Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,466
|
Post by Sabre52 on Aug 22, 2005 18:21:42 GMT -5
Howdy, Well, after seeing Gaetz's experiment with the diamond tile saw as a faster cutting lapidary saw, of course I've just got to go out and buy one. Got my eye on a MK with a seven inch blade or another brand of table top. Couple of questions for those of you in the know? I noticed Harbor Freight has a couple of kinds of seven inch diamond tile saw blades for really reasonable prices. Have any of you tile sawers used these on rock and are they any good? What blades have you used that work best? Secondly, I noticed that the blade placement of the MK ( blade suspended above the table with water squirted on the blade) looks like it would be a little hard to work with small rocks as the blade is pretty far back on the table and visibility is a bit impaired. The other type has the blade below the table and it runs through the water to get cooled. The blade, in this instance is very centered on the table and appears to be more visable and easier to work around. Any of you have opinions or hands on experience as to which would better suit lapidary trim saw needs?Thanks..Sabre
|
|
|
Post by krazydiamond on Aug 22, 2005 18:36:26 GMT -5
i got a 10 inch tile saw from Harbor Freight for my birthday last year and still aven't used it much to date. the blade that came with it was a diamond blade but that sucker was almost 1/8 thick. also, the water feed really didn't work very well and i had sparks everywhere. needless to say, i have to somehow figure out a better water delivery system and get a better lapidary blade.
Michigan Rocs has posted some great tips and photos in Lapidary Tips Section, good luck,
KD
|
|
Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,466
|
Post by Sabre52 on Aug 22, 2005 18:51:04 GMT -5
KD, Thanks for the info. Re your water pump problem. A friend of my solved that problem with a small, cheap submersible fishpond pump from the garden store. Only cost a few bucks and it works great! Don't get the kind that stand up kinda like a mushroom and have a cheap metal fan type impeller. I had one of those and they are rotten!
|
|
|
Post by docone31 on Aug 22, 2005 19:25:00 GMT -5
Tile saw blades are much thicker than conventional lapidary blades. They are also very agressive, hence the sparks. I had a very wet tile saw. It still made sparks. Tile saws are real good for large stones. Lapidary saws are real good for smaller stones that need precision with little kerf. Tile saws are ok. They take a little getting used to, but they are ok.
|
|
stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
|
Post by stefan on Aug 22, 2005 19:51:42 GMT -5
I got a 7 inch Workforce (Home Depot) and I love it (having nothing else to cut with) it was cheap and has a pretty heavy duty motor- I can cut some pretty large material (my largest do far was a chunck of Opalized Pet wood- 4 inches thick) they are a bit slow (that wood chunk took about and hour to do) but I have not encountered anything I can't cut (yet) they take a bit more hands on manipulation but for the $77 I spent it was a great way to get started-
|
|
littlejimie
starting to spend too much on rocks
A rolling stone gathers no moss
Member since January 2005
Posts: 170
|
Post by littlejimie on Aug 22, 2005 20:07:13 GMT -5
Sabre: Most of the " over the table tile saws" have a deeper cutting depth...say around 2" with a 7" blade at 90 degrees. The "under the table saws" with a 7" blade barely get 1 1/4 cutting depth...all depends on the brand. If the cutting capacity isn't a issue, I would go for the latter...at least you can see what you are doing!!! Good luck, Jim
|
|
MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
|
Post by MichiganRocks on Aug 22, 2005 20:54:14 GMT -5
I use an MK-100 which is a 10 inch tile saw. I have absolutely no problem seeing what I'm working on. If the saw coolant system is made correctly, the water doesn't splash all over. It should simply hit both sides of the blade and coat it with water. My opinion, it's not whether the saw is called a "tile saw" or called a "lapidary saw", but rather that the saw is well designed and constructed. Another tip, be careful of the Chinese knockoffs. They may look the same, but they don't work the same!
Ron
|
|
George Amer
having dreams about rocks
Member since June 2005
Posts: 70
|
Post by George Amer on Aug 22, 2005 20:55:11 GMT -5
I bought the MK-100 about 3 weeks ago....awsome saw. Today I took delivery of the Gryphton C-40, an outstanding saw for detail work. with these two saws, nothing mush I can't do......my imagination is the major limiting factor at this time!!!!
|
|
|
Post by gaetzchamp on Aug 23, 2005 1:26:40 GMT -5
Sabre-
My sawing buddy just purchased a 10" tile saw from Dewalt. It really looks awesome. He got a great deal on it (so I'm told) for around $750.00. I'm anxious to see it set up and how it performs.
Keep me posted on what you end up doing. I'm excited for you and hope you find out a great solution.
Gaetz
|
|
Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,466
|
Post by Sabre52 on Aug 24, 2005 11:47:51 GMT -5
Stefan: Well, I went out and got a Workforce tile saw same as yours though now $88. Really a neat and handy design with lots of work area and good visability for trimming. Haven't tried it out yet but I'll post a note when I do. Got two extra MK blades too. Man, I can't believe a saw and a couple of extra blades for only like $112. Lapidary saws are such a ripoff. My other small saw was almost ten times as much and the blades almost five times as much as the MK tile blades ( and they cut slower than molasses too).
|
|
stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
|
Post by stefan on Aug 24, 2005 11:57:18 GMT -5
Yea I see they raised the price $11 on the website- First thing you want to do is add some splash shields they keep you dry! How much were those MK blades- My original blade is still holding up very well (probably 40 to 50 hours on it). Have fun with it!
|
|
Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,466
|
Post by Sabre52 on Aug 24, 2005 13:05:44 GMT -5
Stefan: MK blades were only $10.99. Supposed to be good blades too. Splash shield looks like a good idea for winter work. So hot here now I'm looking forward to getting wet while I trim!
|
|
|
Post by gaetzchamp on Aug 25, 2005 1:37:54 GMT -5
Congrats on the new setup. Hope it brings you a lot of happiness. Keep us posted on how it runs and holds up.
Gaetz
|
|
Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,466
|
Post by Sabre52 on Aug 25, 2005 12:56:22 GMT -5
Well, tried out the Home Depot Workforce tile saw today. Did about a two hour cutting session. So far I'm amazed at the results! trimmed out about forty cabs from 1/4" stock, everything from Laguna Agate and Tepee Canyon Agate to orbicular japsers. All hard stuff. Then, since I've bee wanting a bunch of triangular preforms of Brazillain Agate to tumble, I cut up about five pounds of 1/4" slabs of that stuff. The saw worked beautifully. Cut almost as fast as a woodsaw cuts wood with good visability and accuracy. Blade does not show any wear at all so far and this would've worn down my fifty dollar lapidary saw blade pretty well. 1/4 hp motor seems plenty strong for the work too. Also tried some Laguna about 1 1/4 inch thick. Cutting took maybe three times as long (still fast!) and it went right through it. Hard to cut slabs exactly parallel without a vise but plenty good for tumbled slabs. Will need a splash guard for cold weather but the bath felt good today *L*. Next project is splitting about a hundred small Coyamito and Moctazuma Nodules for the tumbler. Can't wait. Man, this is really fun!
|
|
Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,466
|
Post by Sabre52 on Aug 25, 2005 13:00:18 GMT -5
Whoops. Correction. The motor is a 3/4 hp.
|
|
stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
|
Post by stefan on Aug 25, 2005 14:15:50 GMT -5
Sounds good- One thing I do with the saw is take a sharpie permenent marker and a t-square and draw parallel lines an Inch apart on the table surface- Makes good reference points to get cuts- The lines usually last thru 2 or 3 cutting sessions- then I have to re draw em
|
|