Emerald
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 417
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Post by Emerald on Sept 16, 2004 21:51:26 GMT -5
Ok...I want to play with rocks. Staring at the tumbler is just "NOT" going to suffice.
I've talked to Rob and I think we're going to get a combination saw/polisher...will probably order it next week if all goes well.
Question: Can I use it to pretty much shape stones to my hearts content instead of staring at my tumbler?
Or will that dull the belt/wheels. Or...is that pretty much what they're used for. Or, should I buy a different tool for specifically shaping stone?
Sorry if it seems like a silly question. I will eventually use it for cabs...but I don't want to buy it and find I've totally ruined it because I was doing something the tool wasn't intended for.
*inquiring minds want to know* ;D
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Post by Cher on Sept 16, 2004 22:14:23 GMT -5
Don't know about that kind of tool but sure do love my dremel. I finally got it and spent a couple of hours last night playing with a rock ... now I have a heart. It's sooo cool!! Hoping to finish it tonight so I can put it back into the coarse for a little more smoothing out. I'll post a pic over in the Member's pic forum. [glow=red,2,300] ~ Cher ~[/glow] pages.prodigy.net/bestsmileys1/signs/RockOn.gif [/img]
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JKowalski33
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 451
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Post by JKowalski33 on Sept 16, 2004 23:28:20 GMT -5
i stilll don't really know what a dremel is. everyone is always saying things about them, can you post a link to where you got it, or to a page showing them or something?
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Post by Cher on Sept 16, 2004 23:56:10 GMT -5
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birdseed
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since September 2004
Posts: 167
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Post by birdseed on Sept 17, 2004 2:07:36 GMT -5
THE BEST WAY TO GET "GREAT STONES" OUT OF YOUR TUMBLER IS TO PUT "GREAT STONES" INTO YOUR TUMBLER..ALL THE SHAPING AND REMOVING "VUGS" AND "FRACTURES" BEFORE TUMBLING--TRIM SAWS ARE FOR "TRIMMING"--SHAPE EM!!!!
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Post by puppie96 on Sept 17, 2004 2:28:23 GMT -5
I've got a dremel, but I don't know how to use it for these purposes. I really mean I am a complete idiot.
You must have to have a vise or something to hold the rock, right? What if it is a very tiny rock?
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Sept 17, 2004 7:42:46 GMT -5
puppies, go to your hardware store and get some silicone carbide grinding stones for it. It's not hard at all. I hold the rock in my hand, dip it in water, then grind a bit, then dip again, etc. I don't use a clamp, just hold the rock in my hand. I haven't ever done a really small rock. Cookie, I think, is the expert on using the dremel for grinding.
Rosebud, I used a diamond cutting wheel on my dremel and cut a cross. It went through the rough and medium stage in the tumbler and was fine, but broke in the pre-polish stage. Don't know why it did okay up til then and then broke. I was so disappointed. Maybe didn't have enough pellets or something. Anyhoo, just wanted to mention that so you can add lots of pellets or whatever to prevent it from breaking.
Birdsaw, not everyone has a trim saw.
llana
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birdseed
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since September 2004
Posts: 167
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Post by birdseed on Sept 17, 2004 8:41:10 GMT -5
LLana- Sounds like you do good job with your Dremel..
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Sept 17, 2004 9:10:08 GMT -5
Hello Emerald,
If you are planning on getting to a point where you are going to be cutting cabs, then a combination unit would be worth while. There are many different kinds/makes that offer a nice range of capabilities.
Combination units are generally designed to cut, trim, gring, sand and polish rocks, and some have the capability of changing wheels for the use of carving rocks with specialized carving wheels. The size of the diamond blade will determine the size of rough you will be able to cut. A 10" blade will cut up to a 4" rock (possibly less - it depends on how the blade is set up). As with anything in life the more you use it ... the faster it will wear out. Traditionally, diamond wheel units out-last silicon carbide wheel units (speaking about the wheels). Either wheels can cut cabs, silicon carbide wheels are a little more labor intensive, as they need to be dressed (ground down with a diamond bar tool), to keep them in their best working condition. Diamond wheels, do not need dressed and they have a longer work-life than the silicon carbide wheels.
If you are just looking for a unit to cut and trim rocks for the tumbler, a trim saw might be your best choice.
There are no silly questions in our forum. Everyone has questions ... it's how we learn.
Have a great day,
John
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Post by Cher on Sept 17, 2004 9:41:17 GMT -5
I finished my heart last night and put it back in the tumbler but then I thought about the hole. Should I have put a hole in it before I tumbled it? I want to put a hole in one side of the heart, offset so it can be put on a ribbon to wear like a pendant. [glow=red,2,300] ~ Cher ~[/glow] pages.prodigy.net/bestsmileys1/signs/RockOn.gif [/img]
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Post by sandsman1 on Sept 17, 2004 13:10:57 GMT -5
cher my opinion is wait till your done with polish then drill a hole thats what i do this way since your tumbling you wont bring the last grit with it to the new run in the hole
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Post by krazydiamond on Sept 17, 2004 14:07:43 GMT -5
i also drill last.....like Sands said, don't want any grit sneaking by in the hole. llana, that is so disappointing, isn't it? i think sometimes there may be flaws in the rock that just decide to give way. i got a piece trimmed, polished, drilled and glued the mounting stud in and THEN it broke when i went to see if the glue was dry.....grumble. i bought a diamond cutting wheel for my dremel, but i am still a little shy with using it....high four club is not my aspiration and i am still clamping the piece in my vise. good luck one and all! KD
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JKowalski33
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 451
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Post by JKowalski33 on Sept 17, 2004 16:52:38 GMT -5
How much does a decent dremel usually sell for like on ebay or someother site, and are diamond attachments much better than silicon carbide?
