New Haven Journeymen

Polisher Concrete

Polished Concrete And Other Elegant Flooring Choices

You may be building a brand new home, or you may be thinking of ways to freshen the look of a particular room. Regardless of whether you’re installing new flooring or restoring something you already have, polished concrete could be your answer. We tend to think about dull, drab, and gray when concrete comes to mind. But this isn’t the way it has to be. There are a variety of ways we can alter the standard Concrete Floor and turn it into something incredibly elegant and beautiful. Listed are a few options and their benefits in your home or business:

Concrete Polishing gives your flooring a brilliant shine, which adds sophistication to its otherwise dull finish. A contractor will bring in a large machine that will buff down a thin layer on the surface of your flooring. This will not only even out your flooring if it has been incorrectly installed, but it will leave your concrete floor with a beautiful finish that lasts for years. This is also a great choice if you are interested in doing eco-friendly restoration, as the process of polishing concrete involves no harmful or toxic chemicals. This makes it much healthier for you, your family, and the environment.

Concrete acid staining leaves your concrete floors with a unique color and look. You have a wide variety of colors you can choose from to match whatever room you decide to update. You have the option of using one particular color, or separating your flooring into sections and picking a different color for each area. The process is simple, but you only get one shot to get it right. So make sure if you decide to use acid staining on your concrete floors that you read the manufacturer’s instructions very carefully and take the time to do things right the first time.

Painting concrete is another option, for those who don’t want to mess with the potential trickiness of acid staining. There are a multitude of paints out there for concrete, but you want to make sure you buy one with quality, one that will last. The great thing about paint is that you have much more control, so you can be incredibly creative and detailed with your flooring. You can experiment with many different colors, designs, or textures. If you happen to make a mistake, you always have the option of repainting.

Concrete stamping is likely the most involved, yet most unique and interesting option for concrete flooring. It involves another layer of concrete to be poured on your flooring, and designs stamped into it while it is drying. These imprints could be of a limitless amount of patterns, shapes, and designs. This is also a very versatile option in that way, and certainly with beautiful results. You also have the option of choosing color when you have your concrete stamped. There are endless possibilities!

As you can see, concrete doesn’t have to be the boring gray it’s seemed to be doomed to by so many. So if you’re looking to find a new, creative option for your home or business, perhaps you should try one of these alternatives. If you would like any additional information about concrete floor polishing, or any other concrete restoration needs, visit www.concretepolishing.com.

About the Author

Sue Smith enjoys writing of every genre-- from fiction to informational pieces. She currently lives in Ohio and works as a web content writer and creative consultant.

Please can anyone tell me where to buy a water fed stone or concrete Diamond Pad polisher with diamond pads?

Try the yellow pages for Janitorial supplies.

TERRCO INC. Dyeing and Polishing Concrete Demo

Flex LCP1703VR Planetary Gear Driven 3-Headed Polisher $3,827.46 The Flex LCP1703VR Planetary Gear/Belt-Driven Three-Headed Polisher is ideal for wet or dry polishing of concrete, granite, and marble. With three polishing heads, a quiet belt drive, and a slurry guard brush, the Flex Planetary Polisher can handle the toughest applications. And thanks to GFCI protection and variable-speed control, this polisher will help you get the job done safely and accurately...

Hardin Variable Speed Polisher 5 Inch Concrete and Stone Wet Polishing Kit with Diamond Pads $144.90 This is our new industrial variable speed wet polisher / grinder. This professional unit is equipped with a 950 watt 8.29 amp variable speed motor and features a variable speed dial for optimal control. You can operate from 2,000-4,000 RPM. Optimal polishing results are achieved at 2500 RPM. After pouring a concrete counter top you?ll most likely want to polish it to bring out it?s appeal ...

Hardin 38WVPOLSET 3/8-Inch Radius Stone and Concrete 1/4 Round Bullnose Shaping and Wet Polishing Kit $169.00 The stone workers need for quality tools has led to the evolution of the Hardin product line. The composition and characteristics of marble, granite, tile, and engineered stone differ dramatically from concrete. Achieve professional results when profiling and polishing stone counter tops and surfaces with the Hardin Variable Speed wet polisher. Ergonomically designed with a water delivery system t...

Hardin Variable Speed Polisher 4 Inch Granite Marble Wet Polishing Kit with Diamond Pads $144.90 This is our new Hardin industrial grade variable speed wet polisher / grinder. This professional unit is equipped with a 950 watt 8.29 amp variable speed motor and features a variable speed dial for optimal control. You can operate from 2,000-4,000 RPM. Optimal polishing results are achieved at 2500 RPM. After shaping the edge of your slab (profile wheel not included), you?ll most likely want...

