Voodoo Rage
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2005
Posts: 127
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Post by Voodoo Rage on Mar 9, 2005 22:05:54 GMT -5
Thanks to doc and sandsman for helping me on this. Here was the original grinder that I had setup already "pre-hobby": I ordered a cheap diamond wheel from richon tools on Ebay (100 grit). The water is gravity fed as you can see. That is a baking pan to catch the water. I still want to install a better shield on the back just to be safe, but actually the splatter is very minimal. It works like a champ!
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Post by Cher on Mar 9, 2005 22:59:53 GMT -5
Very cool. I can't wait until it warms up so I can set mine up out in the garage. Have enough dust in the house already with forced-air heat, don't need any more. ;D
Cher
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Post by docone31 on Mar 9, 2005 23:06:12 GMT -5
Voodoo, I knew someone could do it. It is not that I am down on lapidary manufacturers, they make a real nice yuppie machine. A true lapidariast, makes their own. The advantage is, with an homemade machine, a person knows his machine better than one from a box, and they can translate that into a better cut. I think now, everyone will see how expensive paint, and a cabinet is compared to results. I am not downing manufacturers. They produce some good products. The mass production of those products has enabled inexpensive diamond wheels. They have come up with some good ideas. You have shown, It can be done.
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Post by sandsman1 on Mar 9, 2005 23:45:35 GMT -5
lookin good voodoo i also got some thin pieces of plexi glass and cut some splash shields for the front of mine so the water whippin off the wheel stays in the tray and i dont get wet i just drilled them right in the front of each wheel and used a small nut and bolt to hold them in ---i think you did a great job on it,, now look around for a used expanding drum or if you wanna get a new one try rons rocks on ebay he has the cheapest price around for them,, then you can get some sanding belts and go from start to finish -- i forgot a leather belt too for polish-- doc told me about this place i havent ordered yet from them but they have the best prices i have seen for belts i still have a box and a half of each grit but when i get low im gonna put in a nice order and get a box or two of each grit i use www.sfjssantafe.com/itemstable.php?Gid=482b&ItemSet=Lapidary&DepId=tools%20/%20sanding%20belt&ot=&at=i use 220,400,600,grits and if i have something that needs alittle extra i have a 1200 diamond belt,, but alot of stones i do i just go to 600 then polish
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Post by docone31 on Mar 10, 2005 0:07:15 GMT -5
Ok, now we be cookin'. With a rubber drum, Crystalite makes the diamond bands that go over the drum. Instead of buying diamond wheels to change out, you use a expanding drum, and change out the outer diamonds. Essentially, they are the grinding diamonds on the steel band, without the center. Look at all the press before. You will get shocked, the water will ruin the motor, it is not lapidary equipment. Phooey! Ace Hardware has arbors, pulleys, belts. An entire arbor, and sheet metal for splash guard for under 50$ A person can also take the Harbor Freight 8"buffing machine, 68$, remove the buffs and put on diamond wheels. The shafts are extended away from the motor, and have sealed bearings in the ends. It is an older motor design and should run forever. It is the type that takes replacement brushes. See, if someone has a vision, whether they can afford a new one or not, a person can make a lapidary whatever. Faceter, vibratory tumbler, vibratory lap, vertical lap, tumbler, cab station. If a person is willing to go to the effort, they will have the brains to think the process through. Either that, or have a legacy of what not to do, which is sometimes the most important lesson. The only thing I would do to your station, is change out the outlets for GFCI. The built in breaker will pop before you might. I would do that for yuppie machines also. You have an 1/2" shaft, you can do a 6" vertical lap with that get up, or a diamond blade. All that would be needed for a diamond blade is a table add on, and fence. Your blade would cut in, rather than under but that can be compensated for. You have the essence for every lapidary procedure. Your hanging bucket is how it was done. You an also use a washing machine tap for the kitchen sink, and run a garden hose to two spigots over the wheels. A bucket is much simpler however. You done good.
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Voodoo Rage
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2005
Posts: 127
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Post by Voodoo Rage on Mar 10, 2005 0:40:57 GMT -5
The outlet is GFCI. I just ran a 6' extension to that 4 way outlet box (which is supposed to have a breaker too). Like I said, the water splash was very minimal. I'll still get some plexiglass and make both a rear and front spash guard. I'm not sure if I am interested in cabbing at this time. I mainly wanted something that would allow my to shape my stones during the tumbling process. Regardless, I will be keeping an eye out for an expanding drum... Thanks again for your help!
