{"id":20829,"date":"2026-07-21T09:10:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T06:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/setmakina.com\/?p=20829"},"modified":"2026-07-30T16:56:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T13:56:09","slug":"drilling-vs-cutting-granite-extraction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/setmakina.com\/en\/technical-insights\/drilling-vs-cutting-granite-extraction\/","title":{"rendered":"Drilling or Cutting for Granite Extraction? A Cost Comparison per Cubic Metre"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<!-- ============================================================\n     SET MAKINA \u2014 Blog Post: Drilling or Cutting for Granite\n     Extraction? A Cost Comparison per Cubic Metre\n\n     BRAND SYSTEM (reuse across all posts):\n     - Primary blue:   #468dcb  -> headings, links, highlights\n     - Dark blue:      #1a3a5c  -> header accents, dividers\n     - Orange CTA:     #FF6600  -> buttons, calls to action\n     - Body text:      #2d2d2d\n     - Muted text:     #666666\n     - Border\/divider: #e4e8ed\n     - Light bg:       #f4f8fc  (blue-tinted, on-brand)\n     - Font:           Open Sans (Google Fonts)\n\n     HOW TO USE IN WORDPRESS:\n     Block editor -> Add Block (+) -> Custom HTML -> Paste everything below\n     ============================================================ -->\n\n<link rel=\"preconnect\" href=\"https:\/\/fonts.googleapis.com\">\n<link href=\"https:\/\/fonts.googleapis.com\/css2?family=Open+Sans:wght@400;600;700&#038;display=swap\" rel=\"stylesheet\">\n\n<style>\n  \/* \u2500\u2500 All styles scoped to .sm-post to avoid theme conflicts \u2500\u2500 *\/\n\n  .sm-post *,\n  .sm-post *::before,\n  .sm-post *::after {\n    box-sizing: border-box;\n  }\n\n  .sm-post {\n    font-family: 'Open Sans', -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif;\n    font-size: 16px;\n    line-height: 1.8;\n    color: #2d2d2d;\n    max-width: 860px;\n    margin: 0 auto;\n    padding: 0;\n  }\n\n  \/* \u2500\u2500 Lead paragraph \u2500\u2500 *\/\n  .sm-post .sm-lead {\n    font-size: 17px;\n    line-height: 1.8;\n    color: #2d2d2d;\n    background: #f4f8fc;\n    border-left: 4px solid #468dcb;\n    padding: 20px 24px;\n    margin: 0 0 44px;\n    border-radius: 0 4px 4px 0;\n  }\n\n  \/* \u2500\u2500 Section headings \u2500\u2500 *\/\n  .sm-post h2 {\n    font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif;\n    font-size: 22px;\n    font-weight: 700;\n    color: #1a3a5c;\n    margin: 56px 0 18px;\n    padding-bottom: 12px;\n    border-bottom: 2px solid #e4e8ed;\n    letter-spacing: -0.2px;\n  }\n  .sm-post h2 .sm-num {\n    display: inline-flex;\n    align-items: center;\n    justify-content: center;\n    width: 28px;\n    height: 28px;\n    background: #468dcb;\n    color: #fff;\n    font-size: 12px;\n    font-weight: 700;\n    border-radius: 50%;\n    margin-right: 10px;\n    vertical-align: middle;\n    position: relative;\n    top: -2px;\n    flex-shrink: 0;\n  }\n  .sm-post h3 {\n    font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif;\n    font-size: 17px;\n    font-weight: 700;\n    color: #1a3a5c;\n    margin: 28px 0 10px;\n  }\n\n  \/* \u2500\u2500 Body text & links \u2500\u2500 *\/\n  .sm-post p {\n    margin: 0 0 18px;\n    color: #2d2d2d;\n  }\n  .sm-post strong {\n    font-weight: 700;\n    color: #1a1a1a;\n  }\n  .sm-post a {\n    color: #468dcb;\n    text-decoration: none;\n    font-weight: 600;\n    border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(70,141,203,0.25);\n    transition: color 0.15s, border-color 0.15s;\n  }\n  .sm-post a:hover {\n    color: #2a6aab;\n    border-bottom-color: #468dcb;\n  }\n  .sm-post ul,\n  .sm-post ol {\n    margin: 0 0 18px 20px;\n    padding: 0;\n  }\n  .sm-post li {\n    margin-bottom: 6px;\n    color: #2d2d2d;\n  }\n\n  \/* \u2500\u2500 Info \/ callout box \u2500\u2500 *\/\n  .sm-post .sm-callout {\n    background: #f4f8fc;\n    border-left: 4px solid #468dcb;\n    padding: 16px 20px;\n    margin: 24px 0;\n    border-radius: 0 4px 4px 0;\n  }\n  .sm-post .sm-callout p {\n    margin: 0;\n    font-size: 15px;\n    color: #2d2d2d;\n  }\n  .sm-post .sm-callout-warn {\n    background: #fff8f4;\n    border-left-color: #FF6600;\n  }\n\n  \/* \u2500\u2500 Rock type comparison cards \u2500\u2500 *\/\n  .sm-post .sm-rock-grid {\n    display: grid;\n    grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;\n    gap: 20px;\n    margin: 28px 0;\n  }\n  .sm-post .sm-rock-card {\n    border: 1px solid #e4e8ed;\n    border-radius: 6px;\n    padding: 22px 20px;\n    background: #fff;\n  }\n  .sm-post .sm-rock-card.marble {\n    border-top: 3px solid #468dcb;\n  }\n  .sm-post .sm-rock-card.granite {\n    border-top: 3px solid #1a3a5c;\n  }\n  .sm-post .sm-rock-card .sm-rock-label {\n    font-size: 11px;\n    font-weight: 700;\n    letter-spacing: 1.4px;\n    text-transform: uppercase;\n    margin-bottom: 6px;\n  }\n  .sm-rock-card.marble .sm-rock-label { color: #468dcb; 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}\n    .sm-post .sm-rock-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }\n    .sm-post .sm-product-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }\n    .sm-post .sm-related ul { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }\n    .sm-post .sm-cta { padding: 32px 24px; }\n    .sm-post .sm-cta h3 { font-size: 18px; }\n    .sm-post .sm-factor { flex-direction: column; gap: 12px; }\n    .sm-post .sm-factor-num { width: 36px; height: 36px; }\n  }\n\n  \/* \u2500\u2500 Key takeaways box \u2500\u2500 *\/\n  .sm-post .sm-takeaways {\n    background: #fff;\n    border: 1px solid #cddaeb;\n    border-top: 3px solid #FF6600;\n    border-radius: 6px;\n    padding: 24px 28px;\n    margin: 0 0 44px;\n  }\n  .sm-post .sm-takeaways .sm-tk-title {\n    font-size: 11px;\n    font-weight: 700;\n    letter-spacing: 1.4px;\n    text-transform: uppercase;\n    color: #FF6600;\n    margin: 0 0 12px;\n  }\n  .sm-post .sm-takeaways ul {\n    margin: 0 0 0 20px;\n  }\n  .sm-post .sm-takeaways li {\n    font-size: 15px;\n    margin-bottom: 8px;\n  }\n  .sm-post .sm-takeaways li:last-child { margin-bottom: 0; }\n\n  \/* \u2500\u2500 FAQ section \u2500\u2500 *\/\n  .sm-post .sm-faq {\n    margin: 20px 0 0;\n  }\n  .sm-post .sm-faq-item {\n    border: 1px solid #e4e8ed;\n    border-radius: 6px;\n    padding: 20px 24px;\n    margin-bottom: 14px;\n    background: #fff;\n  }\n  .sm-post .sm-faq-item h3 {\n    margin: 0 0 8px;\n    font-size: 16px;\n  }\n  .sm-post .sm-faq-item p {\n    margin: 0;\n    font-size: 15px;\n    color: #444;\n  }\n<\/style>\n\n<article class=\"sm-post\">\n\n  <!-- \u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\n       INTRO\n  \u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550 -->\n\n  <p class=\"sm-lead\">\n    In marble quarrying, the question was settled decades ago: diamond wire cutting is the primary extraction method almost everywhere. In granite, the question is still open on every new project \u2014 and getting it wrong can double or triple the production cost of every cubic metre. Drilling-based granite extraction and diamond wire cutting are both proven methods, but they carry very different cost structures, and the stone&#8217;s hardness decides which one carries the economics. This article compares the two methods per cubic metre and explains when each \u2014 or a combination of both \u2014 is the right plan.\n  <\/p>\n\n  <!-- \u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\n       KEY TAKEAWAYS\n  \u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550 -->\n\n  <div class=\"sm-takeaways\">\n    <div class=\"sm-tk-title\">Key Takeaways<\/div>\n    <ul>\n      <li>Granite&#8217;s hardness (Mohs 6\u20137, driven by quartz) makes diamond wire the <strong>dominant consumable cost<\/strong> \u2014 wire consumption per m\u00b2 rises steeply with hardness, while drilling costs rise far more slowly.<\/li>\n      <li>In Set Makina&#8217;s granite feasibility studies, <strong>drilling-based extraction can be up to six times more economical per cubic metre<\/strong> than wire cutting in hard granite.<\/li>\n      <li>This is why most granite quarries worldwide still extract chiefly with <strong>drilling-based methods<\/strong>, using wire cutting selectively \u2014 the reverse of marble practice.<\/li>\n      <li>Independent research reaches the same conclusion: hard-stone quarrying relies chiefly on drilling technologies, with diamond wire adopted mainly for primary cuts, and a <strong>mixed method<\/strong> often gives the best block yield.<\/li>\n      <li>Both methods beat uncontrolled blasting decisively on block recovery \u2014 the question is not whether to work precisely, but which precise method your stone can afford.<\/li>\n    <\/ul>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <!-- \u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\n       SECTION 01 \u2014 Why the answer differs\n  \u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550 -->\n\n  <h2><span class=\"sm-num\">01<\/span>Why marble and granite give different answers<\/h2>\n\n  <p>\n    The economics of extraction start with mineralogy. Marble is calcite at roughly 3\u20133.5 on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/Mohs-hardness\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mohs hardness scale<\/a>. Granite is a quartz\u2013feldspar rock at 6\u20137, and quartz \u2014 at Mohs 7 \u2014 is what diamond wire has to grind through on every pass. Cutting one square metre of granite consumes several times more diamond wire than the same square metre of marble, and wire is priced per metre with the diamonds in it.