Andesite is beautiful stone, hard as a decision, but I've had two pieces in a row shear clean off at the same point, right where the corner dips in. First one I blamed the slab, hairline fracture I claimed I couldn't have seen. Second one, same exact spot, same clean break, and I finally had to admit it's the shape I'm cutting, not the stone. There's a stress line in my geometry and the material keeps telling me about it.

That's the thing about this work. Stone doesn't lie to you. It just keeps repeating the truth until you're brave enough to hear it.

So I've redrawn the corner with a gentler curve and I'm going to try a third time. If it shears again I'll know the problem is in my hands, not the drawing, and that's a harder sentence.

Anyone else had a material that kept failing at the same place and finally had to admit the flaw was yours?