Marble molding is a type of architectural material used for interior decoration. It is commonly used to decorate walls, ceilings, door frames, window sills, stairs, and other areas to add texture and beauty to indoor spaces. Marble molding comes in various styles and colors, making it suitable for different decorating styles such as modern minimalism, European classical style, and more.
As an industry leader with over 15 years of experience in producing marble molding, Sinodec Stone takes great pride in being one of the earliest manufacturers of this product. Our extensive experience has allowed us to perfect our craft and develop a deep understanding of the intricacies involved in producing high-quality marble molding.
This article will give our clients a detailed overview of the marble molding production process. By sharing our expertise and knowledge, we hope to give our customers a greater understanding and appreciation of the craftsmanship of creating each piece of marble molding.
Selecting Blocks
The first and foremost requirement for creating high-quality marble molding is to select suitable raw materials. Due to the nature of molding as a thin, elongated strip, there is a high standard for determining raw materials that are beautiful in color, with uniform grain patterns, and without any visible breaks.
Depending on the characteristics of different types of marble, some lower-quality materials may require additional reinforcement with adhesive or resin to prevent collapsing or cracking during cutting.
Cutting Blocks
The next step is to cut the selected raw materials into the appropriate size and thickness according to the desired specifications.
The process of cutting raw materials into the proper size and thickness is a crucial step in the production of marble products. This is particularly important for marble moldings, which come in various shapes and sizes, each with specific thickness requirements.
To achieve the desired specifications, it is often necessary to use rough-cut pieces of marble paired with specialized cutting tools that can create different thicknesses.
This process requires precision and expertise to ensure the finished product meets the required standards.
Experienced professionals use a combination of traditional methods and advanced technologies to carefully cut and shape the marble, resulting in stunning and functional finished products that are both durable and visually appealing.
After cutting the large blocks into slabs, it is necessary to reinforce them with backing netting to enhance their stability during transportation and processing. For softer marbles like Hermes Grey, we use double-sided AB glue backing netting to ensure durability.
Reinforcing Steel Bars
As a professional marble manufacturer, we understand the fragility of marble and the importance of reinforcing it with steel bars to ensure its strength and durability. Marble moldings, in particular, are often thin and more prone to breakage, making it essential to reinforce them with steel bars.
Our factory’s rules dictate that for widths above 8cm, two steel bars measuring 6mm in diameter should be used for reinforcement. For widths below 8cm, two steel bars measuring 6mm should still be used. If the thickness of the moldings is greater than 5cm, steel bars measuring at least 8mm in diameter should be used.
The choice of steel bar material also depends on the marble used. For white marble or other light-colored varieties susceptible to staining, stainless steel is typically used to avoid rusting and discoloration. Different conventional types of marble can use iron bars as a reinforcement option.
Our rigorous approach to reinforcing marble products with steel bars ensures that our finished marble moldings are beautiful and long-lasting, providing customers with an aesthetically pleasing and durable product that will last many years.
Cutting Marble Moldings
To minimize the risk of moldings breakage, we opt for reinforcing large slabs before dividing them into their final size when dealing with relatively simple dimensions.
This approach allows for excellent stability and makes it easier to handle the material without causing any damage to the marble moldings. Additionally, it provides more flexibility in terms of customization since modifications can be made before the final cuts are made. Overall, this method ensures that the finished product is of high quality and meets the desired specifications.
Shaping Marble Moldings
Diamond abrasive is the best material for processing marble products, including marble moldings. Using CAD to draw the desired shape and create corresponding diamond grinding wheels based on the drawings, we can mold the entire marble slab into the desired shape.
In theory, any design you can imagine can be achieved through this method, albeit at different costs. However, it’s essential to consider difficult-to-process areas and dead corners when designing the molding pattern. These areas may require additional effort and time to achieve the desired outcome, resulting in higher costs. Nonetheless, with careful planning and execution, it’s possible to produce intricate and unique marble designs that meet your specifications. Using diamond abrasive provides an efficient and accurate way to process marble materials and create stunning finished products.