SECCO WV5GRIN 5-Inch Wet Polisher Kit $199.00 A wet polisher is the tool of choice to create a polished surface on concrete, granite, and stone. This custom wet polisher and 5" concrete diamond pad set is designed to help you bring a shine to you concrete counter top. Diamond polishing pads are used in sets. The 50 grit pad will prepare your surface by eliminating trowel marks, smoothing rough areas and exposing light aggregate. The 50 grit...

SECCO WVPOLSET 4-Inch Variable Speed Wet Polisher Kit $189.00 The SECCO 4" granite polishing package is the ideal set of tools for polishing granite and stone surfaces. This package includes the SECCO 4" variable speed wet polisher and a complete set of stone diamond polishing pads up to 10,000 grit. The SECCO WVGRIN is a low rpm, variable speed (500 - 4500) water feed angle grinder. This tool is required when polishing with diamond tools that require the us...

SECCO WVGRIN 4-Inch Variable Speed Wet Polisher and Grinder $149.00 Questions, call 866-425-4693. The SECCO variable speed wet polisher is a low rpm (500 - 4500) water feed angle grinder. The use of this tool is required when polishing with diamond tools which require the use of water and low RPM's. SECCO has been providing quality tools to concrete and granite fabrication professionals for years. This unit is equipped with an 800 watt 8 amp motor and features a...

Marble Wet

A Beautiful home is made of many elements. One of the major ones is marble. It is just a natural stone but with proper use and finish, it becomes astonishing and breathtaking in numerous shades. Its natural beauty and color panorama makes it the right choice for flamboyant users in home construction. People with a different style sense always prefer to have marbled homes due to the stunning look and feel it provides.

Homes can be enhanced with vibrant colors, inviting stonework & beautifully carved marbles. Different style and shades of marble can bring attractive ranges that can be floored to encompass living rooms, drawing arrangements, dinning spaces, hotel lobby's, pool sites, wall ladings, lounges and many more. Experienced designers and artisans provide artistic and innovative shapes to the stones in form of artistic marble pillars, marble columns and marble fireplaces. Constant introduction of new technologies helps them to deliver some thing new to bring more variety to the market.

Marbles are used for beautiful carving which display the architecture in many countries. Many breathtaking monuments masterpieces have been made from this prime & beautiful Stone Marble. 

However, in home you can always bring the best out of the marble variety. Following are a few tips to give a vibrant look to your house:

• Glazed marble tiles - Glazed marble tiles are the ones created with liquid glass coating, glazing provides numerous colors, mix of natural hues for a warm and organic look.
• Balance contrast colors - like mustard, red, orange blues
• Hilly cool look - watery blue with greenish cool mint marble tiles
• Natural look - Natural material contains hints of colors- as mustard, olive, and orange, Suck kind of marbles always create fresh look and looks like natural.
• One should use colors in splashes and everywhere to create an energetic look and feel inside your house.
• Choose marble hues that echo undertones found in natural elements.
• Marble tiles and granite slabs installed in your kitchen and bathrooms can change the whole appearance and stylishness of your home.

 

The wonderful flexibility of this natural marble material has enabled ancient and modern artisans to put their creativity in reality and make astonishing monuments.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions, bid on your projects, or schedule an appointment to learn more about us. Visit us at: http://www.pacificbedrock.com

How to cut marble tile?

I have some 12x12 marble tile that I want to cut down to 4x4 pieces to use in a shower stall.

1) Can i use a nipper tool on marble.

2) Whats the best way to cut curves in marble tile? I guess I can do this somehow with a Wet Saw.

3) Can I use a normal Hole Saw to cut the few holes I will need?

4) I need to put a flat edge on these smaller cut pieces for the grout. And some pieces will need to be rounded at the edge of the shower stall. Can I use a rotary tool and diamond bits? If so which bits to use? Would I also need that attachment guide that is used for routing bits?
When I say flat edge, I mean I need to put an angle cut on the edges.

I'll give your questions a shot.

1) Not likely, Unless it is very soft and/or very thin. Nippers are for softer tile, like ceramic.

2) outside curves you can be whitled away on the wet saw. On inside curves you use a 4" or 4 1/4" grinder with diamond wheel. mark the curve and follow it with the grinder. take relief cuts as needed. Not too hard, just time consuming. http://johnbridge.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=17456

3) same as number 1). They make special bit for porcelain, stone, etc. $20 to $30 and up for each. http://www.constructioncomplete.com/TileEquipment/PorcelainTileDrillBits.html

4) you can use the 45 degree "sled" that comes with most wet saws. I made a 22 1/2 degree sled out of wood for a 45 degree corner I cut recently. If you wanted a "bullnose" edge they make cutters but they are pricey, $250 plus or minus.

