Squeeze the juice from a lemon. Slather it over the sample with the lemon rind. Wait an hour. Instant patina.
And that wine stain? Barely detectable. It's more obvious in this photo than in real life. I had to hunt and hunt for the spot.
We're okay with the patina. But it's too high maintenance a material for the heavily used L-run with stove and sink. So I think we're going with soapstone (or maybe Pietra del Cardoso or honed Jet Mist) for the L-run and the Imperial Danby for the 36"x48" fridge wall.
Next, we're going to try etching/staining with wine et. al. to see if the new etches blend into the patina. Then we'll try scrubbing with Comet or the 200 grit sandpaper. Just to see how what happens.
Fun with marble! This is turning into a science experiment. Oh, and Sabjimata did a similar etch test on polished carrara. See how it turned out!
P.S. I just posted a comment/question about your posts about Danby Marble, but I think it posted in the wrong area--I'm not much of a blogger and dont' know how to use these websites!! And now I don't know where to look for your answer, if you post one!! Help! Now I know where this post is, so if you respond to my earlier question/post here, I should be able to find it. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteSorry I missed this! I'd replied to your other post. I'll copy here.
ReplyDeleteThe blotches freaked me out too! But really I was okay with the results of my final test. The blotches ran together to become more of a patina. We haven't installed our countertops yet. We're scheduled to demo soon. I'm planning to use soapstone as my main counter and put Imperial Danby on my baking counter. The baking counter is not in front of any windows. The sunlight slanting directly across the marble really seems to accentuate the etching. I think as long as you're comfortable with the idea of a broken-in surface (not glossy, new perfection), marble should work for you. Have fun fixing up your fixer-upper!
Thank you so much for your advice. I was thinking about using light-colored soapstone (there's a picture of a, supposedly, soapstone countertop at this website (scroll down towards the bottom): http://www.bellemaison23.com/2009/01/beyond-granite-countertop.html
ReplyDeleteIt looks just like marble.
I love the look of honed stone, and I read somewhere that soapstone is harder than marble, but then a fabricator told me that soapstone is softer . . . . I've heard so much conflicting information I'm about ready to consult with a geologist and find out the truth!! Thanks again for for responding to my question.
How do you like living in the Boston area? Must be very different from what you're used to in Texas (hell, I'm from NY and it's different for me up here!!)
Hmm...that's interesting! I've never seen such a pale soapstone. There's pietro del cardosa which is a gray schist, but even that's darker than the picture.
ReplyDeleteSoapstone can vary in hardness. Some (like Beleza which you can get from Dorado) is quite hard. I tried to scratch it with a knife and could get a faint mark. Other varieties are quite soft and chip/scratch easily.
It's so difficult, isn't it?!? Almost like you have to be a geologist!
Have you looked at luce di luna (white dream) quartzite? White like marble with elegant linear veining. Harder than marble and doesn't etch. Elemar apparently has it: http://www.elemarnewengland.com/marble,_onyx_&_others.htm
I actually love living here. It's wonderful having four distinct seasons, and we survived our first winter with no frostbite or hypothermia. I do miss good Mexican food though. :)
Oops...I think it's pietra del cardoso.
ReplyDelete