Stones, like sponges, absorb water. The surface may be easily heated with a small blow torch or heat gun. Always remember to keep the flame outlet or direct heat source moving while heating the area. Concentrated heat will crack the surface of the stone.

If repairing a deep gouge or break, you may want to prepare several fills, layering one on top of the other until the desired height is reached. A accurate match will not be necessary until the last layer is mixed.

Keep pigments and pulverized stone dry.

When working with color pigments, start with a minute amount. A little bit will go a long way. You may mix colors together to form new colors if you wish. If you should spill any pigment powder on the stone surface, remove it. Pigments combined with water may create a stain that will be harder to remove later.

The more catalyst that you put into the patch mixture, the faster it will set up. Temperature and stone dryness will also affect reaction time.

Knowing the exact time to remove the excess patch material comes with practice. Often times, you may remove excess patch material while it is still loose or in a knife grade consistency. If the patch begins to pull out when using the razor scraper, simply change blades.

Always be careful when working on a marble surface. It is easily scratched and cannot withstand vigorous rubbing with pumice material.

When Last Patch Gel hardens, it leaves a polished appearance. Removing excess Patch material will dull the finish, but may be restored by simply mixing part A, part B, and catalyst, and coating the surface with the use of a brush. Other materials that may be used to restore a polish when polishing is not possible are liquid super glue or clear nail polish. Both will last for several years under normal conditions. If you are having trouble getting the exact match, specific paints are available which may be applied sparingly before a final coating is applied.

In dealing with Granites that have large crystal clusters of various colors, you may want to mix more than one patch for the same area. It is recommended that you get each patch mixed and ready before applying any catalyst. When you are ready, put the catalyst into each mixture and apply all of the prepared mixtures at the same time. For example, if you are repairing Diamond Pink also called Krenshaw where you have large clusters of black and pink, mix a black patch and a pink patch. Place the black on one side of the repair and the pink on the other. When they harden, they will naturally connect together. The whole patch may then be polished, ground, or influenced with an artificial polish.

Any patch will naturally lighten when a surface grind is done with the pumice block. Something that needs to be taken into account when repairing a frosted or honed surface. Often times, no pigment is necessary.