bendsum
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2008
Posts: 140
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Post by bendsum on Dec 16, 2009 3:25:20 GMT -5
i found these for sale online and was wondering if $350 is a good deal for the pair Highland Park Combo Model E20 Skill Craft Gem Maker
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Post by Toad on Dec 16, 2009 7:45:56 GMT -5
If they both run, I'd say yes - but that is me talking from inexperience...
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JEFFD
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2004
Posts: 242
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Post by JEFFD on Dec 16, 2009 7:55:31 GMT -5
Not a bad price for a saw and grinding wheels. To turn out cabs you might want a sanding drum. Also upgrading your wheels to diamond will be another $200+/-. If you tumbled your preform cabs you could use these machines and skip the sanding drum. I don't know anything about the Skillcraft machine.
I would hold out for a loretone LUX-6, used about the same price. One grinding wheel, and one sanding drum, saw, and polishing wheel.
I've seen some nice cabs on here made by people with less equipment, Hope someone chimes in with their thoughts on the deal.
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Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on Dec 16, 2009 9:42:09 GMT -5
highland is a E-10 Not e - 20.
I have the same it is about a 1953. E-10
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Post by deb193redux on Dec 16, 2009 10:03:33 GMT -5
If they have motors and the arbor turns quietly, I think a good price.
Small trim saw is about $100. The vice alone is about $25. Two wheel arbor is about $125 w/o wheels.
I might sell the orange unit to get some money for diamond wheels for the other. I would encourage expensive slintered wheels because the closed-ends of the arbor mean a lot of disassembly to change wheels. Better to do it every 3-5 years instead of every year.
You may be able to get some plates for the buffer on the end to allow you to do some sanding. Otherwise you just have a grinding station.
If you live where equipment comes up more oftne, hold out for an arbor with open ends. THis would permit changing wheels more easily and/or putting one course wheel and one expanding drum, which could handle medium grit and sanding belts and even some polishing.
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Post by rockmanken on Dec 16, 2009 10:54:54 GMT -5
I have an E-10 and it IS a pain to change the wheels. It uses a 9" blade that is almost impossible to find. The Skillcraft was made for Penney's and is very weak. I, personally, would pass at that price. For just a little more you can get an Ameritool from John and it comes with everything to cut stones(except dop wax and dop pot) Ken
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 16, 2009 12:02:10 GMT -5
Thanks Ken. I think Skillcraft was Star Diamond division sold to Lortone along with the tumblers. 9" is a weird size blade only available in thick core. I keep one in stock and sell one every year or two. I am partial to Highland Park but would find one you could put an expando drum on. I also don't care for combo machines where saw runs with grinder. You end up with oil on the grinder section and saw running when grinding. If you could offer a lot less it may be an ok unit but you would need an arbor also for sanding.
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