Suitability of Limestone

["George Graham" <georgergraham@zzzzzzzzzzz>]

Daedelus,
welcome to the group!
I don't have any quarry experience, but I've sawed a few blocks up.
Seems to me that the first issue is to get properly quarried blocks so you
can minimize the wast.
It sounds like you have great knowledge and experience in the trade, or you
wouldn't be in charge of starting up a big operation. Congratulations!
I've got experience operating a 6 foot and 2 foot diamond blades. Also I ran
a planer that used a 6" wide carborundum wheel. All the equipment is now out
of date, but the handeling and set up problems don't change. If I can be of
help let me know.
I'm very interested in the qualities of the limestone you describe? Are you
getting seams that are natural voids that occure in the layers of stone , or
are they running perpendicular to the striations?
Are you the first to consider carving it? Does it split too easy with the
visable grain , or can you cut and grind against the grain without it coming
apart? Have you taken a sander to it and looked at how it acts? Being
limestone, you shouldn't have aproblem getting a polish.
With what sounds like unlimeted access to equipment and raw material the
only question I have left is,,, when are you going to attack a piece with a
hammer and point and see what happens! Hurry up and let us know what you
find out.
Can you tell us what a 2'x1'x1' sawed block would cost?
Good sawing to you!
George Graham
http://www.grahamsculpturestudio.com