\n  <\/p>\n\n  <p>\n    Drilling behaves differently. A percussive drill fractures rock with impact energy rather than grinding through it, so its consumables \u2014 drill bits, rods, and compressed air \u2014 increase in cost with hardness far more slowly than diamond wire does. In marble, the wire is cheap enough per square metre that cutting wins on speed, surface quality, and recovery. In granite, the wire cost per square metre climbs steeply, and the balance tips toward the drill.\n  <\/p>\n\n  <div class=\"sm-callout\">\n    <p><strong>The core principle:<\/strong> as stone hardness rises, cutting costs rise steeply while drilling costs rise slowly. Marble sits on one side of the crossover point; granite sits on the other. Any extraction plan that ignores this \u2014 for example, a specification that transfers marble practice onto granite \u2014 has a cost problem built in before the first block is freed.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <!-- \u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\n       SECTION 02 \u2014 The two methods\n  \u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550 -->\n\n  <h2><span class=\"sm-num\">02<\/span>The two granite extraction methods, briefly<\/h2>\n\n  <div class=\"sm-factors\">\n\n    <div class=\"sm-factor\">\n      <div class=\"sm-factor-num\">1<\/div>\n      <div class=\"sm-factor-body\">\n        <h3>Drilling-based extraction (drill &amp; split)<\/h3>\n        <p>\n          Rows of closely spaced holes are drilled along the intended separation planes \u2014 vertically and horizontally \u2014 using pneumatic or hydraulic rock drills. The block is then separated along the drilled line by controlled splitting: hydraulic splitters, plug-and-feather wedges, expansive mortar, or carefully dosed detonating cord (dynamic splitting). The method needs a drill fleet, a compressor, and a disciplined drilling pattern, and it produces a slightly rougher separation surface than a wire cut.\n        <\/p>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"sm-factor\">\n      <div class=\"sm-factor-num\">2<\/div>\n      <div class=\"sm-factor-body\">\n        <h3>Diamond wire cutting<\/h3>\n        <p>\n          A diamond wire loop is threaded through two intersecting drilled holes and cut through the rock by a <a href=\"https:\/\/setmakina.com\/en\/technical-insights\/rail-type-vs-bridge-type-wire-saw\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rail-type wire saw<\/a> travelling backwards on rails. The cut surface is smooth and precise, kerf loss is minimal, and cut geometry is exactly controlled. The cost driver is the wire itself, whose consumption per square metre depends heavily on the stone \u2014 and on running the correct <a href=\"https:\/\/setmakina.com\/en\/technical-insights\/diamond-wire-cutting-speed-granite\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cutting speed for granite<\/a>, typically 25\u201340 m\/s with variable control.\n        <\/p>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n  <p>\n    Note that even a &#8220;pure cutting&#8221; plan still needs drilling \u2014 every wire cut starts from drilled threading holes. The real question is which method does the main separation work, cubic metre after cubic metre.\n  <\/p>\n\n  <!-- \u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\n       SECTION 03 \u2014 Cost comparison\n  \u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550 -->\n\n  <h2><span class=\"sm-num\">03<\/span>Cost per cubic metre: where the money goes<\/h2>\n\n  <p>\n    The table below compares the two methods across the cost lines that decide a granite operation&#8217;s production cost. In Set Makina&#8217;s modular feasibility studies for granite quarries, the totals consistently favour drilling for the main separation work in hard granite \u2014 by a factor that can reach <strong>six to one per cubic metre<\/strong> in quartz-rich stone.