What Is Dressing of Stone | Types of Dressing of Stone

What Is Dressing of Stone?

• Dressing of stone is a process of providing a proper shape, size and smooth finish to the rough-surfaced broken stone which is collected from a quarry.
• This process is done by either hand tools or machinery. Hand tools are used as a pickaxe, chisel etc.
• Stone dressing process is required more technical skilled labours and fair understanding of drawing, materials and specifications.

Also, Read: What Is Quarrying of Stones | Methods of Quarrying | Selection of a Site for Quarrying of Stones

Objects of Dressing of Stone

• Reduce the size: The big sizes of rock pieces are needed to reduce its size in a lift-able size piece, that’s why it needs the size correction.
• Proper shape: The proper shape of the stone is required because the stone is used in a different place like foundation, arch, floors etc.
• Proper finish: Stones are mainly used in for decoration purpose that’s why it needs a proper glossy finish.

Also, Read: Tests on Stones | Crushing Strength Test, Water Absorption Test, Abrasion Test, Impact Test, Acid Test

Stages in the Dressing of Stone

• Sizing: Sizing is the process where we remove the extra portion of a stone by hand tools like hammer, chisel etc. It’s done to give a stone to a proper shape.
• Shaping: Shaping is the process where we remove the sharp sides of a stone block.
• Planning: Planning is the advanced type of dressing where the stone is cleaned of all kind of irregularity.
• Finishing: Finishing of stone is the process of rubbing of the stone surface by silicon carbide.
• Polishing: It is the last stage if dressing and polishing are done only on marble, limestone and granite.

Also, Read:  Properties of Stones | Requirements of Good Building Stones

Types of Dressing of Stone:

There are so many types of dressing exist, those are-

• Pitched Dressing:
• Hammer Dressing:
• Chisel Drafting:
• Rough Tooling:
• Punched Dressing:
• Close Picked and Fine Tooling:
• Boasted Finish:
• Scabbling:
• Reticulated Finish:
• Vermiculated Finish:

#1. Pitched Dressing:

• The edges of the stone block is levelled with a hammer in pitched dressing.

#2. Hammer Dressing:

• In this type of dressing process, the large part of the rocks are levelled with a hammer but due to hammering hammer marks are shown in the rock.
• Hammer dressed stones do not have any sharp edges, and it’s perfectly fitted in the masonry.
• Those blocks are square in shape, and vertical sides are 8 to 10 cm from the face.
• Hammer dressing process is done by Waller’s hammer.

#3. Chisel Drafting:

• In the chisel drafting method, drafts and groove are made at all the four edges, and extra stone at the centre is also removed by this method.

#3. Rough Tooling:

• Rough tooling is the process where the edges are squared by hammer and chisel. Then all the series of the groove is created with this method.

#4. Punched Dressing:

• This dressing method of stone 1 cm vertical or horizontal groove is sunk into the stone.

#5. Close Picked and Fine Tooling:

• To get a refined surface, a punched stone is again dressed. This method gives you a fine texture and attractive look.

#6. Boasted Finish:

• In this method stone covered with parallel marks through their direction. This marks may be horizontal or angle.

#7. Scabbling:

• This type of method is done in the query, and irregular edges of the stone are broke by scabbling.

#8. Reticulated Finish:

• This is done when 2 cm wide margin on it’s aside. 6 mm deep sunk is done.

#9. Vermiculated Finish:

• In this finish, there is more curved and worm-eaten type appearance. It is not more popular because it required a lot of labours.

Also, Read: Properties of Stones | Requirements of Good Building Stones