robsrockshop
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2012
Posts: 715
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Post by robsrockshop on Jan 31, 2014 8:03:10 GMT -5
At any rate I was working on building a new 12" saw I was just looking around to see the crossfeed capacity of certain makes. Covingtons is 4". Lortone doesn't list this feature that I have found. I've had LS12's in the past but never used them I was thinking 3" but not sure if you know post it here. Funny thing is I called 3 suppliers and NOT 1 person knew the answer and 2 of them had to be schooled on what I was talking about. 1 of them called Lortone and called me back a day later and said that Lortone said "We don't know and we don't have any in stock and currently don't have any being built so we don't have any to look at but if I recall it's something like 6"-8".
LOL. First im lol on the stupidity, secondly on the 6-8" comment. Wow. Surprisingly I was polite with everyone.
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Post by DirtCleaner on Jan 31, 2014 9:09:53 GMT -5
If I am understanding your question the answer is about 3" The top does move laterally a bit so an exact measurement is troublesome.
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Post by roy on Jan 31, 2014 10:22:04 GMT -5
i never did like the way the loretone 12 was set up ! they have since dropped the 12 from production how ever the old ls10 is one of the best saws i have ever had
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,623
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Post by QuailRiver on Jan 31, 2014 17:04:33 GMT -5
Roy, I hadn't heard about the 12" Lortone being out of production. Is Lortone redesigning it or dropping that size altogether? Any word on the production of their other size saws? Also I agree that the old Lortone 10" saws were great!
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robsrockshop
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2012
Posts: 715
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Post by robsrockshop on Jan 31, 2014 21:20:03 GMT -5
Let's cut to the chase, asides from talking about the LS10, what "don't" you like about the LS12?
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robsrockshop
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2012
Posts: 715
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Post by robsrockshop on Jan 31, 2014 21:22:50 GMT -5
If I am understanding your question the answer is about 3" The top does move laterally a bit so an exact measurement is troublesome. Thanks. And just for future reference the measurement would be taken off the bottom plate not the top that's irrelevant. I was thinking it was 3" so you're probably dead on. Very frustrating the people that have built several thousand of them don't know the answer and dealers don't even know what a crossfeed is? My as well be selling people hammers and chisels and tell them good luck lol.
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Post by Rockoonz on Jan 31, 2014 21:57:17 GMT -5
They still have the 12 listed on their website. I think that a clamping bar is vastly inferior to a real vice, and a stamped metal carriage, any carriage sliding on the ways isn't the best thing either. Using shaft collars to hold the ways in place aint my cup'o'joe either.
All that said, everyone I have met who has ever purchased a new one for a lot less than anything comparable has been ok with them. I know of someone who has 3 of them running from first thing in the morning till bedtime 7 days a week.
Lortone has been in business for over 50 years, amazing what incompetence can do. I was in a meeting with the grandson currently in charge, got to hear some stories about rockhounding in Mexico as a child with the original owners of the rock shop here in my town. Their design change on their vibe lap is pretty cool, no more bouncy balls and springs. All the painted steel arbors are going away, they will only be making the stainless ones. Their Scott-Murray expando drums are made in the USA, unlike everyone elses. Did I mention that the only way to get a job at Lortone is for them to grow and need more people or for someone to retire, it's a great place to work (no I don't work there, I have done consulting for one of their suppliers). I bet the person who answers the phones knows the difference between a customer and somebody collecting data to copy their products.
Lee #2
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Post by phil on Jan 31, 2014 22:02:48 GMT -5
Take off that top bar on the vice and replace it with a gator jaw. With a gator jaw, the rocks don't move while being cut and damaging your blade. With that metal bar, you have a real risk of the rock shifting and BAM! You can find one on ebay, just make sure the holes match your threaded rod distance.
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Post by Rockoonz on Jan 31, 2014 22:18:52 GMT -5
I have something I made for my 12 inch saw. I will start a thread for it soon.
Lee #2
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Post by DirtCleaner on Feb 1, 2014 8:26:28 GMT -5
Between the jaws there is some rubber material that holds fairly well. I do feel the need to really torque the wing nuts down tight. The cuts this one makes are very nice. Don't see any saw marks. But to cut things square is really tricky.