Try some of these links:
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=At_u3mq4X0s4.sCxDIG_RAQhBgx.?qid=20070401110133AA8zDlR&show=7#profile-info-9235fc807580c8fff7a6d74782c4d99daa
http://www.johnbridge.com/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=11
http://www.constructioncomplete.com/TileEquipment/index.html

Cutting Granite Stone slab

Kenroy Home 80600BRZ Gridline One-Light Medium Wall Lantern with Gridlines Linear Open Cage, Bronze Finish $36.01 80600BRZ Size: 12" H x 9" W x 10" Ext Features: -One light outdoor wall lantern. -Gridline collection. -Bronze finish. -Available in two sizes. -UL listed for wet location. Specifications: -Energy star rated. -1x13W spiral fluorescent bulb (included). -Overall dimensions of medium: 12'' H x 9'' W x 10'' Ext. -Overall dimensions of large: 14'' H x 11'' W x 12'' Ext....

Kenroy Home 70013WHSL Icefield Small Wall Lantern with 7-Inch Extension $94.78 70013WHSL Size: 12" H x 13" W x 7" Ext Medium Version pictured Features: -One light outdoor wall lantern. -Icefield collection. -Slate finish. -Yellow antique scavo glass. -Available in two sizes. -UL listed for wet location. Specifications: -Accommodates: 1x60W A19 medium base bulb (not included). -Overall dimensions of small: 12'' H x 13'' W x 7'' Ext. -Overall dimensions of medium: 16'' H x 8''...

ABC Products Task Force ~ 7 Turbo Diamond Blade (Wet/Dry Cutting - Granite, Marble & Etc.) $16.77 General purpose turbo diamond blade ~~ Will cut - brick, block, cincrete, granite and marble ~~ Wet or dry cutting ~~ 200x longer life then others ~~ Fits 5/8" or 7/8" arbor....

Hardin Variable Speed Polisher 4 Inch Granite Marble Wet Polishing Kit with Diamond Pads $144.90 This is our new Hardin industrial grade variable speed wet polisher / grinder. This professional unit is equipped with a 950 watt 8.29 amp variable speed motor and features a variable speed dial for optimal control. You can operate from 2,000-4,000 RPM. Optimal polishing results are achieved at 2500 RPM. After shaping the edge of your slab (profile wheel not included), you?ll most likely want...

Pro-Grade 7 Bench Top Wet Tile Saw - 1/2 HP 3600 RPM $54.99 This tile cutter offers 120-volt 3.75 Amp long life motor. It is UL/CUL approved, with 3600 RPM free-speed. With its strong light weight steel and aluminum, it cuts through floor and wall tiles effortlessly. Perfect for professional or home tiling projects....

QEP 60020 24-Inch Dual Speed Tile Saw with Water Pump and Folding Stand $279.99 This dual-speed tile saw features an enclosed dual-spray water system for evenly distributed water flow. Great for cutting all kinds of tile, including marble, granite, porcelain and other masonry products. HP: 2, Speed - No Load (RPM): 1750/2450, Blade Diameter (in.): 14, Cutting Thickness (in.): 1 1/2...

4 Wet Diamond Polishing Pad SET (8pcs) for Granite, Marble, Stone - Premium Grade (C Series) $39.99 All our Diamond Polishing Pads are made by high quality controled manufacturers. These are made with top quality diamonds and resin. The pads are velcro backed with grit numbers burned into the velcro. Our pads are more flexible and more aggressive than any others. We have all type of grits. And we have lots of different quality and pattern pads. We do sell individual pad and whole set both way. Y...

Granite Polishing Pad

Polishing the Surface of Granite

Homeowners who decide to install granite countertops for their homes need to choose beyond just the color of the stone. They also need to decide on the finish that they want applied to the surface of the stone.

There are a few different finishes that can be applied to the surface of slab countertops. Each of these finishes creates a different look for the kitchen and the home. It will also determine the maintenance regimen that homeowners need to ensure to maximize the life of their granite countertops.

The three different finishes that are usually applied to the face of the stone include polished, stain and honed granite.

A polished granite kitchen counter is one in which the surface of the slab is polished and shiny. The polishing process of the slab countertops involves placing the granite on an automated conveyor system which moves the slab through various stages of the finishing process. The sides of the granite slabs that need to be polished are place “face-up” on the conveyor belt.

The granite slabs then go through a series of polishing wheels that are fitted with coarse abrasive pads as well as finer Polishing Pads. These pads grind the granite and then buff the surface to a smooth finish.

The advantage of a polished finish to granite countertops is that it adds depth to the room. A polished stone appears darker and richer. It is also easier to maintain these granite kitchen countertops.

The stain finish on granite kitchen countertops is a relatively new finish. It provides a light gloss to the surface of the slab countertop. The gloss is between a polished look and a matte finish.

The honed surface look for a granite countertop is achieved by pulling the granite slabs out of the conveyor belt before they can be buffed. This provides the granite slabs with a matte finish. The problem with using a matte finished granite slab on a kitchen countertop is that the slab can stain easily. Also, these slabs are duller than the polished stones and therefore could bring about a dull tone to the kitchen.