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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 Mar 10, 2005 7:16:14 GMT -5
Can I get a HOO HAH! for VDR! I also like home made equipment. Thanks for the pics!
Ron
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Post by creativeminded on Mar 10, 2005 9:37:12 GMT -5
That is a great start. Have fun. Tami
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Mar 10, 2005 10:22:45 GMT -5
WOW I'm insipered (plus I don't want Doc calling me a Yuppie (it is bad enough I bought my wife a Toyota SUV) But I'm gonna hit the garage sales this spring and Pick up a grinder- Do some modification and build my own! Now I have seen some grinders with a sanding belt (wheel on one side, belt on the other) This seems it should work even better- any thoughts? Oh and Voodoo- awesome job there- I loved the drip setup! Simple yet functional- KISS (keep it simple stupid)
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Mar 10, 2005 10:34:17 GMT -5
Hey VDR,
Nice job there ... well done!
Making your own equipment is a lot of fun as well.
My Grandpa on my Dad's side was an inventor ... he used a clothes dryer to make his house heater. He always said "If, Sears and Roebuck continue to make clothes dryers ... we will always have a heating unit in the house". Grandpa was always coming up with something new ... and they worked just as good as anything else on the market!
Keep up the great work!
John
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Post by hermatite on Mar 10, 2005 11:37:13 GMT -5
Very cool...I'm running a homemade tumbler, courtesy my genius husband, and plan on showing him your grinder followed by the words "HINT HINT!". I agree with the thoguht that with homemade you know it front to back and if it breaks, you're the manufacturer so there's no fooling around with the fix. Thanks for sharing.
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billyd
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2004
Posts: 157
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Post by billyd on Mar 10, 2005 21:56:42 GMT -5
can you help as i cant see anything apart from a wee red cross sorry,its sound's like it's the bee's knee's. billyd(also poor man)
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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 Mar 11, 2005 3:46:13 GMT -5
Don't forget to put on your "tin foil" hat while running that machine!
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Post by Alice on Mar 11, 2005 10:11:16 GMT -5
All I see is are broken images as well
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Voodoo Rage
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2005
Posts: 127
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Post by Voodoo Rage on Mar 11, 2005 11:26:11 GMT -5
Is it working now? Maybe my website was down for a while... Here's another Voodoo picture for a test ;D:
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Post by Alice on Mar 11, 2005 11:28:40 GMT -5
Sorry Voodoo, still no image
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chassroc
Cave Dweller
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
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Post by chassroc on Mar 12, 2005 10:22:40 GMT -5
Voodoo, Very nice work...Do you have a drain? How did you connect the plastic tubing to the 5 gallon bucket? metal or pvc fittings, etc.?
I bought a used arbor on Ebay and bought a surplus 1/3HP Baldor Motor. Had enough challange wiring that puppy up but it works just fine.
csroc
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chassroc
Cave Dweller
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
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Post by chassroc on Mar 12, 2005 10:28:45 GMT -5
Voodoo, Very nice work...Do you have a drain? How did you connect the plastic tubing to the 5 gallon bucket? metal or pvc fittings, etc.?
I bought a used arbor on Ebay and bought a surplus 1/3HP Baldor Motor. Had enough challange wiring that puppy up but it works just fine.
csroc That should read Ladidary arbor. I bought a 6 inch combo unit(saw and 2wheels. Sometime over the next year I plan to add an expanding drum and buffing wheel on one end. Right now I've been experimenting with aquarium pumps, sump pumps, spray bottles and squirt bottles for water hookups. I'm best off with a portable setup. I made a sturdy workbench with a two by four frame and one drawer and work surface made out of surplus cabinet doors. I put on some wheels and keep it outside in the summer and in the garage the rest of the year
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Voodoo Rage
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2005
Posts: 127
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Post by Voodoo Rage on Mar 12, 2005 20:01:11 GMT -5
Voodoo, Very nice work...Do you have a drain? How did you connect the plastic tubing to the 5 gallon bucket? metal or pvc fittings, etc.? Don't do what I did. I bought a saddle valve designed for copper pipe. It has a sharp point that pierces the plastic bucket. It works OK but is a little quirky. I am going to change to a regular hose valve and just reduce it to the tubing size (3/8" tubing). I used a 5/8" OD 3/8" ID grommet on the splash guard which holds the tubing very securely and is not permanent. I can't believe you guys aren't seeing my images. They look fine for me. I check it at work.
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billyd
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2004
Posts: 157
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Post by billyd on Mar 12, 2005 21:42:39 GMT -5
what like Sorry still nothing yet ,maybe next time. billyd
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