wet stone to cut?

**Musivarius** · 06-10-2011

I've just read a post on a mosaic artist forum and a chap on there said that when he was cutting some 10mm thick Verde Guatamala (I've seen it mostly classified as a marble but some places refer to it as a granite) rods with tile nippers he soaked them in water which made them easier to cut. I quote

'Soaking the tile first was the only way it was possible to cleanly nip so much of it with straight cuts'

I just can't see it, I really can't see what the water does to help the nippers cut. I'd love to be proved wrong but I really can't think where else to ask this. Anyone got any ideas?

**jay** · 06-10-2011

If its marble it will soften it slightly if the whole tile is soaked only slightly try it

**Musivarius** · 06-10-2011

Thanks I'll give it a go. I must admit I wouldn't use tile nippers though for that thickness.

**impish** · 06-10-2011

There is a rainforest plant which can dissolve stone yet won't harm your skin.

Stone isn't always as "stoney" as you imagine.

The ancients had knowledge of stone working which is long forgotten.

Mysteries of the ancient cultures: Stone technology

**JDFMMosaics** · 07-10-2011

Yes, the very same ancient cultures, that didn't have access to hardened metal tools as we do. With all our advances ....Fascinating reading here!

**Musivarius** · 07-10-2011

Interesting link there thanks, obviously it took a huge amount on manual labour to work stone then, but they had the slaves for it. Now we have the minimum wage

**impish** · 07-10-2011

Originally Posted by Musivarius

.....but they had the slaves for it. Now we have the minimum wage

And the difference is???

**Musivarius** · 10-10-2011

If you're interested, I spoke to a geologist about this. As Verde guatamala is metamorphosed stone, ie marble the water would have no effect on it. Unmetamorphosed stone, ie limestone can be affected by acidic (soft) water so on a 10mm piece it could possibly effect cutting a 10mm thick piece.

user123 · 10-10-2011

Interesting thread this..

**impish** · 10-10-2011

Thanks for that Musivarius.
I'm a bit sceptical of any "ologist". It's a sad fact that scientists are unwilling to look outside the realms of the current "models" of thinking.
In many ways, science today is like fundamentalist religion IMO.
I see the sense in what they say re the marble though.