For more resources about granite countertop fabrication and installation or even about granite countertop installation and especially about granite countertops fabrication and installation please review this website.

About the Author

For more resources about granite countertop fabrication and installation or even about granite countertop installation and especially about granite countertops fabrication and installation please review this website.

How to get that high shine on granite?

Placed some granite tiles on a counter top and rounded and finished the edges going through all the different polishing pads up to a 3000 grit but the shine is still not the same as the original. Is there one more step I am missing. Does it require buffing with polishing paste.

Don't use an ordinary kitchen cleaning product to clean granite. The newest technology uses peroxide and detergents to penetrate soiled areas. Simply spray a product such as Bio-OX Citrus Concentrate on the soiled area, allow it to penetrate for a few minutes, then wipe clean. Baking soda can be sprinkled on for a more abrasive cleaning action. Repeat if necessary. Granite can also be cleaned using warm, sudsy water (a mild detergent such as a grease cutting dish detergent or laundry detergent is fine) or a solution of borax and water. Thoroughly rinse and buff dry. To remove stains from granite, make a paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide or baking soda and Bio-OX Citrus Concentrate and cover the stain with the paste. Cover the paste with a damp cloth, leave overnight, then wet down and scrub with a nonmetallic scrubbing pad. Rinse thoroughly with clean water. Wipe up any spills as they happen so they don't soak in, and always dry coutertops after washing the dishes...

Polishing Pads.wmv

Marble Kitchen

Advantages of Marble Kitchen Countertops

Marble is a beautiful limestone that is made up of calcite and dolomite.  Marble has been known to naturally crystallize over periods fo time, making it extremely beautiful and a top choice for artists.  It is used for making sculptures as well as furniture.  Because of its beauty and elegance, marble is often used to make kitchen countertops. 

If you want to buy a new kitchen countertop for your kitchen, then there are advantages of marble countertops that you should be aware of.

-Its beauty notwithstanding, marble kitchen countertops represent class, sophistication, and true elegance.

-There are many colors to choose from where marble kitchen countertops are concerned.  There are bright colors as well as dark, which include various shades of pink, gray, white, gold, black, blue, purple, etc.

-Marble kitchen countertops are very smooth and soft.  Their brightness and sheen is unparalleled. 

-Marble comes from all around the world, from places like Britain, India, Italy, Spain, France, and China.  You have your choice from where you want your classy marble to come from!

-While they do need extra care at times, marble kitchen countertops are more strong and durable than most other countertops.  Yes, they can get stains and their smoothness can become rough under extreme temperatures, but if you have the time to care for them, they will last for years!

No matter what disadvantages you may hear about having a marble kitchen countertop, clearly the advantages are more.  Marble can be expensive, but if you look around on the Internet, you can find good deals.  Because of their attractiveness, the look of awe on visitor’s faces when they walk into your kitchen makes the price worth it!   Since kitchens are often the most popular rooms in a house, it’s no surprise that many choose to invest most of their money in marble kitchen countertops.

About the Author

Written by Tippy Gremweld. Find the very best info on California Kitchen Countertops as well as Carlsbad Kitchen Countertops

Are marble kitchen countertops recommended?

I have marble countertops in a house I just bought. They are horrible. They have to be polished all the time. They streak easy. They have areas where they are worn. I am assuming somebody cleaned them wrong or put hot pots on them. My next countertops will be Corian. I like a spotless house and these marble countertops never look really clean.

Kitchen Backsplash with onex (marble)

Hoover FloorMate Grout-Cleaning Solution, 16 Ounces, 40307016 $4.49 Hoover Floormate, 16 OZ, Grout Cleaner, Brightens & Cleans All Grout....

Marble Mosaic - Thirstystone Sandstone Coaster Set $17.75 Thirstystone quarries their sandstone for the Coasters in the Southwestern United States using the most environmentally conscious methods to extract the sandstone boulders that will be crafted into Thirstystone coasters. Thirstystone Sandstone Coasters are among the finest in the world, due to their incredible absorbing ability. The unusual nature of the porous sandstone literally absorbs messy dr...

StoneTech RVC4-1G Revitalizer Fresh Citrus Tile and Stone Cleaner, 1-Gallon $30.50 atural stone such as marble, granite, limestone, slate, terrazzo, travertine & sandstone. Ceramic Porcelain & Tile. Best suited for the most porous stone surfaces. Directions Note: Directions may vary depending on size. 1. Spray directly on soiled area. 2. Wipe clean with a dry towel, lint-free cloth or sponge. No need to rinse. 3. Repeat for heavily soiled areas. Available Sizes (and Covera...

