Cutting Marble Vanity Top

[BobR]

The problem is that I need to trim a 1/2 inch deep and 7" long piece off of the edge of a Marble Vanity Top. The Vanity is a furniture grade vanity with a marble top that needs to fit into a space that is about 1/2 inch too narrow on one side toward the back of the top. I can cut some trim to make way but still need to cut the edge off of the vanity top. I have a great tile saw but it would require disassembly of the vanity and taking it to the saw.

Is there an easy way to cut this with any standard tools?

[Lawrence]

A right-angle grinder with a diamond wheel. You take many shallow passes.

[charlie]

you can get a skilsaw that has a wet attachment, using a 7.5" blade i think. makita makes it. for the very end of the cut, you can get a small too in the tile department that has a round carbide blade in a small handle.

wet/dry sandpaper used damp can be used to smooth the cut edge, if necessary. marble is pretty soft.

regards, charlie

[BobR]

Thanks, I will see if I can come up with one.

[BobR]

I am sure that some smoothing will be needed so thanks. Hope you are right about the "soft" part. I spent way too much on those vanities (over $3k) to screw them up.

[Joe]

If that is the case, then why in the world don't you take them to a granite countertop dealer or a monument dealer and have them do the job of cutting and smoothing? You don't do your own dental work do you? There are simply too amy ways to screw the project up for a DIYer to attempt it. Good luck.

Joe

[** Frank **]

You could also try a carbide blade on a hack saw or reciprocating saw. I talked with a vendor couple of weeks ago and there suppose to be a new diamond recip blade - haven't seen it yet. Not sure how skillful you are using the tools "free hand" and cut a clean straight line - not easy and will take some practice. Maybe better just take it to your wet saw.

[Art Todesco]

A lot depends on what you mean by "Marble". Many of the so called marble vanity tops are really a plastic epoxy compound. These can be cut with carbide blades. I used a belt sander to take off about 1/4" off one. It came off pretty easy. But, if it's real marble, that's another story.

[RicodJour]

This little Makita tile saw is surprisingly useful.

You'll need to take several passes, but it will work just fine. You can buy them new on eBay without the battery for $100 less. The same saw without the water hookup and with a carbide wood blade is very useful when doing odd trim jobs around the house, particularly when up on a ladder.

An alternative would be one of those super cheap ~4" tile circular saws.

will have a ton of no-name brands that come with a non-segmented (definitely what you'll want with marble) for next to nothing.

Make one of those 1x plus strip of plywood cutting guides for the saw to keep the saw foot from damaging the soft marble, and make sure that you support both sides of the cut and start at the front edge.

You didn't say what sort of marble you have, but some (predominantly Chinese) marble tends to curl when it absorbs water. Probably not a worry, but ask the vendor to be safe.

R

[PaPaPeng]

What about cutting a recess into the dry wall instead and restore with wood trim, tile or vanity marble material to disguise the cut.