Thread: Has anyone else ????

Seen or better yet.... is anyone useing the "spynergy" system (pads) for travertine (stone)?? It looks very interesting... While I realize polishing and honing are another world altogether, I believe I can implement this system into my biz. This looks like it could be a great way to diversifying. Let's hear it guys

I would try it; the only draw back here is people here want something for nothing. Market prices for these services are way to low in Pensacola.

Hi Lance, I used these pads to take a clients travertine floor from a dull flat look to a satin finish. She didn't want it to be glossy so I used the red and the purple pad and it came out great. The client loved it. It was real easy well not easy but easier than pushing a wand. If I was going to do more of this which I might Interlink gives seminars for it. Usally half a day and sometimes its free. Scott W. can give you more info on this product.

Pete Peterson

I have actually been looking at getting some of these just for maintenance on floors. I have quite a few customers that I have already restored their stone floor, and do quarterly or bi-annual polishing. These seem, if they actually work, to make those jobs a lot easier. I may order some just to try them out for that purpose.

I think these are designed for marble. I don't know how effective they are on anything else.

Originally Posted by Matt Strader

I think these are designed for marble. I don't know how effective they are on anything else.

Matt, the demo I watched involved Travertine AND Marble.

I would throw in my couple pennies, but I don't feel like being accused of trying to scare people away from the stone business. Just go back and read some of my old posts on this subject.

Good Luck.

P.S. If anyone wants get in touch and discuss the stone restoration/maint aspect, I will be more than happy to talk to you about it. You will not get a sales pitch as I have nothing to sell/nothing to gain from telling you the "truth" about the stone biz.

Originally Posted by Gary T

I would throw in my couple pennies, but I don't feel like being accused of trying to scare people away from the stone business. Just go back and read some of my old posts on this subject.

Good Luck.

P.S. If anyone wants get in touch and discuss the stone restoration/maint aspect, I will be more than happy to talk to you about it. You will not get a sales pitch as I have nothing to sell/nothing to gain from telling you the "truth" about the stone biz.

I am thinking you did not read ALL of my post.... 1st and foremost, I am taking a class on honing and polishing..... again realizing the spynergy type pads, are not to be taken as a "cure all"

Originally Posted by shane deubell

another example of carpet cleaners trying to bring the discounter mentality and destroy pricing in yet another industry.Some services like carpet cleaning thats fine but with stone,wood, air ducts you actually have to know what your doing. That marine insurance is not going to cover a $20,000 floor.

Same as wood stone can look great at first and then the problem you create develops over time 2-3 months sometimes.

to answer your question, yes its a great product but you have learn when to apply it and how to fix it when your wrong.Same as scrub recoat of a wood floor,certain times it works great maybe 20%.The hard part is knowing when

I am REALLY looking for SOMETHING useful in your post... nope.... still nothing...

Originally Posted by shane deubell

Warning to myopic contractor guy, not necessarily you just anyone reading

huh?

Lance

I did read your whole post and it did not mention anything about any classes you would be taking. Relax a bit there.

To potential "Stone Pros"

All I am trying to do is "warn" people of the pitfalls of the "marketing" some of these people are throwing out there. One company claims their product makes it "so easy a monkey can do it", another claims,

Until now, only a skilled craftsman could even begin to understand which methods and compounds should be used to polish and maintain different marbles. . Finally theres an effective solution to marble polishing that you can start using immediately to hone and polish most any Marble, Travertine, Limestone or Terrazzo floors, walls, or counter tops. Even if you have never polished marble, now you can polish like a pro!

There is a reason there are not that many stone restoration pros out there. IT IS HARD, there is a steep learning curve. Not all stone is the same nor does it react the same to what you are doing to it. It is not some deep dark secret we are keeping from anyone (like some salesmen will retort) to keep all the business to ourselves. And some hog hair pads with diamonds glued to them are not going to "revolutionize" the industry. It has been tried many, many, time in the past. There is a reason there are many different powders, pads, screens, etc out there. YOU NEED THEM.

These things are NOT less messy than conventional methods(they both leave a slurry), they are not any quicker. They do not produce nearly the results of a honed and powder polished floor, and the polished surface will not be as durable.

Yes you can get decent results with them on SOME surfaces, others not a chance.

Now someone is going to reply that I am "scared" of these things cause they are going to take business from me, that all us stone guys want to to is keep our secrets so we can have all the $$$$$$$$$. Salesman BS.

Take the class and use them and I really hope it does help your business grow. Just don't believe the hype.

Good Luck!!!!!

P.S. If you run into a problem working on stone, feel free to get in touch. I am here to help, even if you are close by. There is more than enough work to go around.

Gary, Thanks for your response. I started this thread with,

While I realize polishing and honing are another world altogether, I believe I can implement this system into my biz.

I certainly am not looking for these pads to be "an answer for all floors" I am looking forward to learning more on natural stone. The class I will be taking is given by "stone pro"

My bad...

The Spinergy pads can be used for travertine, limestone, marble or Terrazzo.

I don't suggest undertaking any field - carpet cleaning, wood cleaning or stone work without knowing what you are doing. We offfer 1/2 day classes, 2 day classes or even week long programs.

There are many levels at which one can choose to get involved in stone work. Perhaps just daily maintenance for those who have janitorial accounts with stone floors. As simple as this may seem, using the wrong products can be harmful to the stone. You may want to progress on to periodic or restorative maintenance cleaning, maybe add sealing or appearance transformation (color enhancing) and so forth before you begin to think about polishing.

Take small steps is see if stone work is something you want to pursue further. But just as we may have started with the basics of carpet cleaning and later learned more about specialized spot and stain removal or more exotic fibers, we can build up to increasing levels of ability with stone.

I will be glad to send via email or surface mail my guide to stone cleaning. This file is almost 10 megs, so some email servers will not accept it.

Originally Posted by Gerdaland

3m makes a similar product also.

Actually the Spinergy pads are pretty different from the 3M or TWister systems. Spinergy uses natural fibers pads rather than synthetic. They have found a way to embed the diamonds more consistently or evenly over the surface of the pad and more diamonds.

More diamonds plus a more durable pad means that Spinergy pads gets the job done faster and last considerably longer.