Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
|
Post by Intheswamp on Nov 8, 2015 16:35:10 GMT -5
Well, I'm thinking about getting a tile saw to cut small rocks with...I'd love a nice 10" saw but that's a bit out of my league. I figure a small, 7" tile saw with a decent blade on it will keep me busy for a while. I've seen it said more than once that basically any tile saw will work, that the trick is to get a good blade for it. I understand that, BUT (there's always a "but" hanging around, eh? ) there's gotta be some low-end tile saws that are more rock-cutting friendly than others. It looks like a lot of the cheap tile saws are being built on plastic frames which seems ok in regards to rust issues, but for modifying the saw it seems the plastic might not work as well as metal. The low-end QEP appears to have a metal frame and runs $66 on Amazon...that might be a option but comes with a direct-drive 3/5hp motor which some reviews say is weak. Then there's the Skil one with the "Hydrolock System" that supposedly keeps the spray to a minimum (yet to be seen). So far the only priority I have when looking at saws is to be sure the saw has a 5/8" arbor and that it takes 7" (or larger) blades...anything else to look for? Anybody want to share experiences or recommendations on tiles saws that you've used?
|
|
|
Post by captbob on Nov 8, 2015 16:42:26 GMT -5
No bites on your craigslist ads?
The one listed in Birmingham already sold?
|
|
Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
|
Post by Intheswamp on Nov 8, 2015 19:08:47 GMT -5
Not the first nibble on my ad...thinking about putting another one out. 150-200 miles is about my limit of travel these days...for an exceptional deal I'd probably travel a bit further. It's just a desert up here in regards to rock saws and such. Yep, the saw in B'ham sold a week or two ago, supposedly the day before I called ...but the guy at the flea market was nice enough to tell me that he still had the blades for sale. <sigh> Sounds like the buyer did alright on his end if he talked the seller into keeping the blades and maybe knocking some off the price.
|
|
Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
|
Post by Intheswamp on Nov 8, 2015 19:13:15 GMT -5
Bob, I guess my granddaughters gave me away, eh?
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Nov 8, 2015 20:12:16 GMT -5
I've had a Lowes Skilsaw for a number of years now- abt 4- I guess. It's sounding a little rough now, but works just fine. I have been using Dewalt porcelain blades on it from Amazon.
|
|
|
Post by mohs on Nov 8, 2015 20:27:06 GMT -5
man go to a pawn shops you may not have many in your area but its worth the drive to town
you can find Workforces for 50 bucks maybe less w/ blades still mounted
my Workforce is still spinning after 6 yeas It been sitting outside all that time wind rain & shine
|
|
barclay
has rocks in the head
Lowly Padawan of rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 510
|
Post by barclay on Nov 8, 2015 22:33:05 GMT -5
I have had a 10" Harbor Freight brick saw that I have slabbed with for a number of years. You should be able to pick one up for $250 - $300 which is not that much more that a good quality tile saw.
|
|
Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
|
Post by Intheswamp on Nov 8, 2015 22:48:09 GMT -5
Thanks for the info rockjunquie! I've been looking at that one, along with it's big brother model #3550-01 . The big-brother has what they call "Hydrolock Water Containment System"...from the reviews people say that it does help keep down the spray and mess, now whether it does or doesn't is another thing. If I recall the Skil's water reservoir is built into the frame so that you basically have to turn the saw upside down to empty the water... If the "Hydrolock" really works, over a period of time it would be worth the ~$35 extra. Still trying to decide... Thanks again for the reply, rockjunquie!
|
|
Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
|
Post by Intheswamp on Nov 8, 2015 23:37:28 GMT -5
Ed, thanks for the timely reminder about pawn shops. Me and the wife will be in Montgomery tomorrow and I've scouted out a couple of pawn shops on our route...now to convince my wife to let me stop at them. I always say "Tow Eds are better than one!!!"<grin> barclay, that 10" HF saw would be nice. It would handle most anything I could come up with around here. I haven't ruled it out, but not in either...a little bit more than I want to spend right now. Nice saw.