\n  <\/p>\n\n  <div class=\"sm-table-wrap\">\n    <table>\n      <thead>\n        <tr>\n          <th>Cost line<\/th>\n          <th>Drilling-based extraction<\/th>\n          <th>Diamond wire cutting<\/th>\n        <\/tr>\n      <\/thead>\n      <tbody>\n        <tr>\n          <td>Main consumable<\/td>\n          <td>Drill bits and rods \u2014 cost rises slowly with hardness<\/td>\n          <td>Diamond wire \u2014 cost rises steeply with hardness and quartz content<\/td>\n        <\/tr>\n        <tr>\n          <td>Energy<\/td>\n          <td>Compressed air or hydraulic power for the drill fleet<\/td>\n          <td>50\u2013100 HP electric drive running continuously for hours per cut<\/td>\n        <\/tr>\n        <tr>\n          <td>Sensitivity to stone hardness<\/td>\n          <td><span class=\"sm-badge sm-badge-green\">Low<\/span><\/td>\n          <td>High \u2014 the defining weakness in granite<\/td>\n        <\/tr>\n        <tr>\n          <td>Cut surface quality<\/td>\n          <td>Rough split surface along the drill line<\/td>\n          <td>Smooth, precise sawn surface<\/td>\n        <\/tr>\n        <tr>\n          <td>Geometry control<\/td>\n          <td>Good with disciplined hole spacing and alignment<\/td>\n          <td>Excellent \u2014 exact planes<\/td>\n        <\/tr>\n        <tr>\n          <td>Block recovery vs. blasting<\/td>\n          <td>High \u2014 controlled, low-vibration separation<\/td>\n          <td>High \u2014 no shock, minimal microcracking<\/td>\n        <\/tr>\n        <tr>\n          <td>Typical role in hard granite<\/td>\n          <td>Main separation method for production volume<\/td>\n          <td>Selective use: primary cuts, exact faces, delicate zones<\/td>\n        <\/tr>\n      <\/tbody>\n    <\/table>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <p>\n    This distribution of roles is not only Set Makina&#8217;s field conclusion. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/283325491_Quarrying_by_explosive_and_diamond_wire_in_hard_dimension_stones\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">study of hard dimension stone quarrying in Italy<\/a> observes that cutting in granite quarries relies chiefly on drilling-based technologies, with diamond wire adopted mainly for primary cuts \u2014 and concludes that the mixed use of dynamic splitting and diamond wire offers the best block yield with the least waste. In other words, the world&#8217;s most experienced hard-stone quarrying region arrived at the same division of labour that the cost table predicts.\n  <\/p>\n\n  <div class=\"sm-callout sm-callout-warn\">\n    <p><strong>A note on blasting:<\/strong> this comparison is between two precise, controlled methods. Uncontrolled blasting is a different question entirely \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/324132286_Comparative_analysis_of_different_techniques_used_for_dimension_stone_mining\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">comparative research on dimension stone mining<\/a> shows that controlled methods deliver decisively higher recovery, revenue, and less waste than crude blasting or expansive-powder work. The choice is never &#8220;cheap blasting vs. expensive precision&#8221;; it is which precision method fits your stone&#8217;s economics.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <!-- \u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\n       SECTION 04 \u2014 When cutting still wins\n  \u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550 -->\n\n  <h2><span class=\"sm-num\">04<\/span>When wire cutting still earns its place in granite<\/h2>\n\n  <p>\n    The six-to-one figure describes bulk separation in hard granite \u2014 it does not make the wire saw obsolete. Wire cutting remains the right tool in granite whenever geometry and surface matter more than cost per cubic metre:\n  <\/p>\n\n  <ul>\n    <li><strong>Primary bench cuts<\/strong> that establish the exact working geometry of a new bench;<\/li>\n    <li><strong>The final block face<\/strong> where a smooth, exact surface raises the commercial value of the block;<\/li>\n    <li><strong>Softer granites<\/strong> with low quartz content, where wire consumption stays moderate and the balance shifts back toward cutting;<\/li>\n    <li><strong>Sensitive zones<\/strong> where even controlled splitting energy is unwelcome \u2014 near faults, fractures, or high-value stone.<\/li>\n    <\/ul>\n\n  <p>\n    Bead technology also matters: sintered diamond beads, correct bond hardness, and diamond concentration matched to the stone can significantly change wire life in granite \u2014 research on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-024-54625-5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">diamond tool wear and rock properties<\/a> confirms how strongly cutting performance depends on matching the tool to the rock. We will cover wire selection in detail in a dedicated article.\n  <\/p>\n\n  <p>\n    Productive granite extraction, then, is usually a <strong>combined operation<\/strong>: a drill fleet doing the volume work, and wire saws doing the precision work. This is exactly how the successful private-sector granite operations we visit are equipped \u2014 drills first, wire saws where they pay.