12 Classic S C Johnson Wax Old Time Radio Broadcasts on DVD (over 5 Hours 53 Minutes running time) $11.99 This unique old time radio DVD collectible features 12 digitized reels of classic S C Johnson Wax radio broadcasts and over 5 Hours 53 Minutes of total running time on 1 DVD. Take a journey back through radio broadcasting history with this large audio library of OTR memorabilia. The golden age of old time radio has been rescued, digitized, and packaged into a gift set that any classic radio lover ...

Organic Rye Grain Seeds - 5 Lb Re-Sealable Can - Rye Seed / Grains for Flour, Bread, Sprouting, Rye Grass & More. $9.95 Certified Organic Rye Grain. Perfect for grinding into flour for rye bread, or sprouting....

Organic Rye Grain Seeds - 35 Lb Re-Sealable Bucket - Rye Seed / Grains for Flour, Bread, Sprouting, Rye Grass & More. $45.95 Certified Organic Rye Grain. Perfect for grinding into flour for rye bread, or sprouting....

Organic Rye Grain Seeds - 1 Lb Re-Sealable Bag - Rye Seed / Grains for Flour, Bread, Sprouting, Rye Grass & More. $4.95 Certified Organic Rye Grain. Perfect for grinding into flour for rye bread, or sprouting....

DuPont StoneTech Professional Revitalizer Cleaner and Protector 24-Ounce Spray, Citrus Scent $9.75 ...

Scabos 1 X 1 Travertine Tumbled Mosaic Tile $7.75 Our new Scabos Travertine materials have a highly dense texture with decorative contrast markings of rich yellow, black, turquoise and unique burgundy colors on a wavy beige background. This raw material is especially suited for brushed and distressed edge multi-size pattern sets, pavers and tumbled tiles & mosaics. Sizes (per piece on the entire sheet): 1" (Width) X 1" (Length) X 3/8" (Thickness)...

Bona 32oz Spray, Stone, Tile and Laminate $7.95 Bona Stone, Tile & Laminate Cleaner is a waterborne, environmentally responsible, and non-toxic cleaner specifically formulated to clean all types of stone, tile, and laminate floors with a clear finish. Leaves no dulling residue....

Core Bit Granite

A Tourist's Guide to the Natural Sights of Oregon

Nature, the predominant element around which life in Oregon revolves, results in the state’s topographical diversity and rugged, natural beauty, and dictates the experiences the tourist is likely to have.

The 362 mile long coast, for instance, comprised of rain forests, sand dunes, black sand beaches, and unique rock formations, is splintered by some dozen rivers, which flow into the Pacific.  The spine of the Coast Range and the Klamath Mountains provides a westerly skeleton, while the Columbia River defines the border between Washington and Oregon in the north.  The Cascade Mountains, black basalt formations densely carpeted with thick, green forests and capped with snow covered volcanoes, cradle alpine lakes and a national park, and extend form Mt. Hood in the north to Hayden Mountain in the south, serving to separate the western half of the state with its central high desert plateau.  In the northeast, the 10,000-foot Wallowa Mountains invert themselves into 6,600-foot-deep Hells Canyon, the world’s deepest river carved gorge.

Abundant vineyards produce an array of excellent wines, while locally grown marrionberries figure in Oregon cooking, along with the bounty of the land’s fruits and vegetables and the rivers’ salmon.

Columbia River Gorge

Formed by volcanic activity and both basalt lava and glacial floods, the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, spanning 80 miles from Troutdale in the west to the Dalles in the east, and encompassing 292,000 acres on both the Washington and Oregon sides, had been created by Congress in 1986.  The Columbia River itself, at 1,243 miles in length, is the second largest such artery in the continental United States and the only nearly sea level passage through the mountain range stretching between Canada and Mexico.  Originating in British Columbia, it flows through the mountains, before turning south and finally west where it releases 250,000 cubic feet of water per second into the Pacific.  Topographically featuring Douglas fir, hemlock, and western red cedar in the west, the gorge transforms into drier pine forest and grassland in the east.

Its primary Native American residents, the “Watlala,” who had been more commonly known as the “Cascades,” had lived on both sides of the river between Cascade Locks and Sandy River, using it for sustenance and trade by fishing for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, and eel.  The land provided berries and roots and the nearby mountains facilitated hunting for deer and elk.  Living in structures made of cedar planks, the Watlala seasonally traveled down the river to fish and gather plant foods, such as “wapato” and “camas,” in cedar carved canoes, while wood and mountain sheep horns had provided the raw materials for tools, bowls, and pots.  Wrap twined baskets sported intricate decorations of nature, people, and animals.

Controlling the portage round Cascade Falls, which had been too treacherous for canoe or boat passage, they collected tolls in the form of traded goods in exchange for access.

The Watlala signed Willamette Valley Treaty ceded their southern bank of the Columbia River to the US in 1855, and they had subsequently been relocated to the Grand Ronde Indian Reservation two years later.

