice to use the diamond polishing drums to polish radius for the undermount sink. There are basically two types of diamond polishing drums: wet diamond polishing drums and dry diamond polishing drums.

Helen