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Post by krazydiamond on Sept 17, 2004 17:03:41 GMT -5
got ours new at Walmart for 20 bucks....i bought another set at Harbor Freight for what i thought was a real deal, but it sucked. only one speed. had a lot of attachments tho!
i picked up the diamond cutting attachment at Lowes for almost 16 dollars! scary attachment, tho, for those who like having all their fingers.
ok, i'm a wuss when it comes to stuff like that, my own blood, i mean...
KD
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Post by connrock on Sept 17, 2004 17:45:31 GMT -5
I hope I don't get myself in trouble here but here goes. If you are "serious" about buying a tool that will last you a lifetime for shaping,carving,drilling,etc a Dremel is not the way to go. PLEASE don't get me wrong.There is NOTHING wrong with a Dremel for a "starting tool" and this is why I said "serious". The norm for many atists who create intricate carvings from various material (quartz amethyst etc) is a flex shaft unit made by the Foredom Co. They have several models for various uses and one use is rock and crystal carving. Here is a link to a master carver and gemologist, Rick Stinson from Wichita Kansas who uses a foredom to do all of his work. I have never met Rick personally but keep in contact with him from time to time.Rick is on another board I'm on and several years ago I posted a question on the problems I was having carving petrified wood with my Dremel.Rick led me to the Foredom and I love it. www.gemservice.com/carvings1.htmHere is a link to the Foredom web site. www.ordermaxx.com/blackstone/contentpage.aspHere is a link to the Dremel web site. www.dremel.com/Tom
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Sept 17, 2004 19:02:22 GMT -5
Birdseed, BE and I have since gotten a 7" saw and a 10" saw - both tile saws. And I bought a little 4" tile saw the other day at Lowe's. I haven't even tried to cut a cross on any of them - the 4" is still in the box. Am thinking if I get all my chores done tonight, I am going to get it out tomorrow and try cutting a cross with it.
KD. I really was disappointed, esp. since I had a gal that would have probably bought it. She loves crosses and has a cross collection. I don't think it was anything in the rock because I had a couple of triangle shapes in the same batch that didn't break or chip away. I figure it just got hit the wrong way in the tumbling process and broke.
Soon as I get the baby saw set up, I will be trying to cut various shapes. I say trying because I can't draw worth a ****, and cutting things freehand might be downright scary. That was one of the reasons I was so disappointed the cross broke. I actually cut it freehand with the dremel and it turned out really nice.
llana
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Post by krazydiamond on Sept 17, 2004 19:18:32 GMT -5
they do sell templates for the various shapes that they make mountings for......i haven't done anything except freeform on my saw to date.....but i may try one day.
are the tile saws messy as far as water spray, i assume you don't need coolant?
are the blades expensive?
thanks, KD
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Post by cookie3rocks on Sept 17, 2004 20:00:14 GMT -5
I use a dremel wanna be. It's a made in China cheap imatation ($9.99 on ebay all day long) but it has variable speeds and takes Dremel accessories. I've been very happy with it. Have shaped a lot of stones. Llana, I had a heart break too (excuse the pun you will understand momentarily). My step daughter had found a piece of rose quartz on one of our gem grubbing outings. Her favorite color is pink, so it was her favorite. I told her I would make a heart out of it. I had it completely shaped and when I tried to drill the hole in it, well, first I broke off a bit in it. Then I used a larger drill bit and it worked, but too quickly. When it went through the stone I didn't get the dremel turned off in time. One of the internal fractures gave way. I was so upset! She'd been watching the process and was really excited. I'm working on a new one now and it's shaped. She asked me not to drill a hole in it, she'd just carry it in her pocket. (so sweet) It just needs to go through pre polish/polish.
cookie
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Sept 17, 2004 20:34:35 GMT -5
Hey Llana, I have cut crosses and they come out looking awfully crude. But I have found that a little time on my grinder can turn them into amazingly nice looking pieces. When I was trying to saw my crosses exact, every little flaw made a scrap piece. It's a little tricky grinding rock back on.lol I now aim for a rougher saw cut that I can then grind down to what I want. Ron
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Sept 17, 2004 20:49:55 GMT -5
are the tile saws messy as far as water spray, i assume you don't need coolant? are the blades expensive? thanks, KD Hey KD, you have to use coolant with anything that's diamond, such as the saw blades. I just use water with borax added to improve wetting. Seems to work for me. I'm still on my first blade with no indication that it's wearing out. I cut some cardboard and put it on the sides and back of my saw to catch any spray. That has pretty well contained it. I think that I might make some more permanent shields out of plexiglass this winter. Ron
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