Of the gorge’s numerous waterfalls, Multnomah Falls, plummeting almost 620 feet from its origin on Larch Mountain, constitutes the second-highest year-round waterfall in the US.  “Multnomah,” translating as “those closer to the water,” with “water” referring to the Columbia River itself, cascades down a cliff in which five flows of Yakima basalt are visible, and its spray, freezing in early-winter and melting in late-spring, causes the rock over which it travels to crack and break away.  The falls are accessed by several hiking trails.

The adjacent, Cascadian style, natural stone Multnomah Falls Lodge, designed by architect Albert E. Doyle in 1925 to serve travelers arriving by car, train, or steamboat, sits on land donated by the Oregon and Washington Railroad and Navigation Company to the city of Portland.  The lodge’s east end, which includes the later added Forest Service Visitor’s Center in 1929, had preceded its post war remodeling and 1946 reopening.  On April 22, 1981, the lodge, along with the first 1.1 miles of its Larch Mountain trail, had been placed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the day facility sports two second floor, fireplace and stone dining rooms overlooking the falls and the Columbia River.  An extensive gift shop is located on the main level.

The Columbia River Interpretive Center, located across the Columbia River spanned, erector set appearing Bridge of the Gods in Stevenson, Washington, provides snapshots of life in the area in a modern, two level museum, with exhibits such as a horse drawn buckboard from 1890, a wooden fish wheel, a 1921 log carrying Mack truck, an 1895 Corliss steam engine used to drive saw carriages and conveyors in a Cascade Locks lumber mill, hand crafted canoes, and a 1917 Curtiss JN-4 Jenny biplane, which had facilitated local transportation.

Further east, and back on the Oregon side, the Columbia Gorge Hotel, built on a scenic cliff overlooking the Columbia River, is a stately, neo-Morish structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the US Department of Interior unofficially dubbed the “Waldorff of the West.”  Constructed in 1921 by timber tycoon Simon Benson as a tribute to America’s post-war prosperity, it had hosted social and political dignitaries, presidents such as Coolidge and Roosevelt, movie stars like Clara Bow and Rudolph Valentino, and musicians from the Big Bands, having played an integral role during the Roaring Twenties when Model T Fords had traveled the roads and steamers had plied the rivers.  Voted one of the world’s top 500 hotels by Conde Nast magazine, the hotel, sitting on meticulously manicured, tiny waterfall dotted grounds, features an elegant, chandelier and fireplace adorned lobby and restaurant.

The Mount Hood Railroad, located a short distance from the hotel, traces its origins to 1905 when Utah lumberman David Eccles laid track in order to transport timber between the forest and his lumber mill by a steam engine powered logging train, and today offers daily excursions along the 8.5 mile stretch between Hood River and Odell through predominantly forested and fruit orchard topography and less frequent runs the full 22 miles to Parkdale, gateway to Mt. Hood.

Mt. Hood

Mt. Hood, named after British admiral Samuel Hood in 1792 and part of the Cascade Mountains, is an inactive volcano whose last, although minor, eruption, occurred between 1845 and 1865.  At 11,235 feet, it is Oregon’s tallest peak.  Glacier and river sculpted over the years, the snow covered mountain, rising above Trillum Lake, features a 50-degree slope at its last, 2,000 foot rise, and offers year round hiking and skiing.

Its story, however, is every bit that of the lodge designated “Timberline” and nestled on its south slope at the 6,000 foot level.  The result of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the federal agency created in 1933 to provide gainful employment to Americans who had been rendered idle by the Great Depression, it had been constructed by a predominantly inexperienced workforce which had used natural, Oregon indigenous material.

Its initial site survey, made in the spring of 1936 under 14 foot snow accumulations and only accessible by a primitive road which terminated a half mile from the actual location, yielded to the first drawings and subsequent groundbreaking on June 11 of a European chateau and alpine style lodge designed by Gilbert Stanley Underwood and constructed entirely of gray, almost rock-resembling wood whose roof line echoed that of the steep mountain slope behind it.

Oregon had provided its foundation in the literal sense by supplying the mountain it had been built on and the natural materials which had been severed from their wombs and reduced to the individual buildings blocks which had been intricately reassembled into the lodge itself, inclusive of the forest supplied wood for its exterior structure and interior furniture and carvings, and the mountainside- and quarry yielding andesite stone for its walls and fireplaces.

Featuring a hexagonal core known as the “head house,” which had been inspired by the outline of the mountain peak behind it, and a single, angled wing extending from either of its sides, it had been designed as an extension of, as opposed to obstruction to, its surroundings.

Completed in only a 15 month period, it had been dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on September 28, 1937 and opened to the public the following February.

