10thumbs
spending too much on rocks
I want to be reincarnated as a dog.
Member since March 2009
Posts: 480
|
Post by 10thumbs on Mar 25, 2009 20:41:38 GMT -5
I just found a seller on Craig's list offering some lapidary equipment near my home. Does this sound like a good deal? It includes: - a Diamond 1-Star cabbing machine which has four stations: an expando drum, two arbors for grinding wheels, and a polishing head.
- new 100 and 220 grit wheels and some extra sanding belts.
- a Lortone 6 lb tumbler.
- a 6" Rock Rascal with a good blade and cutting oil.
- two motors and tension rails to drive the saw and grinder.
For $435. No tax, no shipping. Minus the $85 I'll get back returning my used-once Workforce to Home depot...
|
|
|
Post by johnjsgems on Mar 25, 2009 21:20:43 GMT -5
If you mean Star Diamond cabbing machine it's a good one. The Star Diamond was mostly Silicon Carbide but you can put diamond wheels and belts. It sounds like a great deal if everything is in relatively good shape. The Rock Rascal is low end but usable and complete shaft/bearing unit is under $40 so not a bad choice for a trim saw.
|
|
Wolfden
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2007
Posts: 1,368
|
Post by Wolfden on Mar 25, 2009 21:44:38 GMT -5
sounds like a real good deal .. you probably should keep the Workforce thu .. the 6" Rock Rascal is a trim saw .. post some pictures if you can
Good luck Wolf
|
|
|
Post by deb193redux on Mar 25, 2009 22:24:13 GMT -5
yes. keep the WF. I had both set up side by side and I turned to the WF 60% of the time. It is messy, but a lot faster. IF you need the flat table with narrow slot for precision trim on slabs, the RR is good. But to cut anything thicker or faster the RR will not perform well.
|
|
10thumbs
spending too much on rocks
I want to be reincarnated as a dog.
Member since March 2009
Posts: 480
|
Post by 10thumbs on Mar 26, 2009 0:21:38 GMT -5
Here is the setup that's for sale: Does the picture change any opinions? Also, other than upgrading from SiC to diamond wheels, what else is missing? Some kind of water drip system? It doesn't look like there is much in the way of trays there to hold water.
|
|
|
Post by catmandewe on Mar 26, 2009 0:56:22 GMT -5
Wave 3 hundies in their face, chances are about 80-90% that they will take it. Most people list high, hoping to get what they really want for it. I would guess 300 is what they are lookin for. Its worth a try. Good luck with it.............Tony
|
|
|
Post by Bikerrandy on Mar 26, 2009 7:15:08 GMT -5
Funny, I was going to say $300 as well. $435 is still a fair price, the QT6 alone is around $160.
|
|
10thumbs
spending too much on rocks
I want to be reincarnated as a dog.
Member since March 2009
Posts: 480
|
Post by 10thumbs on Mar 26, 2009 8:06:21 GMT -5
Wave 3 hundies in their face, chances are about 80-90% that they will take it. LOL at the mental image of me waving the benjamins back and forth in front of somebody's face. The sad thing is that the economy is so bad up here in Detroit that it'll probably work. Do these Diamond Star cab machines use standard arbor sizes? Finding belts for a 3" extendo or disks for this unit isn't going to be an issue, is it?
|
|
highplainsdrifter
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,266
|
Post by highplainsdrifter on Mar 26, 2009 8:27:46 GMT -5
That equipment appears to be in good condition. Make sure to turn them on before you buy and ensure the motor(s) work. You'll love that big expando. You can buy the belts in bulk from Kinsgsley North and other vendors on line. I'm not sure of the arbor size, but many bushings are available for the various diamond wheels you can get. I have several of these lying around, so let me know if you need any. HPD
|
|
10thumbs
spending too much on rocks
I want to be reincarnated as a dog.
Member since March 2009
Posts: 480
|
Post by 10thumbs on Mar 26, 2009 15:51:24 GMT -5
I have an appointment with this seller tonight. Operation Hundie-Waver is a go.
If I were to buy this, what else am I still missing? Water drip system <$cha-ching$> Diamond wheels <$cha-ching$> Diamond or polishing belts <$cha-ching$> Something to put on that polishing pad? New pads <$cha-ching$> and/or diamond compound. <$cha-ching$><$cha-ching$>
|
|
10thumbs
spending too much on rocks
I want to be reincarnated as a dog.
