Tools to Polish Travertine Marble

Handheld Pads

• Handheld polishing pads are one of the oldest ways to manually polish travertine. They are useful for small areas where a power tool would be difficult to use, such as on the edge of an installed piece within an alcove on a bookshelf. They are sold in both dry and wet formats and come in a variety of abrasive surfaces depending on if you want a rough polish or a smooth polish, similar to sandpaper grits.

Polishing Machines

• Polishing machines are handheld power tools that are specifically designed and manufactured to be used with natural stones such as travertine. A number of attachments are available, ranging from sandpaper pads that work exactly like normal sandpaper on wood to resin pads that can be used both dry or wet to polish the stone down in varying degrees. All polishing kits come with multiple pads that range from rough to smooth to help you achieve your desired finish.

Grinders and Attachments

• Four-inch angle grinders can also be used to polish natural stones such as travertine through the use of attachments that are exactly the same as those sold for the polishing machines. Pads can come in diamond, carbide, resin or stone format, and they are sold in varying degrees of roughness so you can work a piece of stone down from a rough finish all the way to a smooth, polished surface.

Edgers

• While typically only used in commercial settings, such as with manufacturers, edging machines are specifically designed to smooth the edges of travertine and polish the finished edges as well as the surface of the stone. They are designed for mass quantity production, but handheld edging machines are available, though they are expensive when compared to a grinder or handheld polishing machine.