The hexagonally shaped head house, subdivided into the lower lobby, upper lobby, and mezzanine, features a truncated, 55 foot high “timberline” arch supported by carved sides and a top crossbeam, in the center of which is a six sided stone chimney which sports three, railroad track andiron adorned fireplaces.  Hexagonal ponderosa pine columns, each weighing seven tons and milled from a single tree, surround the lodge, while Oregon White Oak provides its floor planks.  The hexagonal pattern is repeated in the hand forged wrought iron chandeliers and floor lamps, and floor to ceiling windows (attempt to) provide views through the 21 foot high snow banks.  Some 820 pieces of wooden, hand crafted furnishings and carvings were made in the WPA woodworking shop in Portland.

The Cascade Dining Room, located off the main lobby and thresholded by wrought iron gates made in the WPA blacksmith shop, exudes rustic, early-1900s elegance with a polished, wooden floor; a wood beamed ceiling; a relief carving adorned stone fireplace entitled “Forest Scene,” and a bar.

Guest rooms, varying in size and appointment from bunk beds to fireplace suites, are rustic with heavy wooden doors; wrought iron latches; leather-and-iron lamps; heavy, wooden beds; and knotty pine panelings.

Timberline Lodge, the only public building of its size constructed entirely by hand with original craft work in wood, wrought iron, mosaic, painting, and carved linoleum, and, since 1978, a National Historic Landmark, is every bit a “sight” as an overnight lodge.  It serves some two million annual visitors, only a small percentage of whom are actually skiers.

Returning to a roaring fire which castes warmth and light into the wooden lobby from its central stone fireplace after a day of skiing and enjoying award winning cuisine in the rustically elegant Cascade Dining Room, and then cacooning oneself in quilts in a knotty pine paneled guest room on the other side of whose wall the half, snow-buried pine trees surround the base of Mount Hood whose jagged, black granite, snow blanketed peak is periodically shrouded in cloud and mist throughout the night, is a quintessential Oregon experience.

Central Oregon

Because the Cascade Mountains mostly drain traditional storm fronts of their moisture, and therefore provide distinct climactic zones on either of their sides, Central Oregon, to the east of them, forms a high desert plateau and enjoys 300 days of sunshine, as contrasted with the rain drenched coast.  Access is via winding, ascending Route 20 through the dense, needle thin ponderosa and lodgepole pine of Willamette National Forest, over Tombstone and Santiam Passes, and finally through Deschutes National Forest, all of which are often shrouded in low-altitude cloud, and lead to an area of snow capped mountains, 150 mountain lakes, and 500 miles of rivers.  They afford a variety of recreational opportunities, including golfing, fishing, biking, horseback riding, hiking, climbing, rafting, and skiing.  Bend, an accommodations base and once a booming timber town, capitalizes on the area’s attractions with hotels, resorts, restaurants, and services.  The area is alternatively served by nearby Redmond Airport.

Sisters, one of Central Oregon’s attractions, is a quintessential western town of about 1,000 with 1880s style storefronts and wooden boardwalks named after the Three Sisters Mountains in the southwest.  Initially accessed by trails forged through the Santiam Pass to the high desert by those hoping to strike it rich in the gold mines of Eastern Oregon and Idaho, it had developed into a small town after the trails had evolved into wagon roads.  Wood from the surrounding pine forests had established lumber as its principle economic activity, although tourism plays an increasingly important role.  Bronco Billy’s Saloon, built in 1912, is an historically important building in Sisters.

The High Desert Museum, located a few miles south of Bend on Highway 97, is a modern, continually expanding facility which showcases the wildlife and landscapes of eight western states in both indoor and outdoor exhibits, including those of western exploration and settlement, the Columbia River plateau Indians, a “desertarium,” an 1880 homestead ranch, a working sawmill, and a raptor center.

The area’s geology can be studied in nearby Newberry National Volcanic Monument.  One of the largest “shield”-shaped volcanoes in the Lower 48 states and located along the Northwest Rift zone of faults, the 500 square mile Newberry Caldera, whose most recent eruption, the Big Obsidian Flow, occurred 1,300 years ago, cradles two trout and salmon abundant lakes: Paulina Lake, at 250 feet one of Oregon’s deepest, and 180-foot-deep East Lake, are both fed by hot springs below them.  Once believed to have existed as single entities, Paulina and East Lakes had been divided by pumice and water deposits 6,200 years ago.

Paulina Peak, the crater’s highest at 7,985 feet, provides views of the High Desert plateau and the Cascade Mountains.

The Deschutes River, a federally designated Wild and Scenic River, flows through the monument’s northwest corner, and offers fishing, kayaking, and white water rafting, while more than 100 miles of trails, interspersing the monument, facilitate hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, skiing, and snowmobiling.  Area wildlife includes deer, elk, black bear, ducks, osprey, geese, tundra swans, and bald eagles.

Aside from the caldera, three separate areas can be visited.

The Lava Lands Visitor Center, the first of these, depicts Central Oregon’s geology, archaeology, history, and fauna.  Ranger-led interpretive hikes take visitors through the volcanic landscape.  500 foot high Lava Butte, whose crater had been formed 7,000 years ago when it had erupted and spewed lava over a nine square mile area, is accessible by a perimeter road and affords views of the Newberry Volcano and Cascade Mountain Range.

