shelley
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2012
Posts: 4
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Post by shelley on May 28, 2012 8:32:00 GMT -5
I bought a 14 inch green diamond rim blade for $250, The Agate Eater. It lasted about 2 hours-- a chip wedged against the side of the pan and gouged the blade putting a big dent and warp in it. It was supposed to be hardened steel?? Have you had this happen to you? What type and brand would you suggest to cut quartz and agate? Shelley szloni@aol.com
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on May 28, 2012 9:17:54 GMT -5
What a bummer! Blades can be straightened sometimes by hammering.Somebody other than me can tell you how to do it.Dont toss it yet. By the way,nice sale you had. Too bad I'm 20 hours away.
jcinpc maybe could help you with info.He's close to you,went to your sale.
snuffy
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Post by Rockoonz on May 28, 2012 9:53:00 GMT -5
So a bit of the rock you were cutting got in between the blade and the slab catcher? my best advice is bend or move the slab catcher pan so it is closer to the blade than the thinnest slab you will cut, I try for about 1/16th of an inch. Having stuff wedge into that gap can be disasterous for the best quality blade.
According to the pics I found when I googled agate eater the green blade you bent is a solid green crimped edge blade.If it's the one I have seen at shows then it's probably pretty thin and easy to bend. Pretty much all saw blades are "hardened steel" in that they have been heated up as part of the manufacturing process. The crimped blades are not tool steel. It can probably be flattened back out enough to use for softer stuff but not for agates. If your saw has more than one feed speed always use the slowest with this type of blade. If your 14 inch saw is a lortone a crimped edge blade will not work with it, the feed is too fast, you need a barranca or MK 303
Lee
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Post by johnjsgems on May 28, 2012 9:54:31 GMT -5
I don't know how they make the crimp rim Chinese blades but suspect it is similar to the old notch rim blades with mild steel cores. They bend easily but should be easier to straighten if they didn't overheat and loose tension.
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Post by johnjsgems on May 28, 2012 9:58:31 GMT -5
Sorry, I just noticed the $250 price. Not sure what blade that is. The Green blades I was thinking of are about $80 for 14". BD/MK 3093C lists for $248 so much cheaper from dealers.
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Post by jakesrocks on May 28, 2012 9:59:31 GMT -5
How thick is that Green Diamond blade ? Hard material like agate calls for a thicker, stiffer blade. I'd suggest the BD 303 or BD 301. I use a BD 303 S on my 16" saw. Way better than the stock Covington blade that came with the saw.
Don
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Post by Rockoonz on May 28, 2012 15:09:55 GMT -5
This is what I found when I googled it. www.cyberrockhound.com/agate_eaters.htmClick on the pic for a larger view, looks like a crimped edge blade to me. They say made in brazil so probably that's why it costs more than the chinese equivalent. Lee
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on May 29, 2012 0:52:47 GMT -5
I have unfortunately a lot of experience straightening blades (done it dozens of times). When I first got my saw (used) there was no club within 500 miles so I was on my own figuring it out and did not know you should have wood in the vice (don't ever try putting a rock in a metal clamp without wood you won't like it). So lots of blade straightening practice (about every 10 slabs). Don't worry it can probably be straightened.
To straighten a blade place it on a piece of 3/4" plywood so the most edge touches the plywood and most of the dent bulges up. Use a steel hammer with a large face (big head). I have a 3lb short handle sledge that works well. Use the weight of the hammer only to hit the blade don't really swing use slow light taps. Tap around the blade in a circle until the blade is kind of flat. You will probably put a slight curve in it in the other direction. Flip the blade over and repeat with fewer taps. Keep flipping bump up edge down and tapping in a circle until it is flat. You will know its flat when the edge touches the plywood on both sides when flipped over.
You blade probably will not cut as smooth after doing this but it will cut again.
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Post by johnjsgems on May 29, 2012 8:16:23 GMT -5
OK, I have seen one of the "Brazilian" blades from Cyberrockhound. They look just like the LZM Chinese crimp blades. They came out when the US was getting ready to impose a huge import tariff on Chinese products. My guess at the time was either China opened a factory in Brazil to circumvent this or were just routing products through Brazil.
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Post by phil on May 29, 2012 15:38:54 GMT -5
-snip- If your 14 inch saw is a lortone a crimped edge blade will not work with it, the feed is too fast, you need a barranca or MK 303 Lee Hi Lee, can you explain more why not to use a crimped with a Lortone 14 inch? I have a recently acquired old 14 inch drop saw that we're refurbing and almost ready to fire up. Just need a new motor and blade. We were looking to put on a crimped blade as crimped are the only ones that have lasted in other saws. Thanks! Phil
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Post by johnjsgems on May 29, 2012 20:40:27 GMT -5
I think thickness would be a concern. A good thick 303C with the high carbon tool steel core would be pretty durable on the drop saw. Less chance of deflecting than a thinner blade. The crimps are all mild steel as far as I know.
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Post by Rockoonz on May 30, 2012 22:20:51 GMT -5
Phil, when I said lortone 14 inch I was referring to a Lortone "Panther", as they have an extremely fast feed rate. For a drop saw I would only use a sintered blade, and as thick as possible. My 18 inch saw is a hydraulic saw so it can cut fast if I turn up the pressure, with a 303S it cuts agate like crazy.
Lee
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Post by johnjsgems on May 31, 2012 8:45:33 GMT -5
When Barranca was still repairing notch rim blades their biggest customers were Lortone users (too fast feed) and Diamond Pacific hydraulic feed users (set too fast). Covington users were pretty close because Covington used undersized flange washers to achieve a taller cut. I can never understand why hobby users would be in a big hurry to cut at the expense to their blades.
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LarryS
freely admits to licking rocks
SoCal desert rats
Member since August 2010
Posts: 781
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Post by LarryS on May 31, 2012 9:56:37 GMT -5
"I can never understand why hobby users would be in a big hurry to cut at the expense to their blades."
Because we can replace them so cheaply when we buy them from you. $55 for a 10"? I spend more than that on my ice cream habit. When you finally retire, guess I'll have to start behaving myself!
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Post by johnjsgems on May 31, 2012 14:10:58 GMT -5
Gee Larry, tomorrow I get a follow up nuclear treadmill test. Mostly due to my now mostly former ice cream habit.
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