Roger
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,487
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Post by Roger on Mar 6, 2015 1:21:10 GMT -5
I am in the market for another cab machine. Currently I have a BMT-7 running 8-6" wheels and a Pixie with 6-4" wheels. The Pixie I picked up cheap but, I really do not like it. It is too plastic, too underpowered, too small, and I am too lazy to want to move the geyser lol.
While I do like my BMT, I don't like it enough to buy a second one. There are a few things about the design that I don't care for. Visibility when working the stones is at the top of the list, the water delivery and management is a very close second.
I have looked at the DP Titan and Genie, but the Pixie has me soured on Diamond Pacific. I don't like geysers and I am not sure I like plastic. I have also been looking at the Cab-King 6v3 & 8v3 machines. Over all, the Cab King looks like the best choice from the big companies, but; I really do not want a generic machine. Unfortunately, I don't have the talent, or equipment to build my own and be happy with it.
Can anyone recommend alternatives to the large manufacturers? Maybe a "custom" builder or a small outfit?
Side question - Does anyone have experience with "Crystalite Turbine" and "Crystalite Spherical Miracle" wheels? I have purchased some Chinese wheels based on the Turbine. They cut "fast" but wear out fast as well. Curious if the Crystalite wheels have longevity. They are 5x the price of the Chinese wheels.
Thanks for any advice!
Roger
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,632
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Post by QuailRiver on Mar 6, 2015 3:54:32 GMT -5
There is always the buying a good used arbor and stocking it with new wheels alternative. What you see below is my 8" Highland Park arbor I bought at a local estate sale for $50. After new bearings, belt, motor and motor pulley I have about a total of $225 in the functioning arbor unit. The water delivery system I made from a harbor freight aquarium pump, some nylon tubing, a ball valve, a piece of nylon stock, a lead fishing weight, and a couple of plastic five gallon pails all for about $35.00. Then I spent another $1,200 on the wheels. (80gt and a 220gt sintered from Hans, 360 and 600 grit Crystalrings, and 280, 600 and 1200 grit Nova Wheels). Plus I have another space on the right end for my felt polishing wheel. So including the light I have about $1,500 total invested in an 8" cabbing unit that will hold eight wheels. I do have a Poly Arbor sitting next to the HP unit with my 3000 and 8000 Nova wheels that is not shown in the photo. But could have gone with the DP Titan Wheel line up on the HP unit for less and still had room for one more Nova plus my felt wheel. But instead wanted to have the 360 and 600 grit Crystalring wheels mounted with my other hard wheels for convenience. But those two finer grit hard wheels are not necessary in this line up of grits. Anyhow point being, going the used arbor route with new motor bearings, belt, and wheels I came out with only about 50% of what a DP Titan would have cost me not factoring in the several days of my labor.
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Post by Tonyterner on Mar 6, 2015 6:02:33 GMT -5
I agree with you about the plastic on the Genie. The Titan is mostly metal so much more substantial. The geysers are a PIA on both machines, I need to work on them at least a few times a year. My Genie's pump has some kind of hitch in the mechanism that no one can figure out so I use an aquarium pump instead. My old Diamond Pacific was set up with a drip system and that is far superior to the spray systems. Those are the only 3 machines I've used so I don't have any more input for you.
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Post by stardiamond on Mar 9, 2015 21:02:11 GMT -5
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Post by catmandewe on Mar 9, 2015 23:18:16 GMT -5
There is a custom manufacturer out of Utah that will build you an 8" stainless arbor system for $1695. They asked me to be a distributor for them last month but I have not checked the unit out myself, I did talk to one guy who had used one and liked it though. Let me know if you are interested. It does not come with a water system so you need to provide your own hose or bucket and drip system, the holes are drilled above each wheel and you can just move the drip hose from hole to hole. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Tony
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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 Mar 10, 2015 7:16:13 GMT -5
I all ready got mine, beautiful machine. Mine has a spindle on the left side for the felt pads all so the guy I got it from set it up with a drip system nice valves and a very good water pump, that I put in a bucket with clean water, so I don;t contaminate the wheels,and he delivered it to me at my house, I was thrilled. Still in shock that I have such a machine.
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Post by deb193redux on Mar 10, 2015 8:57:44 GMT -5
looks well built. adding a water system should be easy. does it have drains? does it come with motor for that price?
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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 Mar 10, 2015 9:32:05 GMT -5
Yes !! It comes with 1/2 hp 1/6, with a 2 speed switch and I might add it was over 100 miles round trip for the delivery.
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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 Mar 10, 2015 9:33:59 GMT -5
Yes !! It comes with 1/2 hp 1/6, with a 2 speed switch and I might add it was over 100 miles round trip for the delivery. Yes it is plumb for a drain and that was all fixed up for me with the tube and 2 new buckets too.
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Post by stardiamond on Mar 10, 2015 13:33:02 GMT -5
Regarding cost, he biggest issue is the quality of the wheels. Six 8" DP wheels cost over $1000. How good are the original wheels and how long will they last?
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Post by deb193redux on Mar 10, 2015 13:47:36 GMT -5
Unless I was strapped, I would buy one w/o wheels and put on my own choices. Might require some new spacers.
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Roger
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,487
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Post by Roger on Mar 10, 2015 22:57:33 GMT -5
Thanks all. I would probably prefer to put my own wheels on whatever I get, or at least have the option to "upgrade" wheels to ones I want.
I really would prefer a turn key system other than wheels. I don't want to mess with finding the right valves etc.
I had my first opportunity to work on an 8" machine last weekend. It was a cab king. Very nice machine.
Brian, I am interested in a little more info on the one you posted, but I am out of town for work until the weekend. If you can send me the specs, that would be great, or I can hit you up when I get back home.
Roger
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,632
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Post by QuailRiver on Mar 10, 2015 23:12:47 GMT -5
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Post by stardiamond on Mar 11, 2015 12:13:51 GMT -5
That is a good deal. 2 jadecarver wheels would be $270 plus tax (depending on state). Four supernova wheels would be $280 plus sales tax, shipping and 3% to use a credit card. The jadecarver wheels are as good as or better than dp. I can't comment on the supernova until I start using them. 8" wheels will cut a lot more cabs than 6".
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Post by gingerkid on Mar 11, 2015 12:27:57 GMT -5
Roger, have you seen Graves Company's 6-Wheeler? glennz01 has one. If you are interested in the machine, please call Graves instead of emailing them. It isn't nearly as expensive as the Diamond Pacific units and many others on the market. Made in the USA. www.gravescompany.com/images/13-206_A.jpgI think 1nickthegreek has a machine from the company that catmandewe suggested. I have a Covington 8" diamond grinder/polisher. miander has the 8" Covington with the saw. Nice machines, too.
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Post by glennz01 on Mar 13, 2015 3:51:43 GMT -5
I would go with the next model up from the 6 wheeler if I had the choice again, the drop system is nice only if you have the space and can easily dump the water out.
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Post by deb193redux on Mar 13, 2015 7:27:25 GMT -5
I think if Graves tries just a little harder, they can actually make all the wheels touch
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Post by glennz01 on Mar 13, 2015 10:28:58 GMT -5
I think if Graves tries just a little harder, they can actually make all the wheels touch yeah, 1 inch in between wheels is not much room is it
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Post by gingerkid on Mar 13, 2015 10:44:03 GMT -5
How much space is between the wheels on the Genie? 6" CabKing?
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SirRoxalot
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 790
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Post by SirRoxalot on Mar 13, 2015 12:04:53 GMT -5
Lortone makes a fine machine, six wheels, 6", stainless, about a grand.
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