10thumbs
spending too much on rocks
I want to be reincarnated as a dog.
Member since March 2009
Posts: 480
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Post by 10thumbs on Mar 17, 2009 16:43:13 GMT -5
I'm going to guess from your name that you're not going to be one to build your own equipment? If decide to start trying to build my own slab saw I'll go ahead and reserve the user names "9thumbs" and "8thumbs" just to plan ahead. The Work Force or the Q from Lowe's are both great saws. I personally like the Q better because of the water system. But both are about $90 and both are good. They will cut rocks up to 1 1/4" high. Ken Rockmanken, I'm looking at the Lowe's site right now. It looks like QEP added a laser and bumped up the price by $70. www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=214417-1255-60088&lpage=noneI think I'll pick up the Workforce tonight at Home Depot. $70 will buy a lot of pencils and straight edges. Thanks for all the great advice. Keep it coming!
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10thumbs
spending too much on rocks
I want to be reincarnated as a dog.
Member since March 2009
Posts: 480
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Post by 10thumbs on Mar 17, 2009 23:32:15 GMT -5
I picked up the 7" Workforce saw tonight at Home Depot. The helpful hardware man said that they were out of them and that they were not listed for restock so he said that meant that they were probably discontinued. But I was able to buy the display model for 10% off. No directions though. I'll have to surf to find the manual.
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UtahRockHound
spending too much on rocks
Sometimes your the Windshield, sometimes your the Rock.
Member since May 2008
Posts: 301
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Post by UtahRockHound on Mar 18, 2009 0:16:57 GMT -5
I picked up the 7" Workforce saw tonight at Home Depot. The helpful hardware man said that they were out of them and that they were not listed for restock so he said that meant that they were probably discontinued. But I was able to buy the display model for 10% off. No directions though. I'll have to surf to find the manual. Great first step. It was my first piece as well. No manual is necessary. It is 99% determination. Keep a watch on how much water you are slinging. Do not let it run dry. Pick a soft rock to practice with. You can hold it in your hand. You can touch the blade, and not get injured. As long as it is a continues rim, and you are not using force, the worst is rock chips that fly off. Remember, it took millions of years to form a stone. It will take you time to saw through it. Do not force it, you will wear out and or ruin the blade. Take your time. Just keep a steady even pressure and let the blade do the work. The harder the stone, the longer it takes. For now, take the fence off and use it as a paper weight. If you try to rip it like you do wood, the blade will bog down and dull. It will sling a lot of water, and make a big mess. This is normal. You can stand behind it and cut, or put on some guards. Several people have posted what they have done for guards. Pick the one you like, and run with it. I would also like to echo what has been said. Bench grinders are a waste of time. I bought two, and now the just sit and rust. Look into a couple of Pillow Block Bearings, and a shaft from McMaster-Carr or your favorite place. Make your own, and go straight to diamond. Wet and Dry sandpaper is money down the drain. Diamond disk or wheel will do hundreds of stone. Wet Dry is counted by sheets per stone. It will not take long to add up to more then you spend on a diamond setup. You can purchase a Diamond Lap Disk and backer for less then $20, and a Wheel for around $60. Money well spent. Good Luck and welcome to our passion.
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Post by parfive on Mar 18, 2009 0:55:15 GMT -5
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Mar 18, 2009 1:38:35 GMT -5
If your on a budget (aren't we all) you should look at the home built flat laps. You can put one of those together with diamond laps for about $120. They are the easiest equiptment to home build probably to. Thats good if it looks easy to you, bad if it looks hard.
The buy/sell/trade section on here regularly has nice rock. You should check it out.
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10thumbs
spending too much on rocks
I want to be reincarnated as a dog.
Member since March 2009
Posts: 480
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Post by 10thumbs on Mar 18, 2009 8:02:33 GMT -5
It will sling a lot of water, and make a big mess. This is normal. Could you try and quantify this a bit? I have a little corner of my basement for a "workshop". I have all my tools hanging and stacked and I'm surrounded by shelves full of the ghosts of Christmas past (toys, games, etc). It's not conducive to spraying a lot of water.
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Post by Titania on Mar 18, 2009 12:51:37 GMT -5
I don't have a Workforce, but a slightly larger tile saw. I made the mistake of slabbing in my basement once. I ended up with red water all over everything behind the saw. That could have been avoided with a simple drop cloth behind and under the saw. Side to side spray isn't an issue on my saw, just front to back.
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nansaidh
spending too much on rocks
Jewelry artist, graphic designer, dog lover, car nut (etc.)