\n  <\/p>\n\n  <div class=\"sm-callout\">\n    <p><strong>What this looks like in practice:<\/strong> Set Makina&#8217;s reference equipment list for a granite quarry producing 1,000 m\u00b3 of blocks per month is built around a drilling fleet \u2014 pneumatic DTH column drills, vertical and horizontal line-drilling machines, and ten hand-held rock drills fed by two 20\u201325 m\u00b3\/min compressors. The diamond wire machines on the same list are sized by role, not by habit: <strong>50\u201360 HP units for primary cuts, 25 HP for secondary division, and 15 HP for block squaring<\/strong>. Every machine earns its place from the cost table above \u2014 the fleet is the table, translated into steel.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <!-- \u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\n       SECTION 05 \u2014 Planning checklist\n  \u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550 -->\n\n  <h2><span class=\"sm-num\">05<\/span>4 questions that decide your granite extraction plan<\/h2>\n\n  <ol class=\"sm-checklist\">\n    <li>\n      <div>\n        <div class=\"sm-q-title\">How hard and how abrasive is your stone \u2014 measured, not assumed?<\/div>\n        <p class=\"sm-q-text\">Get quartz content and hardness from core samples before choosing equipment. The crossover between drilling and cutting economics moves with every percentage point of quartz.<\/p>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <div>\n        <div class=\"sm-q-title\">What does a test cut and a test drill line actually cost on your stone?<\/div>\n        <p class=\"sm-q-text\">Run both on the deposit and measure: wire consumed per m\u00b2 cut, and drilling metres plus bits per m\u00b2 split. Your own cost-per-metre numbers beat any catalogue \u2014 our guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/setmakina.com\/en\/uncategorized\/cost-per-meter-drilled-quarry\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cost per meter drilled<\/a> shows how to build them.<\/p>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <div>\n        <div class=\"sm-q-title\">Is your drill fleet sized for production, not just for threading holes?<\/div>\n        <p class=\"sm-q-text\">In granite, drilling is the production method \u2014 the drills and the compressor behind them determine daily output. Undersizing the air supply is the most common bottleneck we correct in the field.<\/p>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <div>\n        <div class=\"sm-q-title\">Where exactly will the wire saw pay for itself?<\/div>\n        <p class=\"sm-q-text\">Assign the wire saw to primary cuts and final faces from day one, and specify it correctly: rail-type chassis, inverter-driven variable speed, and wire matched to the stone.<\/p>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/li>\n  <\/ol>\n\n  <p>\n    Set Makina equips both sides of this plan from one source: TIGER pneumatic rock drills and <a href=\"https:\/\/setmakina.com\/en\/products\/tiger-smart-drill\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TIGER SMART DRILL<\/a> units with matched compressors for the drilling fleet, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/setmakina.com\/en\/products\/granfill\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TIGER GRANFILL<\/a> rail-type wire saw with <a href=\"https:\/\/setmakina.com\/en\/products\/diamond-wire-materials\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">diamond wire<\/a> specified for granite. For the machine-selection side of the question, start with our cornerstone guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/setmakina.com\/en\/technical-insights\/diamond-wire-saw-marble-granite-quarry\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">choosing a diamond wire saw for marble vs. granite<\/a>.\n  <\/p>\n\n  <!-- \u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\n       FAQ\n  \u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550 -->\n\n  <h2><span class=\"sm-num\">06<\/span>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n  <div class=\"sm-faq\">\n    <div class=\"sm-faq-item\">\n      <h3>Is drilling or wire cutting cheaper for granite extraction?<\/h3>\n      <p>For the main separation work in hard granite, drilling-based extraction is usually significantly cheaper per cubic metre \u2014 up to six times in Set Makina&#8217;s feasibility studies for quartz-rich granite \u2014 because diamond wire consumption rises steeply with stone hardness while drilling consumables do not.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"sm-faq-item\">\n      <h3>Why is diamond wire cutting standard in marble but not in granite?