Granite Countertop Tools to Cut Edges

Grinders

• A 4-inch grinder is well suited for cutting ceramic tile and travertine but the small tools struggles with granite. Instead, use a high rpm 7-inch grinder for cutting granite tile countertop edges. Attach a special polishing wheel to the grinder or additional varieties of DIY-friendly edging attachments.

Carbide or Diamond Cup Wheels

• Use a so-called cup wheel attachment. Affix a cup wheel -- carbide for soft granite and diamond of denser stones -- to a 7-inch grinder. Use both eye and breathing protection while grinding granite. For extra finesse and a better-finished product, adjust the 7-inch grinder's speed. Faster rams often cause the cup wheel to skip, damaging the granite's edge.

Blades

• A variety of wet tile saw so-called profile blades cut granite countertop edges. Profile blades cut special granite countertop edges unachievable by hand. For example, a profile blade is easily capable of cutting the difficult so-called ogee multi-layered detail. Profile blades also cut bullnose and multi-layered bullnose edges. Use a profile blade to save a lot of the manual labor involved with granite countertop edge cutting.

Diamond Pads

• Granite polishing pads go hand-in-hand with granite edge cutting and treatment. Attach a diamond pad to both 4- and 7-inch grinders. The diamonds consistency -- called grit in the trade -- varies greatly. Diamond polishing pads of lower grit (in the100s) achieve a honed-like edge look. Higher-grit pads (in the 1000s) polish all the way up to a glass-like look.