I had a chance to visit with a number of companies that were debuting new products and equipment recently at Coverings 2010 in Orlando, Florida - And a few really caught my eye as things that I thought the Slippery Rock Gazette's readers might like to know about.
The first and probably the most impressive product is a machine that is designed to take scrap stone and render it into useful sizes and shapes. It's coincidentally sold through Braxton-Bragg and called the Tomahawk Stone Splitter. I first heard about this machine back in February before it even had a name, so I thought that maybe it could be called something like: the "Green-er-ator" or the "Recycle-shear" or other names like the "Stone-Extender," "Slab-erator," "Slab-shear," "Green-Cutter," "Planet-Saver," "Enviro-Sheer," or when everything else fails, the "Stone-Stretcher." Maybe I should have pursued a career in marketing!
Anyways, the Tomahawk Stone Splitter is designed to run on 120 volt power, and be light enough that one guy can maneuver it around in his shop, since it weighs around 250 pounds. The Tomahawk sells for under $6,000 and, as fore mentioned, can be purchased through Braxton-Bragg. This machine was on display in the Braxton-Bragg booth, and made quite an impression on a lot of folks that were able to get a chance to see it in operation.
I can tell you from personal experience, I have lost count of how many fabricator's yards I have visited that had literally acres of scrap stone, just taking up space. The Tomahawk Stone Splitter now gives guys the ability to make use of their scrap stone - no matter what the color or size. Stone can be split into sizes that can be used as pavers, tiles, or even small narrow pieces that can be assembled into a backsplash application. This can amount to huge savings in waste hauling costs, and give you a leg up on your competition as you can "chop" prices of certain applications using the Tomahawk Stone Splitter.
Another product that blew me away - mainly by its shear simplicity and the "why didn't I think of that factor"-was the "Smart Spacer." It's a round spacer that has multiple uses, not just for the tile and stone trades (in my opinion). According to Smart Spacer's inventor, Bob Blankenship, "The Smart Spacer is made from recycled polypropylene, and is made right here in the USA. It comes in two sizes: a small size that has three spacer increments, 1/16, 1/8 and 3/16, and a large size that has three spacer increments, 1/4, 5/16 and 3/8. The small size is sold in bags of 200 pieces, and the large size is sold in bags of 100 pieces. Each size sells for $5.99 per bag." Their product is unique when compared to other more conventional spacers that are on the market. They can be re-used over and over, and there's little chance of forgetting to pull one out before grouting. So, a Smart Spacer can't be left in the floor or wall and forgotten. That's a very small price to prevent a costly mistake, as any tile installer can tell you.
I spent the first seven years of my career, setting tile for a living (before adding natural stone slab fabrication to what I do) and I can tell you that I really wish that the Smart Spacer had been around when I was a young pup "full of vigor and vim." Sadly, now, I just have the "vim" - but I'm grateful for that too!
Sales, Marketing, Showrooms & Fabricator Portfolios are subjects that are taught every month by AZ School of Rock. For more information, please contact Kevin M. Padden at www.azschoolofrock.com, by phone at 480-3099422 or via e-mail at info@azschoolofrock.com
The "Smart Spacer" can be re-used over and over with little chance of forgetting to pull one out before grouting, so it can't be left in the floor or wall.
The Tomahawk Stone Splitter now gives guys the ability to make use of their scrap stone - no matter what
Both of these new products, the Tomahawk Stone Splitter and the Smart Spacer, are products that fabricators everywhere should check out. They'll help you work smarter!
Until next month-
Best Regards & Happy Fabricating!
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