<\/h3>\n      <p>Marble is soft (Mohs 3\u20133.5), so wire consumption per square metre stays low and cutting wins on speed and surface quality. Granite&#8217;s quartz (Mohs 7) multiplies wire consumption, moving the economics toward drilling for volume production.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"sm-faq-item\">\n      <h3>Do granite quarries use both methods together?<\/h3>\n      <p>The most productive ones do. Research on hard dimension stone quarrying and Set Makina&#8217;s field experience both point to a combined plan: drilling for production volume, wire cutting for primary cuts and exact final faces.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"sm-faq-item\">\n      <h3>Does drilling-based extraction damage the blocks?<\/h3>\n      <p>Not when done correctly. Controlled splitting along a disciplined drill line is a low-vibration method with high block recovery \u2014 like wire cutting, and unlike crude blasting, it avoids the shock energy that propagates microcracks through commercial stone.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <!-- \u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\n       CTA\n  \u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550 -->\n\n  <div class=\"sm-cta\">\n    <h3>Planning a granite quarry investment?<\/h3>\n    <p>Send us your stone data and production target. Our engineering team prepares modular feasibility studies for granite operations \u2014 equipment list, consumables, and cost per cubic metre, calculated from your deposit, not from averages.<\/p>\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/setmakina.com\/en\/contact\/#action\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Request a Technical Evaluation<\/a>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <!-- \u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\n       RELATED\n  \u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550 -->\n\n  <div class=\"sm-related\">\n    <div class=\"sm-related-title\">Related Reading<\/div>\n    <ul>\n      <li><a href=\"https:\/\/setmakina.com\/en\/technical-insights\/diamond-wire-cutting-speed-granite\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Diamond Wire Cutting Speed for Granite<\/a><\/li>\n      <li><a href=\"https:\/\/setmakina.com\/en\/technical-insights\/rail-type-vs-bridge-type-wire-saw\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rail-Type vs. Bridge-Type Wire Saw<\/a><\/li>\n      <li><a href=\"https:\/\/setmakina.com\/en\/uncategorized\/cost-per-meter-drilled-quarry\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Reducing Cost per Meter Drilled<\/a><\/li>\n      <li><a href=\"https:\/\/setmakina.com\/en\/products\/tiger-smart-drill\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TIGER SMART DRILL<\/a><\/li>\n    <\/ul>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <!-- \u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\n       AUTHOR \/ FOOTER\n  \u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550 -->\n\n  <div class=\"sm-footer-meta\">\n    <span class=\"sm-author\">Technical review: Mining Engineer (MBA), Founder of Set Makina<\/span>\n    <span class=\"sm-cert\">\n      <svg width=\"12\" height=\"12\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#1a3a5c\" stroke-width=\"2.5\"><path d=\"M20 6L9 17l-5-5\"\/><\/svg>\n      35+ years of field experience\n    <\/span>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <p class=\"sm-disclaimer\">\n    Cost relationships in this article reflect Set Makina&#8217;s feasibility work and published quarrying research; actual costs depend on stone properties, energy prices, labour, and site conditions. The six-to-one figure refers to hard, quartz-rich granite and should be validated with test cuts and test drilling on the specific deposit.\n  <\/p>\n\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In marble quarrying, the question was settled decades ago: diamond wire cutting is the primary extraction method almost everywhere. In granite, the question is still open on every new project \u2014 and getting it wrong can double or triple the production cost of every cubic metre. Drilling-based granite extraction and diamond wire cutting are both&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":20830,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"nf_dc_page":"","_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[199],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20829","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technical-insights"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Drilling vs Cutting for Granite Extraction | Set Makina<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Drilling or diamond wire cutting for granite extraction? 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