Zoran
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2005
Posts: 880
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Post by Zoran on Nov 20, 2006 18:45:28 GMT -5
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Zoran
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2005
Posts: 880
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Post by Zoran on Dec 3, 2006 8:26:29 GMT -5
Since I was very tired last night, I am in owe to you total cost specification for my cabbing machine. Here they are: Bearings 5$ Shaft 15$ “Inox” (stainless metal alloy) + bending and welding 40$ aluminium sheet 5$ + some minor costs for: paint, screws, plastic tubes and valves (aquarium type) So it makes around 60-70$ for arbor, and of course much of your time. To make my grinder/sender work I also bought: 1 ½” metal diamond wheel (63$ - jadecarver.com/DiamondTools.htm)1 ½” expandable drum (40.75$ - from Eloxite – www.creditcardcastle.com/cgi-bin/template.cgi ) 1 ½” diamond belts (38$ each – from Daniel Lopacki – lopacki.com/belts/) (I bought 220, 600 and 1200 grit belts) for 3000, 14000 and polish I use diamond paste and cerium polish powder on vertical lap. But when I get some money I might buy some more belts (3000, 14000 and even maybe 50000 – they cost the same at Daniel Lopacki – 38$ each). Of course I forgot to mention new 100$ motor. You don’t need to buy new one if you have spare one (washing machine motor for example). I don’t regret 100$. This one is so quiet. That makes total costs for my cabbing machine around 284$ – 70$ (arbor) + 114$ (diamond wheel + expandable drum plus diamond belts) + 100$ motor. If you add 3000, 14000 and 50000 diamond belts total costs are going to be 114$ higher. Not bad comparing to costs of one Diamond pacific cabber. I didn’t count shipping costs because they are much higher in my case, not to mention customs. If you are buying from USA I think that they are going to be much less then 100$. Of course total cost could be much less if I chose to use SiC wheels and belts. But diamond really makes the significant difference (yes I couldn’t resist – I did make a cab last night – oh, how much easier it is to make one). It took me much longer, but I think that one arbor like this could be done for a weak, even less (depend on amount of your spare time). And, of course, if I could make it, anybody can.
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Zoran
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2005
Posts: 880
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Post by Zoran on Dec 2, 2006 17:51:02 GMT -5
Grinder/sender is finally finished. There are some small adjustments left undone, but here it is. And how quiet it is. Comparing to my earlier grinder this one is music to my ears. I can even listen to the music while working on it. How nice. And, as you can see, I mounted arbor on a heavy steel plate. I was working all day to finish my first grinder, and now I am dead tired and since here in Serbia is midnight now, I am going to well deserved sleeep. Seee yaaa tomoooorrow. Thank for looking. Zocky
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Zoran
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2005
Posts: 880
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Post by Zoran on Nov 25, 2006 3:48:01 GMT -5
Thank you, connrock, I agree with you. I had same idea. Only problem is that I can't find arbor adapter for left thread of shaft. I have it but I misplaced it somewhere. I am going to find it eventually. I plan to use that wheel for 14K diamond paste. Eventually.
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Zoran
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2005
Posts: 880
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Post by Zoran on Nov 23, 2006 20:03:16 GMT -5
By the way, Doc, I dont believe that you are actualy building airoplane. You are going to fly to the Moon, next. Am I right. you are planing to make a rocket, also?
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Zoran
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2005
Posts: 880
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Post by Zoran on Nov 23, 2006 19:42:54 GMT -5
I wish you were my neighbor, to. It would be great pleasure for me to be of any help to big Doc. I would like all of you rth members to be my neighbors. In some way, you are. Here, in Serbia, there is not so many people that I can talk about things I am up to. But there is RTH forum with all those friendly people. There are numerous very useful threads (many of them are yours, Doc). Some way you are my neighbors, my Internet neighbors. If this forum doesn't exist I would surely feel lonely in my lapidary activities. Thank you all so very much. Doc, let's leave making faceter for future times. I plan to enjoy my grinder and polisher for some time, then try to use your tips concerning soldering and try to make some silver jewelery. I already bought one very useful book about metal-smithing.
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Zoran
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2005
Posts: 880
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Post by Zoran on Nov 23, 2006 19:02:16 GMT -5
As Stoner said, half the fun is making your own equipment (although, I miss the other part - making some cabochons). So I decided to make separate polisher also. After Doc agreed with the idea, I just couldn't do otherwise. I made my new polisher from some old used stuffs: broken bench grinder (dead motor), old washing machine motor, old pulley, old belt, aluminum plates leftovers from building grinder, pieces of wood and plastic box of candies. So it cost me virtually nothing. The main problem was how to reduce big rpm of driving motor (2900rpm). I found some old pulley which could reduce rpm at 1450, but arbor whole wasn't right. Then I remembered spare bushing that Daniel Lopacky kindly sent me with grinding wheels - and it fitted just right (thank you Daniel). And voila, this is how it looks building something (lapidary polisher) from nothing. I also managed to finish shield from splashing water on arbor bearings and belt for my grinder. I am, also, going to paint it in blue. With all this screws it looks to me like some kind of steam power machine. I like that old fashion look. I bought new motor for grinder and tomorrow I am going to metal turner to make me driving pulley. After that I'm going to be able to assemble and start my machine. I can hardly wait.
