I will try to remember to ask the expert tomorrow. He told me in the past, that sometimes they would run water over it as they did it, if the flame was too hot. My guess is that the flame was too hot for that particular stone.

It looks to me like the bluer stone tends to be tighter (less flakey) and more solid. Maybe it does not allow for water vapors to escape fast enough which would cause it to pop. That is my guess. I'll try to get the answer tomorrow.

Let's not jump to conclusions on why I looked at this thread. Hmmm, what made the rest of you look at it?

Thanks for checking in on this Andrew.

much appreciated.

Michelle

Here is a link that might be useful:

Mich,

I talked to the man. He said that it is too much heat for that stone. The heat is getting too deep into the stone. He always runs a hose right along with the torch as he goes across the stone. He said that if you are using oxy/acetylene, you might want to use propane and oxy on this one, he often does (it is not as hot).

PS. his work is top shelf and he has been around a long time.

Thanks Andrew,
I couldn't bear to go to the job site today.
It was just too painful to watch.
I checked in by phone and Miguel said that the stone has started to cooperate and that he can hand dress the big chunk areas that spauld off.

Interesting that you should mention the two types of gas set up.
I noticed that we had a totally new tank set up on the job but did not ask about it .

I'm unsure of what type of gas Miguel was running in these new double tanks.

I'll share this with him when we have our Monday morning meeting.

Thanks for checking in on this.

Michelle

Michele,

Did it work out?

Andrew,
Miguel was able to hand dress the stone and save it.
Whew !
The rough slabs alone were about $ 1200.00, before any labor , cutting or moving the stone . . . . pricey stuff here on the west coast.

We still have a few days of detail type work to do around the project and then we will be done and then I move another contractor in for the carpentry construction of a new deck and entry gate.

Here is a link that might be useful:

Looks nice! Just one question, though. Were the patio lights your idea? ; )

-Audric

We call that technique "rock faced". I don't know how local that term is.

As with most stone, it is the distance that it is trucked that determines the price.