Member since August 2008
Posts: 311
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Post by nansaidh on Mar 18, 2009 17:00:33 GMT -5
I do the birdwatching thing too - it isn't the cheapest out there, either. Good binos and a decent spotting scope will make quite a dent in your wallet. Good luck, though - shoot it's hard enough keeping a supply of grit in these "watch what I spend" times. Nancy
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rallyrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2005
Posts: 1,507
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Post by rallyrocks on Mar 18, 2009 17:49:54 GMT -5
Don't forget safety glasses when using the workforce- rock chip injuries to the eye are not a good way to get started!
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Post by rockmanken on Mar 18, 2009 21:22:48 GMT -5
You can get a masonary tub at Home Depot for less than $5 to put it in to catch the water. It is black plastic that you use to mix mortar in. Ken
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Mar 18, 2009 21:31:58 GMT -5
Think shower wet if you use one as is.
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10thumbs
spending too much on rocks
I want to be reincarnated as a dog.
Member since March 2009
Posts: 480
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Post by 10thumbs on Mar 19, 2009 14:51:11 GMT -5
I started cutting rock on the Workforce last night. It worked well and was fun. I did get pretty wet though. I set it on top of the washing machine because that area of the basement is more water-friendly. With the blade-guard or gutter or whatever you call it (no directions!) directed most of the water forward right at me so my apron was pretty soaked after 10-15 cuts. That's all I did for now. I don't have any slabs to play with yet. I guess I'll need to pick up a set of these templates somewhere too.
So I've got a the saw covered. Next I need a grinding/shaping/lapping tool. If I was only going to have one shaping/polishing tool which is the way to go? Wet grinder or lap?
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jeff u
starting to spend too much on rocks
Rocks rock, man!
Member since March 2009
Posts: 143
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Post by jeff u on Mar 20, 2009 11:35:01 GMT -5
Gotta side with the Cabmate! best money I every spent. I use a 100 diamond wheel then an expanding drum for the rest of the work....
BTW, I am president of the Gem & Mineral Society of the Palm Beaches, and we haven't seen Bernie yet..and happily we wont!
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10thumbs
spending too much on rocks
I want to be reincarnated as a dog.
Member since March 2009
Posts: 480
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Post by 10thumbs on Mar 21, 2009 14:22:47 GMT -5
What about this little tool I found on the JS Gems site: www.johnwease.web.aplus.net/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=JGLE&Product_Code=GG-sm&Category_Code=LS2That might be good for me. I'm not sure that I'll ever step up to the multi-wheel cab machines. The cabs that everyone makes look really interesting but I'm not sure what I'd actually do with a cab if and when I ever made one. I could drill a hole in it, run a string through and give it to my daughter. I looked at some of the posts in the Wire Wrapping section and I almost have to laugh because what you guys make look so easy would take me 36 hours and a mile of wasted wire.
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UtahRockHound
spending too much on rocks
Sometimes your the Windshield, sometimes your the Rock.
Member since May 2008
Posts: 301
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Post by UtahRockHound on Mar 22, 2009 0:48:29 GMT -5
It will sling a lot of water, and make a big mess. This is normal. Could you try and quantify this a bit? I have a little corner of my basement for a "workshop". I have all my tools hanging and stacked and I'm surrounded by shelves full of the ghosts of Christmas past (toys, games, etc). It's not conducive to spraying a lot of water. Sorry missed this. Been real busy with spring finally here. The bottom line is if it does not sling a lot of water, you going to destroy the blade. Yes it does make a mess. I played with a lot of different guards before I settled on the one I built. I am very happy with the end results. I still get a little of water run off, but it no longer goes all over. Most of the water that does escape is dripping from my arms resting on the edges. A simple towel solves this as well. To answer your question, without a good guard setup, all those toys will be forever encased in mud, and the carpet ruined. Not to mention what the wife and kids will do to you. ;D The best way to explain what I done to solve it is to show you. Here is a link to how I built the guard. forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=sawingb&thread=27251&page=1
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10thumbs
spending too much on rocks
I want to be reincarnated as a dog.
Member since March 2009
Posts: 480
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Post by 10thumbs on Mar 22, 2009 20:57:58 GMT -5
Okay, material is not longer an issue. I've purchased a lot from JerryB here in Michigan, plus a boxes from Jamie (squirrel_girl), Ralph (stonesthatrock), and two boxes from Michael Johns. Now I have to figure out how I'm going to sort and store all these rocks. I'll have to pull together a Mohs test kit and maybe pick up some milk crates somewhere.
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