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Zoran
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2005
Posts: 880
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Post by Zoran on Nov 18, 2006 20:10:51 GMT -5
Daniel, thank you very much for your offer, but I think that I am not going to need them for now. I'll maybe just change my metal turner. ;D
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Zoran
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2005
Posts: 880
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Post by Zoran on Nov 18, 2006 19:54:26 GMT -5
Thank you guys. As a matter of fact I was just wondering to use some heavy metal plate for base or to use only wooden plate. OK, you really convinced me. Those bearings carriers are actually very heavy. They are made of steel and weigh at least 6 lbs each. But I think that some more weight are going to be helpful. Dan, I have to disappoint you. That is only linoleum (vinyl flooring) that L used to cover bench top plate made of hickory (it is not parquet). Doc, I don't need to make polishing heads, I already have them. That guy just didn't succeed to make good arbor adapter. Just know I am considering to give up the idea to attach polishing head to grinder setup. I am thinking about making separate polishing machine with maybe two polishing heads. I do have spare washing machine motor and broken bench grinder for an arbor.
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Zoran
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2005
Posts: 880
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Post by Zoran on Nov 17, 2006 20:44:32 GMT -5
By the way. I am back.
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Zoran
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2005
Posts: 880
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Post by Zoran on Nov 17, 2006 20:41:55 GMT -5
Since I had great problems getting one Lortone Beaver arbor (too high shipping costs, too long period of waiting etc.) I took Doc's advice: "Why not make your own? All it is is an arbor with a means to wet.". So I started making one. I am not over yet but it really seems that I am going to succeed. First blueprints. I went with my plans to metal turner's workshop. I am pretty satisfied so far with results of his work, but he didn't managed to make adapter for polishing head. I also went with my blueprints to one workshop where my tin water pans were bended and welded. I bought some aluminium sheet for water shield for arbor bearings and belt but I cut it and bend it myself. I also realized that I don't have suitable and sturdy work bench where I could place my arbor and decided to make that to. Here are the results so far. Arbor Bearings carriers Splash guard/water pan Work bench in progress Work bench finished Arbor set up not finished yet. Close up Splash guard for bearings and belt Ed, please don't laugh too much to my carpentry skills. This is my first woodworking project ever. Thanks for looking. Zocky
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Zoran
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2005
Posts: 880
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Post by Zoran on Oct 15, 2006 6:59:36 GMT -5
Beautiful setup. You sure had great time. My favorite customer are kids also.
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Zoran
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2005
Posts: 880
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Post by Zoran on Sept 12, 2006 4:41:59 GMT -5
Rich, I can not find that formersovietunionebay.com. What is it, some e-bay seller's shop?
I think that American Lapidary Wholesalers (amlap) could be the good answer. For the same order/shipment, that Kinsley North wanted to charge me 340.5$, they wanted 271$. Not cheep but much more reasonable. Amlaps shipping costs were 78$, and no wire transfer fee. Comparing to that French web site - for their 292$ worth Lortone beaver I get, from Amlap - Lortone beaver, 1200grit diamond belt and one small book, and I am still 21$ good. And it is 292$ French beaver without shipping costs. Steve, I don't know about shipping cost from Canada. I think that they have a bit higher prices on lapidary equipment. Not as much as French, though. But I think that Doc had good point. The best way is to make your own lapidary equipment. You just need to have some free time, which I don't have right now.
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Zoran
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2005
Posts: 880
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Post by Zoran on Sept 11, 2006 18:00:25 GMT -5
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Zoran
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2005
Posts: 880
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Post by Zoran on Sept 9, 2006 18:54:28 GMT -5
Thank you Doc. I was planning to do that at first, but since I am short with spare time I figured 150$ is not that too expensive, and I will earn that money for the time that I would spend making my own arbor. Now, I must reconsider.
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Zoran
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2005
Posts: 880
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Post by Zoran on Sept 9, 2006 18:33:03 GMT -5
And no wire transfer fee.
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Zoran
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2005
Posts: 880
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Post by Zoran on Sept 9, 2006 18:31:38 GMT -5
I forgot to tell you that that high shipping cost are only because Serbia isn't in their web site destination country list. If you ship same package to Bulgaria (listed as destination country), which is neighboring country to Serbia, just i bit more distant to USA then Serbia, shipping cost are only 70$.
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Zoran
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2005
Posts: 880
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Post by Zoran on Sept 9, 2006 18:22:13 GMT -5
If you are buying 6" 2wheel Lortone Beaver arbor and you are considering to buy it from Kingsley North web site, be careful. When they calculate shipping costs that arbor weights same as 8" wheel arbor - 22 lbs. According to their printed catalog Lortone beaver 6" 2 wheel arbor weights only 15 lbs. I e-mailed them, but they didn't corrected it, yet. Buy the way, they calculated me 120$ shipping costs for one Lortone Beaver 2wheel 6" arbor, one diamond belt and one small ($5) book plus 30$ for wire transfer fee.
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Zoran
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2005
Posts: 880
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Post by Zoran on Sept 2, 2006 16:52:43 GMT -5
I saw jrtrio logged a couple of times, but he didn't post anyhing. Don't know why?
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Zoran
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2005
Posts: 880
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Post by Zoran on Sept 2, 2006 3:41:18 GMT -5
I wouldn't complain. I wish I had more money to buy more lapis at Budapest rock fair. MY thought - new order of howlite for daughters, from some other seller.
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