|
|
|
Post by broseph82 on Nov 9, 2015 1:44:16 GMT -5
|
|
Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
|
Post by Intheswamp on Nov 9, 2015 6:31:13 GMT -5
Yep, that's the one me and captbob was talking about. Already sold, seller (some flea market) just hasn't taken the ad down.
|
|
Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
|
Post by Intheswamp on Nov 10, 2015 0:24:49 GMT -5
Sheese... I went to four pawn shops in Montgomery today. Three of them (all Qwik Pawn shops) had the low-end saws...one had a WF, one a QEP, one of them a WF and a no-name red saw, and one had a bridge-type saw on a stand. All the saws at the Qwik Pawn's were $69.96+tax, so around $77 for used saws, one of which the blade scrubbed when turned. The brige-type on a stand was $199. These prices kind of shocked me...I can buy a new QEP off of Amazon for $66 (I might end up doing this). First, though, I'll check a few of the small town shops down my way (usually one per town) and see if anything is up. I'm in no hurry right now, so I'll take my time.
|
|
|
Post by johnjsgems on Nov 10, 2015 10:57:19 GMT -5
I see the 7" QEP and Workforce saws regularly at yard sales. People buy them for a bathroom tile project then sell them. I know where you can buy lapidary 7" blades when you are ready.
|
|
|
Post by captbob on Nov 10, 2015 10:59:12 GMT -5
Have you asked Tony if he has any small stand alone saws? Someone here has to have one they would part with.
|
|
|
Post by mohs on Nov 11, 2015 18:35:29 GMT -5
That is a bummer about the pawn although a lightly used Workforce for even 70 bucks may not be a bad deal
|
|
Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
|
Post by Intheswamp on Nov 11, 2015 23:09:45 GMT -5
John, I'll holler at you when/if I find a saw about the lapidary blades. Bob, I don't know Tony...give me a shove in his direction... Ed, I'd probably pay 70 bucks for a nice WF. There is one down south of me listed on Craigslist, I think they're asking $65 for it but might take an offer by now...it'd still be a 120 mile roundtrip ride for me so I'd probably do just as well to pick up something at Lowe's or Home Depot. I'd really like to find a nice small rock saw with maybe a wheel on it...the Rock Rascal combinaiton would work well....I'd like to be able to cut stones a little larger than what most tile saws will cut, but a tile saw is probably all I need, and I can roll the larger rocks. I keep hoping the lady Jimi got his tumbler from has a cousin down my way that has a saw she wants to get rid of. I'll try to be patient and wait for a good deal on something.
|
|
|
Post by captbob on Nov 12, 2015 0:09:07 GMT -5
catmandeweHas more rocks than Mother Nature and is always buying lapidary estates. If he doesn't have what you are looking for this week, he may have it by next week! Worth asking.
|
|
|
Post by captbob on Nov 12, 2015 0:13:35 GMT -5
I'll try to be patient and wait for a good deal on something. I find it amazing what falls in my lap when I'm not looking. Waiting for something to pop up local would save on shipping. If you feel the need for sooner rather than later, get a cheap (pawn shop) tile saw and use it until you find something better. Then sell the tile saw on craigslist!
|
|
Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
|
Post by Intheswamp on Nov 12, 2015 14:09:10 GMT -5
Well, I stumbled upon this tile saw at Northern Tool. It appears to have a whopping 1.4" cutting depth which surpasses (I think) any of the other saws' in this range. But, it has a lighter motor than the other saws drawing 3.75 amps whereas the QEP draws 4.8 amps and the two skils draw 4.2 and 5.0 amps. I'm afraid the Northern Tool saw might be rather anemic. Other than the deeper cutting it has an all-metal frame and an open bottom which "looks" like would be easy to raise for a larger 8" blade (with some throat enlarging, of course). I can get this one cheaper than any that I've ran across...but, that light motor... ? www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200644683_200644683ETA: I just looked and found a low-end QEP that shows 3.8amps so the NT saw matches up with the low-end QEP....
|
|
Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
|
Post by Intheswamp on Nov 12, 2015 14:09:39 GMT -5
...and, Bob, thanks for the contact info on Tony!
|
|