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robsrockshop
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2012
Posts: 715
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Post by robsrockshop on Feb 1, 2014 8:40:19 GMT -5
They still have the 12 listed on their website. I think that a clamping bar is vastly inferior to a real vice, and a stamped metal carriage, any carriage sliding on the ways isn't the best thing either. Using shaft collars to hold the ways in place aint my cup'o'joe either. All that said, everyone I have met who has ever purchased a new one for a lot less than anything comparable has been ok with them. I know of someone who has 3 of them running from first thing in the morning till bedtime 7 days a week. Lortone has been in business for over 50 years, amazing what incompetence can do. I was in a meeting with the grandson currently in charge, got to hear some stories about rockhounding in Mexico as a child with the original owners of the rock shop here in my town. Their design change on their vibe lap is pretty cool, no more bouncy balls and springs. All the painted steel arbors are going away, they will only be making the stainless ones. Their Scott-Murray expando drums are made in the USA, unlike everyone elses. Did I mention that the only way to get a job at Lortone is for them to grow and need more people or for someone to retire, it's a great place to work (no I don't work there, I have done consulting for one of their suppliers). I bet the person who answers the phones knows the difference between a customer and somebody collecting data to copy their products. Lee #2 I'm not copying anything and i'm not the one that called them all I wanted to know was an answer to what should be a simple question. I personally don't have a problem with this saw you can't have all-cast componets, bookend vises etc and sell it for the price they do everyone always seems to forget that. The simple solution is to go buy a more expensive saw that has that stuff on it.
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Post by roy on Feb 1, 2014 12:13:55 GMT -5
Roy, I hadn't heard about the 12" Lortone being out of production. Is Lortone redesigning it or dropping that size altogether? Any word on the production of their other size saws? Also I agree that the old Lortone 10" saws were great! i tried to find a new one for a friend and was told that they were dropping that size and staying with the 14" wich is funny because everyone that i know that had the 14 hated them!
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Post by roy on Feb 1, 2014 12:32:05 GMT -5
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Post by Rockoonz on Feb 1, 2014 12:45:06 GMT -5
Roy, I hadn't heard about the 12" Lortone being out of production. Is Lortone redesigning it or dropping that size altogether? Any word on the production of their other size saws? Also I agree that the old Lortone 10" saws were great! i tried to find a new one for a friend and was told that they were dropping that size and staying with the 14" wich is funny because everyone that i know that had the 14 hated them! The problem with the 14 is the feed motor, feeds too fast. Taking off the 7RPM motor and replacing with the 4RPM from a 12 inch is what many have done. I'll stick with my HP 14 inch saw, oldie but a goodie. Lee#2
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Post by roy on Feb 1, 2014 12:52:13 GMT -5
i tried to find a new one for a friend and was told that they were dropping that size and staying with the 14" wich is funny because everyone that i know that had the 14 hated them! The problem with the 14 is the feed motor, feeds too fast. Taking off the 7RPM motor and replacing with the 4RPM from a 12 inch is what many have done. I'll stick with my HP 14 inch saw, oldie but a goodie. Lee#2 ya thats what i have herd and i always wanted one of those when i first got in to this crazy darn hobby but i have bought and rebuilt 5 ls 12 saws and sold them good machines i myself have one ls10 that was the first saw i ever bought and will never get rid of it that saw is bullet proof and then i have two older hp saws love those too!
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Post by phil on Feb 1, 2014 13:37:13 GMT -5
Yep. That's exactly like the gator jaw I was referring to! Zero rock movement while cutting. made this simple gripper for all my lortone 10" and 12" saws and have not had any rock slip out yet in fact it is easier to clamp a rock in this style that on the vise in my bigger saws
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Post by Rockoonz on Feb 1, 2014 13:48:51 GMT -5
I snoozed and missed out on a LS10 a couple months ago. I probably would have kept it.
Lee#2
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Post by phil on Feb 1, 2014 13:52:37 GMT -5
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Post by Rockoonz on Feb 1, 2014 16:16:17 GMT -5
No those are TS10 saws, the trim/slab saw. The LS10 is a full on slab saw. The one that got away Lee #2
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rockpowell
having dreams about rocks
Have been rock hunting most of my life, love cutting rocks, have tons of slabs, just haven't posted
Member since February 2013
Posts: 73
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Post by rockpowell on Feb 2, 2014 8:41:44 GMT -5
rockpowell I have had a 14" Lortone saw for over three years now and LOVE it.! Got it new the one that has the auto blade dresser built in, the secret to keep it cutting fast is to dress that blade some times in between slabs, just a little bit to keep those diamonds sharp. I cut a lot of Picasso which is very dirty, turn the oil grey with clay, Pipe line canyon jasper, very dirty now the oil is red. As for the Lortone Co. Jim retired last summer, he was the man! After that I saw that they had many Job openings, with new people, that could be their problem!!! Ya think !! Dressing the blade does not wear it out, still have the original blade in use and could last another year or more, it's a mk 303. I also use a power bar on it. ( they say not to use ) But it has saved my saw 4 times now, any power flux shuts it down, turn both off when I open it, before I have tripped the switch accidentally while changing rocks and now up to 6 oil baths, why 6 I'm a slow learner LOL Oil don"t taste that good any way and not in my diet.
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