| Pennsylvania's cut dimensional Bluestone and flagstone
is one of the most unique stones produced in the world. Found only in abundance
in North Eastern Pennsylvania's Endless Mountains and the Southern Tier of New York. It takes qualified, certified and licensed miners Quarrymen, explosive experts, excavators, and laborers to find and remove the stone from some of the most remote areas in the North Eastern US. It takes allot of expense, experience ( and sometimes luck ) to uncover this product from the hillsides and mountain tops. Pictured at right you can see some newly uncovered blocks of stone. |
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After
the block is uncovered the stone is cut into large blocks called cubes (left)
and set aside to be split. The stone cubes are cut to order or the the
largest size possible due to natural cracks or any other impurities in the
block. The stone is cut 1/2" short to allow for a mortar joint . ( example a 12" x 12" stones 11 1/2 "x 11 1/2" ) The stone is split on natural reeds in the stone which determine its thickness. Due to the fact nature determines it's thickness, stones 3/4" to 11/4" are considered 1" stone and Stones 1 1/4" to 1 3/4" are considered 1 1/2" stone. |
The cubes are peeled
from the block and set aside to be split and the next layer is cut.
You can see a row of cubes ready for splitting. Depending on how tight
the stone is sometimes the cubes are left to loosen up on the lines called
reeds which show where to split the cubes into the finished product of
dimensional stone.
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Sometimes edges on the stone are naturally cracked (left) or cracked during the cube peeling or splitting process. these stone are set aside and split the stone is put on re-cut pallets and head for the re-cut saws and are cut to the next size down. Stone is cut on six inch intervals. below is a square foot table. Stones are also cut for special orders. which are additional cuts and the cost reflects the same. |
| Nature
is the one that determines the color of the stone and sometimes colors have
leached into the stone after millions of years. Sometimes the stone was
made from a different make up of sand and organic matter which determine the
colors ranging from lilac red , gray, green to blue. To the left these
18'' x 30''s show the difference possible in stone color. these are 1" stock
compared to the 1 1/2 " stock pictured below |
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To the left
you can see 2 x 2's almost ready for the truck a few more pieces and down
the road it goes.
Some lucky person will have a nice project with these beautiful stones. To produce these stones most of time dynamite or large earth moving machine are used. As you can see in the back ground of this picture alot of stone lies around after the dynamite and earth movers are done. This product is also palletted and shipped to dealers for use in walls, veneer and stepping stone just to mention a few uses. below are some products also from the quarry. |
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Pictured to the right
is a pallet of thick colonial stone this is one size product. this is snapped
edge stone meaning it has a snapped instead of sawed edges. It is great for
walls. It come in pallets containing approximately 3000 lbs or 30 cubic
feet. ussually is shipped 16 pallets to the truckload. |
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Pictured to the left
is a pallet of thin colonial stone this is another size product. This is
snapped edge stone meaning it has a snapped instead of sawed edges. It is
great for walls or veneer. It come in pallets containing approximately
3000 lbs or 30 cubic feet. ussually is shipped 16 pallets to the truckload.
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Pictured to the right is a pallet of sawed edge
colonial stone this is another type product. This is sawed edge stone meaning
it has a sawed instead of snapped edges. It has two or three straight edges
great for walls or veneer. It come in pallets containing approximately
3000 lbs or 30 cubic feet. ussually is shipped 16 pallets to the truckload.
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Square Foot
Table
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All contents Property of
Johnson & Sons Stone Works Inc.
Copyright 1992-2007