Member since March 2009
Posts: 480
|
Post by 10thumbs on Mar 26, 2009 19:24:20 GMT -5
I bought the stuff. I'm missing drive belts, some way to pump the water, diamond wheels and belts (I have some SiC wheels and belts), power cords for the motors, and any kind of lapridary skills or talent.
|
|
|
Post by johnjsgems on Mar 26, 2009 19:57:37 GMT -5
That is a GP-6 now made by Barranca Diamond division of MK Diamond so still in production. It has a 5/5" shaft. Most diamond wheels (Chinese) come with adapter bushings to fit any size shaft. Diamond Pacific makes only 1" but sells adapters. Barranca replacement wheels are bushed to 5/8". It looks like someone replaced the original 1.5" expando with a 2.5". It should be a standard size. The two black knobs on the hood unscrew to hinge the top back. Under the hood you should see a bunch of water tubes supplying water to each station. There should be 3 little valves in the top to adjust flow to each wheel. On the back side there should be an inlet water valve. While you have the top open you will see the entire shaft assy. will lift right out allowing you to install a belt. If you need to install new wheels one bearing will need to be removed. If you don't know how to remove bearin here goes. The bearing has a concentric lock collar that locks it in place. You will see an allen head set screw and a small dimple on the collar. Remove the set screw. Usin your favorite Craftsman screw driver in the dimple tap opposite the direction of rotation. The collar should come off easily. There should be a nut on the end of the shaft that you will remove first. I use sand paper or a green scrubbie and sand any corrosion off the shaft. The current models are stainless steel so not a problem. Squirt WD40 or penetrating oil down the set screw hole and where bearing meets the shaft. As gently as possible persuade the bearing off. The only bearings I have ever sold for these units are replacements for people that didn't know how to remove them. Remove wheels by sliding off paying attention to spacers. If the wheel centers are different you will have to add spacers as needed to center wheels under the water fittings. Installing is the reverse. It is easiest to leave the collar loose until you have everything on and tighten end nut down. Then tap collar in direction of rotation. If an wheels slip you my have to do this a few times to get it right. I you need bearings PM me. I have some Chinese replacements that are 1/3 the cost of the factory replacements and will work just fine. Also feel free to call if you need any more advice on this unit. (909) 519-1545.
|
|
|
Post by NatureNut on Mar 26, 2009 20:04:38 GMT -5
Congratulations!!! When do we see pics of cabs? LOL. Sorry. Jo
|
|
rallyrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2005
Posts: 1,507
|
Post by rallyrocks on Mar 26, 2009 22:33:18 GMT -5
I got a GP-6 of roughly the same vintage as the one you're looking at, it will cost a couple hundred to get it all set up right but its a great machine, it already has a built in drip system, you just need to feed it either with a plumbed in line, a gravity feed siphon or- what I did was hit the hardware store for a cheap submersible fountain pump (I think about $7 was all mine cost).
With diamond wheels and belts you'll be cranking out fine looking cabs in no time with that rig.
|
|
10thumbs
spending too much on rocks
I want to be reincarnated as a dog.
Member since March 2009
Posts: 480
|
Post by 10thumbs on Mar 28, 2009 19:48:18 GMT -5
My daughter and I went to the 37th Annual Rock Swap in Taylor, MI today. There was lots of nice rough, cheap slabs, etc. I only took $35 with me since I've been on a lapidary spending spree lately. Someone was selling a used Covington 14" slab saw for $375 though. I was sorely tempted but managed to resist, for now.
SIDEBAR: Once again my daughter was sphere crazy. I broke down and told her she could get one as long as it was rock, not glass. She picked out a Dalmatian jasper. Not surprisingly, the vendor said he got all his spheres from China. Does anybody know how you go about picking up cheap Chinese spheres?
|
|
|
Post by catmandewe on Mar 29, 2009 12:58:33 GMT -5
Hey now that we have you hooked, I have a sphere machine for sale!!! heh heh heh
Congrats on the new equipment, we will be watching to see what you will be making.
Tony
|
|
|
Post by johnjsgems on Mar 29, 2009 14:37:10 GMT -5
Cheap Chinese spheres? You have to buy through wholesalers usually in quantity. Quartzite and Tucson shows have an abundance. Generally you get what you pay for. A lot of the really cheap ones are not completely round. If you only want a few keep hitting gem & mineral shows and support the local dealers. A lot of the dealers carry low cost items like spheres, carvings, etc. to help pay the booth fee and have low cost merchandise for the walk-in traffic not necessarily rock people.
|
|
10thumbs
spending too much on rocks
I want to be reincarnated as a dog.
Member since March 2009
Posts: 480
|
Post by 10thumbs on Mar 29, 2009 20:11:26 GMT -5
I have a sphere machine for sale!!! Well how do those sphere cups work? Can you attach them at the end of an arbor or something?
|
|
10thumbs
spending too much on rocks
I want to be reincarnated as a dog.
Member since March 2009
Posts: 480
|
Post by 10thumbs on Apr 3, 2009 11:46:25 GMT -5
I've very excited for my weekend plans: tearing down my (new) used GP6, cleaning out all the rust with the dremel, painting it, installing new wheels, taping a water line above my work bench, etc. The guy I bought all my used stuff from called this week because he found more stuff in the back of his garage: a couple more books on rocks, a pile of dop sticks (with wax on the ends already and one partially completed snowflake obsidian cab), some different polishes for the polishing wheel, and a nice little pile of Michigan Petosky stones. What a nice guy.
I'm getting really stoked about doing some cabbing in the forseeable future.
|
|
|
Post by NatureNut on Apr 3, 2009 12:23:55 GMT -5
You are lucky dude, you are and he is nice, nice guy.
Jo
|
|