cabjunky
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Regency Rose Plume
Member since November 2008
Posts: 683
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Post by cabjunky on Aug 10, 2009 16:11:27 GMT -5
What is the best way to slice up a malachite stalactite? I have tried my 6" and 10" Highland park saw with mixed results. Someone suggested using cut of blades on a dremel tool, and plunge cutting half way though the material. Does anyone have any experience with doing this?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2009 16:43:28 GMT -5
Im not quite understanding the problem? If you have 6" and 10" saws there should be no reason to have to rig up your dremel for anything. Stalactites are often cut into little round slices so that you can see the ring pattern but regardless of which direction you cut........that material is not overly hard so Im not sure what you mean by having "mixed results?" The only issue I could see is if your saw blade was not working properly or if you are cutting material way too large for that size of saw.
If you could elaborate a bit more on what you mean by mixed results?
Shan
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cabjunky
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Regency Rose Plume
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Post by cabjunky on Aug 10, 2009 16:55:40 GMT -5
Because the material is so soft, even when you hand feed it into the saw it is breaking off the end of the piece being cut. The material seems to be extremly fragile. I don't have any troubles cutting anything else. Maybe I just have a bad piece of material.
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Post by frane on Aug 10, 2009 17:46:21 GMT -5
It may be the blade itself is to thick for the material. Do you have a thinner blade you can switch to? That may work better. Fran
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2009 17:55:36 GMT -5
If the material breaks no matter what you do......it may need to be stabilized prior to cutting. Some materials are like that. Some chrysocolla for example (like some of the stuff from Peru) just will not hold together without stabilizing. There are a number of methods......from Opticon to superglue. Good luck. That stuff isnt cheap so I would hate to have it break up in the saw.
Shan
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karock
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Member since November 2007
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Post by karock on Aug 10, 2009 19:40:26 GMT -5
I read a post where some one used a milk carton (qt or 1/2 gal depending on the size of your rough) and cast the stone in Plaster - that way you would have more stability while cutting. You might even be able to use a vice with this method.
I haven't done it, but it sounds clever!
Karock
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cabjunky
has rocks in the head
Regency Rose Plume
Member since November 2008
Posts: 683
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Post by cabjunky on Aug 10, 2009 19:59:04 GMT -5
Thanks for the tips. I will try to stabilize it with opticon and switch to a thinner blade on my smaller saw.
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Post by NatureNut on Aug 10, 2009 20:02:25 GMT -5
I would also try cutting thicker slices, if you have enough material to be comfortable doing that. Grinds fast, so it's no biggie working it.
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Post by rockmanken on Aug 10, 2009 21:00:49 GMT -5
I have an 8" piece of stalagtite that I have tried cutting. It has a fracture down the middle and breaks into 2 pieces irreguardless of what I do. It would be great to get the bullseye effect without breaking. I have another piece, but smaller, that I cut several and they came out O.K. On 2 of them, the center will pop out and leave a hole about the size of a pencil, but will go back in. Just haven't glued them yet because I like the way they do. My biggest problem with stalagtites is that they are very porous and leave minute pits when polished. Can't get a decent shine on them. Ken
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