Polishing stone is quite the process so not really for a DIYer. I would try to use them as is because taking them somewhere will cost mucho dinero.

 

Some of those look more like flagstone than sandstone.
I would not even mess with the sandstone, to soft for my taste.

What ever you do polishing rock is a skill I do not have. Takes a better eye for level than I have. Granite will take some time.
I suppose you could use a table saw, I would not. I have worked on glass and found a belt sander with lots of belts worked pretty good for glass doors that were a tiny bit to large.
A large circular sander would be what I would try. Sanding disk appropriate to the material.

PPE and at the very least a N-95 mask.

 

Start here ... and eat your Wheaties.

 

Yes! Something like I envisioned. I already have a multitude of METAL angle grinders,,,, but I'm just totally unaware of the time element,,, like what would be needed to grind down a + - 1/2" of irregularities in such a hard stone.?

eddie,,, Have you successfully tried such an endeavor?

Man,,, I could easily use them as is,,, after a heavy power washing & maybe a SS wire brushing,, but these stones would look so awesome, with a smooth, finished side to 'em. Specially for window sills, on top of a stone walled Florida room.
lol,,, I'll swing on over to Youtube, & See if there's anything that i can relate too! ;>)


THANKS for the replys, guys.

FWIW,,,, A LONG time ago, I was scrounging around, looking for a way to make some madd money,,,, so I loaded up one of those large sand stones & went to my nearby garden supply/ nursery. They sold every kind of 'landscaping stone' imaginable. Mostly by the yard or pallet full. $400 - $500 a yd just for round river rocks.
A 16" x 16" barn sand stone was $40!
& For the exact 'sand' curb stone that I had piles of, 5' x 16" x 8" thick, they wanted $250 EACH!
I told them that I would sell my 50+ sand stones to them for $50 EACH, & Free shipping, & they said NO!?
They already had a supplier, & a flat bed shipment was on the way,,, from way out west.

I still wonder why, not???

 

The stones are cool and I hope you can repurpose them. Again, I would keep them rustic.

I have this tool and a small detailer tool as well. With all of the diamond pads, tools and extra things you need I have over $7000,00 invested and I'd doesn't compare to what they have at a granite shop.

Is this what you want to invest in?

The hand grinder that was shown to you would barely be a start.

The reason why the stone store didn't want your stones is used stones are more subject to issues. Believe it or not when exposed to the elements they get weaker. In order to sell them you need to find someone who needs to match something they already have. To them there gold.

 

I used to live in the "Granite Capitol of the World", Elberton, GA. I used to go watch them polish granite. They use a huge rubber vibrator and shot pellets and water. The shot pellets actually do the work along with the vibrating plate. It could take more than a day to get the finish like you see in a cemetery headstone. Definitely not a DIY project without proper equipment.

 

I used to live in the "Granite Capitol of the World", Elberton, GA. I used to go watch them polish granite. They use a huge rubber vibrator and shot pellets and water. The shot pellets actually do the work along with the vibrating plate. It could take more than a day to get the finish like you see in a cemetery headstone. Definitely not a DIY project without proper equipment.

You just reminded me,,, (kinda off topic ;>)
One of my operator friends got a job working for one of those CELL TOWER erection companies. He was down that way somewhere,,, lower Tenn mountains I believe. Anyway, he gave me a call & said that they had to BLOW a huge flat spot in the side of one of those granite peaks.
He had dozens of semi loads, of pure white granite/ (quarts?) boulders to get rid of.
When I seen the picture, the pack-rat in me started to shake,,,, TRYING to figure out how I could get all of that white rock back to Ohio! OMG,, $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!!

One of my hobbies is too fabricate/ build freestanding potbelly woodburners,,,, & then use all kinds of stone for the back walls & hearth bottoms.
Man,,,, Would I have loved to have a truck load of that white rock! lol,,,,,,

 

I have used a Diamond Cup wet Grinder to polish many stones and Concrete.

It's wet, messy, and takes the arms of a Gorilla, but it turns out a fine polish.

ED

 

Doboy, are you in Ohio? ST rider?

 

Doboy, are you in Ohio? ST rider?

Yes. Near Y-town.

I've done many projects with my piles of sandstones,,, no problems. But I never delt with the granite/ marble/ hard stuff before.
After all of the feedback that you guys handed me,, looks like it'll be a USE-AS-IS application!
OR,,,, just try to sell 'em on Craigs or Marketplace.
I just hate to sell anything that still has some kind of possible use.
(100% Pack-Rat)


I have a 14" diamond blade chop saw. How hard would it be to cut slices,,,, or just cut to fit? (before I ruin a blade???)
I'll hit them with a pressure washer, & maybe try a SS wire wheel on the old dirty-looking exposed side, & see what happens.

THANKS, again

 

Your diamond blade chop saw should cut through it very quickly and blade life will be good as well.