what can i use to cover 25m of marble?

[L J.]

In our town we have a particular road where all the shop fronts are covered in marble. We hate it. Now someone out there might be able to put me right on this but we have bought every type of twist drill we can to try & drill through the marble with no luck, even diamond tipped drills.
Another sign Co (competitor) had tried some type of VHB tape but i noticed after a few months his sign (3mm foam board) is coming off in sections. Keep seeing him called back to fix it.
L J

[Shane Drew]

quote DaveBruce:

I have 25m of marble facia to cover and was wondering what you guys would use and how would you fix it?

I was going to use 2mm Leeboard to keep the cost down, maybe us VHB tape and screw the corners ‘cos I don’t trust Vhb tape 100%.

Any thoughts please.

Dave

Dave we have a double sided tape here called ‘extreme tape’ made by Stylus. The best I have used, heaps better than 3M VHB which was considered the best until now. The problem with a lot of VHB’s is that they don’t sit well on cold applications, and marble is a surface that is hard to heat.

I have stuck 6mm foamboard to the side of a concrete building using only ET, and it is still as good as the day it was done 12 months ago. Not bad seeing as it is also in full sun. If you are really worried, compliment the ET with sikka (get the white one tho as the black one will show thru and makes a hell of a mess if you are not extra cautious.)

They use Sikka to glue modern buses together, so a 2mm sign on marble is going to be no problem.

cheers
Shane

[Dave Bruce]

Thanks guys.
LJ I suspect your competitor is having trouble for the same reason mine is, 3mm FB expands so much there is so much movement on the tape pulling it and pushing it, it is a bit like bending a piece of wire constantly until it breaks.

But using Leeboard (like Alucolor) I wouldn’t get this problem. I have drilled marble before using Dewalt 24v SDS drill it makes mince meat of everything. I had to drill though a special render coating some years back to fix some lettering, went in with the trusty 14v Bosch, it took me ages to get the first hole done. Then tried with a 240v hammer drill, it took me three hours to fix 11 letters 😳 . I went back to do more letters some weeks later but this time had the 24v Dewalt, drilled all the holes in minutes, I thought I had gone in to a void initially it was that easy. Never looked back since.

That reminds me Shane I have seen the Silicone used for window installations (Wurth proper stuff)fix end on to a piece of Aluminium and wood, you can bend it 90degrees and it stays put, so that might be worth a go too.
Cheers

Dave

[L J.]

what type of twist drill are you using for the marble Dave.
I suppose the 24v DeWalt is another piece of kit i need next then!
L J

[Shane Drew]

quote L J.:

what type of twist drill are you using for the marble Dave.
I suppose the 24v DeWalt is another piece of kit i need next then!
L J

LJ, purchased the dewalt 24v last year, got the whole kit and caboodle – cordless light, cordless circular saw, cordless hammer drill, cordless sabre saw. Got to say it is the best tool purchase I have made in years. 😉

Trouble is all my mates are aways wanting to borrow them, and my wife thinks now that I have all this good gear, that I can do more around the house! 👿

[Shane Drew]

quote DaveBruce:

I went back to do more letters some weeks later but this time had the 24v Dewalt, drilled all the holes in minutes, I thought I had gone in to a void initially it was that easy. Never looked back since.

That reminds me Shane I have seen the Silicone used for window installations (Wurth proper stuff)fix end on to a piece of Aluminium and wood, you can bend it 90degrees and it stays put, so that might be worth a go too.
Cheers

Dave

Yes dave, love my dewalt. Had to drill a 25mm hole into brick with the hammer drill. Went in so easily, I thought I was drilling sand. 😮

I think sikka will be the answer from what I understand. At least it will allow expansion, as well as stick to anything. 😮

Cheers
Shane

[L J.]

Hi Shane, yes I already have a 240 volt DeWalt hammer drill but it’s the “What type of drill bit is best for Marble” that i am after? As every thing i have tried, including a diamond tipped masonry bit just wont touch it.
L J

PS have done a goggle for Sikka, comes up with all sorts except tape.

[Shane Drew]

quote L J.:

Hi Shane, have done a goggle for Sikka, comes up with all sorts except tape.

LJ, sikka is a liquid like silicon. but thicker and with much better adhesion.

you apply it with a caulking gun.

cheers

[L J.]

I don’t suppose you could point me in the right direction Shane please, (suppliers)
Thanks,
L J

[Shane Drew]

My mistake LJ, I was spelling it with a double ‘K’. 😳

The UK address is here http://www.sika.co.uk/

Most big hardware stores stock it here

Hope this helps

Cheers

[L J.]

That would help, thanks Shane
L J

PS just tried it, they must be updating the site, most pages not available.
I will try again tomorrow