Steel City Granite Tools

Overview

• Cast iron has long served as the industry standard for stationary tool tops thanks to its strength and durability. At the 2007 Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers Fair in Las Vegas, Steel City Tool Works debuted prototypes of three new granite tools, including a 10-inch table saw, 14-inch band saw, and a jointer with a granite fence paired with a traditional cast iron bed. Since then, the company has introduced additional granite tools, including mini lathes with a granite bed and headstock, as well as jointers equipped with both a bed and fence made from granite.

Other Brands

• While Steel City Tool Works was an early innovator in the development of granite-topped tools, the success of the company's granite tools inspired other manufacturers to experiment with granite. In January 2009, Ridgid introduced its R4511, a 10-inch table saw with a 1-3/4 inch thick granite top. While Steel City tools are generally sold at specialty woodworking and tool shops, Ridgid products are sold at Home Depot, making them available to both casual and more advanced users. Craftsman, a brand sold at Sears stores, introduced a similar granite table saw soon after.

Benefits of Granite Tools

• Granite offers superior stability, and tools topped with granite feature virtually perfectly flat tops that will remain even and level for the life of the product. While cast iron and other materials are subject to expansion and contraction due to changes in humidity and temperature, granite easily resists heat, cold and moisture, and won't warp, twist or contract. Granite tops are also much heavier than cast iron, and this additional weight allows granite tools to absorb vibration more effectively than traditional tools. Finally, granite won't rust or corrode, and requires little to no maintenance.

Drawbacks of Granite Tools

• One of the most common complaints about granite tools is that they can't accommodate the magnetic jigs and featherboards found in many woodworking shops. Instead, woodworkers must use jigs and accessories that can be clamped in place. Like granite countertops, granite work surfaces could potentially suffer from chips or damage thanks to dropped objects or sharp impacts.