In Pictures - Rebuilding used curling rocks

01/18

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Partially completed curling rocks sit waiting to be finished. Canada Curling Stone in Komoko Ontario, near London is one of two companies in the world that refinish curling stones. The company was founded in 1987.

02/18

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Fred Veale owner of Canada Curling Stone holds a curling rock with a removed centre. Used curling stones that cannot be refinised are often used as decorative items.

03/18

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Curling rocks sit on a skid before going to be refinished. The rock with the yellow handle shows how it will look when completed, the one on the right is waiting for a new core to be installed.

04/18

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Fred Veale owner of Canada Curling Stone points to the "striking band" of curling rock, when the rocks reach this condition they are usually taken out of use and used for trophys or decorative items.

05/18

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Partially completed curling rocks sit waiting to be finished. Canada Curling Stone in Komoko Ontario, near London is one of two companies in the world that refinish curling stones. The company was founded in 1987.

06/18

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Curling rocks that have had their old running surfaces removed sit with new granite that will be inserted into the rocks and ground to create a new running surface.

07/18

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Partially completed curling rocks sit waiting to be finished. The numbers on side of the rocks indicated the weight of the rocks in pounds. Canada Curling Stone in Komoko Ontario, near London is one of two companies doing this work.

08/18

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A curling rock has its running surface carved into it by a diamond tipped lathe. In order of rocks to perform in similar way, the running surface on each rock needs to be consistant.

09/18

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Wayne Tuck of Canada Curling Stone packs a refurbished curling stone into a box for shipping. Canada Curling Stone in Komoko Ontario, near London is one of two companies in the world that refinish curling stones.

10/18

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Wayne Tuck inspects the running surface on the bottom of a curling rock. Having a consistant running surface will ensure that each rock performs the same way when used in a game.

11/18

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Wayne Tuck completes on the last steps in refinishing a curling rock. By turning the rock on coarse sand paper will help to break the rock in. If the curling rock was shipped as a polished surface the rock would not curl at all.

12/18

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A refurbished curling rock is ready to be shipped back to a curling club. Canada Curling Stone in Komoko Ontario, near London is one of two companies in the world that refinish curling stones. The company was founded in 1987.

13/18

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Wayne Tuck polishes a curling stone while others wait to be completed. It can take up to 30 minutes to polish a curling rock and is one of the last steps the curling stones go through.

14/18

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Wayne Tuck polishes a curling stone while others wait to be completed. It can take up to 30 minutes to polish a curling rock and is one of the last steps the curling stones go through.

15/18

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Wayne Tuck polishes a curling stone while others wait to be completed. It can take up to 30 minutes to polish a curling rock and is one of the last steps the curling stones go through.

16/18

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A row of partially completed curling rocks sit with the new granite waiting to be inserted. Curling rocks can last up to 50 to 60 years, over time the running surfaces become worn and affect the how the curling stone performs.

17/18

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Kevin Posthumus cleans a curling rock that has had the old running surface removed from it. In front of him a row of partially completed curling rocks sit with the new granite waiting to be inserted.

18/18

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Kevin Posthumus attaches a used curling stone to a "coring lathe" where the old worn down running surface will be cut out of the rock so new granite can be inserted. Curling rocks can last up to 50 to 60 years.