Repairing and Gluing
When it comes to processing marble and granite, the most significant difference is that granite is generally not repaired, while marble requires precision repair. This makes good repair techniques especially important in any series of product processing.
After shaping the marble moldings, they must be dried on a professional rack until the moisture is completely dry. Then, different types of glue are selected based on the stone’s condition. If there are many crack lines, AB glue needs to be used; if there are many small cracks or claw marks on the surface, full-board glue needs to be brushed on; if only a few places have chipped edges or missing corners during shaping, marble glue can be used with powder to repair them.
It is important to note that choosing stone powder is also an essential step. It is necessary to select stone powder from the same material, and the size of the stone powder also matters. The size of the stone powder needs to be adjusted according to the size of the chipped edges or missing corners. It could be particles or powder. After the glue dries naturally, it can be polished using a machine.
Repairing marble requires a lot of patience and attention to detail. Different types of repairs require other techniques, and selecting suitable glue and stone powder is crucial to achieving a high-quality finish. In addition, the drying and polishing processes must be carefully carried out to prevent damage to the marble. With proper care and attention, the beauty and durability of marble can be fully appreciated in any application.
Polishing
Currently, there are two main ways to polish marble moldings on the market: mechanical and manual. Manual polishing is mainly used for small orders where the cost is not enough to support the cost of fixed polishing wheels. Primarily we use mechanical polishing.
Our machine has 4 shaping wheels and 8 polishing wheels, and the price of the grinding wheel is determined by its width. Therefore, theoretically, the more moldings there are the lower the unit cost.
One crucial aspect of the polishing process is washing the wheels, which involves adjusting the shape of the polishing wheels to match the shaping wheels perfectly. This ensures that the polished moldings do not have any areas that cannot be reached during the polishing process.
When using mechanical polishing, selecting the appropriate polishing wheel is essential based on the type of marble being processed. Different types of polishing wheels have different hardness and granularity levels, and choosing the right one can significantly affect the quality and efficiency of the polishing process. Additionally, regular maintenance of the polishing wheels is essential to ensure consistent performance and prevent damage to the marble.
Overall, while both manual and mechanical polishing methods have advantages and disadvantages, mechanical polishing offers higher efficiency and consistency in production, making it the preferred choice for larger orders or high-volume production. With proper maintenance and attention to detail, mechanical polishing can produce high-quality, flawless results for marble products.
Grinding the Edges of Marble Moldings
Due to the limitations of the machine, it can only polish one side of the marble moldings. However, both edges must be polished to meet the required specifications for the moldings. This is where a technological edge polishing machine comes in.
The process of using the edge polishing machine is relatively straightforward. The marble moldings are placed onto the device, and the edges are fed through the polishing wheels to achieve a uniform and smooth surface. Ensuring the edges are aligned correctly and securely during polishing is essential to prevent any damage or inconsistencies.
An edge polishing machine is essential for achieving high-quality marble products that meet the desired standards. Without this equipment, the edges of the moldings would remain rough and unfinished, detracting from the product’s overall appearance. With the help of the edge polishing machine, both sides of the moldings can be polished to perfection, resulting in an excellent finished product.
Refinishing
Marble is known for its fragility, and every step of the production process poses a risk of damage. Therefore, repairing any imperfections that may occur is crucial to ensuring a high-quality finished product.
To achieve this, after polishing the marble moldings, we perform a final beauty treatment to enhance their appearance further and ensure they meet our strict standards. This involves carefully inspecting each molding and using specialized techniques and materials to repair defects or minor damages before the final inspection and packaging.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while the processing of marble moldings may sound simple, every step must be executed with care and precision to deliver the highest quality product possible. From cutting the initial slabs to polishing and repairing imperfections, each production stage is equally important. We can only meet our rigorous standards and deliver truly exceptional marble moldings to our customers by ensuring that each step is completed to the best of our abilities.
Any customization for a project is acceptable. Please kindly contact us if you have any questions.