The Lava River Cave, a one mile long lava tube, had been created when a river of molten lava had formed a channel whose sides hardened, creating a roof, but the hot lava had continued to flow through the tube, leaving it hollow.  Its interior temperature is now a constant 42 degrees Fahrenheit.

Finally, the Lava Cast Forest had been created when Newberry Volcano vent originating lava had flowed through a miniature ponderosa pine forest, enveloping the trees and forming molds round their now burned bases when they had cooled.  A one mile trail leads through the forest, which is being progressively reclaimed by young pines.

Aviation-Related Northwest Oregon

Northwest Oregon features two significant sights, which not only center round aviation, but also retain the state’s nature oriented theme.

The Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum, the first of these, had been created by Delford M Smith, founder of Evergreen International Aviation, and his son, Captain Michael King Smith, who had served as Second Lieutenant in the US Air Force and had been an F-15 Fighter pilot and the head of the 123rd Fighter Squadron of the Oregon Air National Guard.  Centerpiece of the museum’s three modern, A-frame, aviation, space, and IMAX buildings, located in McMinnville, is the Hughes H-4 Hercules, the world’s largest transport flying boat, designed and built by the Hughes Aircraft Company entirely of natural, laminated birch wood due to World War II-imposed metal usage restrictions and hence given the unofficial nickname of “Spruce Goose.”

Designed to fulfill the 1942 US Department of War requirement for a very large aircraft to transport personnel and war material across the Atlantic where aircraft had hitherto been frequent targets of German U-boats, it had originally been intended as one of three stipulated by the contract, which had dictated a two-year development period.  Powered by eight, 3,000 hp Pratt and Whitney Wasp Major radial engines, the H-4, with a 218.8 foot overall length and a 319.11 foot wingspan, accommodated 750 fully equipped troops in its cavernous, dual deck fuselage and had a 400,000 pound maximum Take Off weight.  The only airframe ever completed, and thus serving as the prototype, it had first flown on November 2, 1947 when Howard Hughes himself had covered less than a mile at a 70 foot altitude while maintaining a 135 mph air speed.  It became its only flight.

The museum retains its natural theme by cultivating its own vineyard in front of it appropriately named “Spruce Goose Vineyards,” and a wine tasting room and gift shop, where one can sample the wines of the area’s abundant other vineyards, is located in the aviation building.

Of the two hangars constructed here, Hangar B had been the first to have been completed in the spring of 1943, followed one month later by Hangar A.  Housing Squadron ZP-33’s eight K ships, it features six, 30 ton, railroad track guided door sections covering the 120 foot high, 220 foot wide opening which thresholds the 15 story high, seven acre internal space.  The 251 foot blimps, attaining lift with 425,000 cubic foot helium bags, could remain aloft for three days and cover 2,000 miles.

After the air station had been decommissioned in 1948, the two hangars had been used for several purposes, including those of hay bail storage, and the material in Hangar A had unexplainably sparked and ignited in 1992, destroying it.  Two years later, Hangar B had been developed into the current, nationally historic aviation museum displaying a vintage collection of restored, exclusively flyable aircraft.

Here, wood, the natural element of Oregon’s forests, had been used to build the hangars in which dirigibles, using the natural gas of helium to attain lift, had been stored, in an ultimate act of history preserving history, and of nature serving man, which is, in essence, the story of Oregon.

About the Author

A graduate of Long Island University-C.W. Post Campus with a summa-cum-laude BA Degree in Comparative Languages and Journalism, I have subsequently earned the Continuing Community Education Teaching Certificate from the Nassau Association for Continuing Community Education (NACCE) at Molloy College, the Travel Career Development Certificate from the Institute of Certified Travel Agents (ICTA) at LIU, and the AAS Degree in Aerospace Technology at the State University of New York – College of Technology at Farmingdale. Having amassed almost three decades in the airline industry, I managed the New York-JFK and Washington-Dulles stations at Austrian Airlines, created the North American Station Training Program, served as an Aviation Advisor to Farmingdale State University of New York, and devised and taught the Airline Management Certificate Program at the Long Island Educational Opportunity Center. A freelance author, I have written some 70 books of the short story, novel, nonfiction, essay, poetry, article, log, curriculum, training manual, and textbook genre in English, German, and Spanish, having principally focused on aviation and travel, and I have been published in book, magazine, newsletter, and electronic Web site form. I am a writer for Cole Palen’s Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in New York. I have made some 350 lifetime trips by air, sea, rail, and road.

Does anyone know at what speed you are supposed to cut faucet holes in granite?

Low speed do not cut, but higher speed smoked my diamont core bit

Should be low and make sure you pour water on it while cutting.

Granite Core Bit