Measuring and Price Estimates

You may estimate the size and cost to cut (and polish) your rocks by determining the approximate surface area of your rock using the following geometry calculations: (or use the calculator link at the bottom of this page)

  1. Wrap a flexible tailor’s tape around the most giant girth ring of the rock specimen at the line of the proposed cut(s). (Or wrap a string around it, then measure the length of the string in inches. This will represent the “circumference” (as a circle) of the rough rock at the site where the diamond blade will slice straight through it. (Note: It is not necessary to conform the tape or string into every crevasse and dip. Just wrap it around the high points as it usually comes out about the same and good enough for estimation purposes. )

  2. Divide this circumference by π (or 3.14) to get the “circle” size.

  3. Divide the result by 2 to get the circle's “radius”.

  4. Multiply the radius by itself to square it.

  5. Multiply this square by π, (or 3.14) for an estimation of the area in square inches (sq”). You’ve just found the rock’s approximate area to be cut per sq”.

  6. Multiply this area by one (1) dollar for the approximate cutting-only fee for each saw-cut slice to be made.

  7. Multiply step 6 by 3 to polish one side of each cut slab or end piece.

    (Note: These fees do not include packaging, shipping & handling costs).

For example;

The circumference of a professional basketball is 29.5 inches around. Applying the above formula equates to an internal area of about 69.25 square inches (sq”) if it were sliced into two (2) halves across its thickest section.

At one (1) dollar per sq”, it would cost about $69 to cut a basketball-sized boulder in half at its thickest point.

Triple that cost ($138 more) to include polishing of one (1) side and another $138 for the other side.

So, to cut once and polish both sides would total about $276 in this example - plus special shipping.

Please note:

  • The customer must mark the orientation and direction of the proposed cuts, and must indicate the preferred thickness of the slabs to be cut onto the customer’s material.

  • The diamond saw blade thickness is nearly 3/16”. Please take this under consideration when estimating the number of slabs yielded.

  • The maximum dimension of a cut boulder is 13.5 high & 26” long.

 Here’s a link to the formula online.