Welcome to the RTH Forum!

I fixed the images so they can be viewed now fyi*

Thank you! I'm beyond excited as I've just been dreaming about being able to make things and really let a lot of the material I've collected shine. I've just had such a strong insatiable desire to do lapidary work, to shape, polish, and make beautiful things with my already beautiful material. The only thing that has stopped me for so long is money, but my patience to diligently check the markets of what people were selling has finally paid off and I've been able to get some nice equipment for really good prices. I also recently got a 6inch rock rascal model J for $140 bucks that was in great condition with a newer motor and runs perfect. I also got a barely used dura-bull flat lap for $300 with a full set of new discs. I eventually want to get a slab saw, but I think for now I have a decent beginner set up I'm extremely happy with. 

as far as the wheels, thanks for the heads up on those important precautions to take. They do appear to be silicon carbide wheels, however, I inspected and I don't see any cracks or fracturing. The wheels themselves seem to be in decent condition, and two of them seem barely used and the owner said their brother recently installed two new wheels. Why don't people use SIC wheels much anymore? Are they just harder to upkeep? Are there any advantages to them over other options that would make it worth it to stick with the current set up, or should I just immediately seek to change them out with something else? Looking at the photos now, do you think the expanding rubber wheels would work? 

Also, thanks for the info regarding RPM. I haven't measured the pulleys yet, but the motor speed is 1725. I have to read a bit more up on how to properly figure the pulleys as I'm a little confused as to not just what size represents which rpm, but also, how to properly line up the belt on the pulleys on the motor in conjunction with the pulleys on the arbor. As I think I mentioned, the motor is on a hinge and tilts up and forward allowing me to easily readjust the belt on the fly without taking anything apart. I thought this was a really nice touch I haven't seen before. I have no idea whether this was an original feature with this unit, or if this was modded in later by a previous owner. 

Thanks!

Thanks. I've used that method in the past with quartz from other localities. Sawing can be a bit of a task though. Even when carefully marked, the halves usually need some careful post-sawing adjusting to get the star precisely centered.

Thanks for pointing out the pictures not working. My phone uploaded them as some weird format so I converted to jpeg and they uploaded fine this time. The one you linked to is exactly the same one I have! only difference is mine must have been modded later to have the motor on a hinge allowing you to tilt up and forward the motor and readjust the belt on the pulleys a lot more easily. But yeah, It seems like a really solid well built machine despite being seemingly unknown. The only thing I was able to find on it thanks to someone else finding it on reddit is this ad in a magazine on page four. I didn't expect this machine to be 1950's old! It seems so well kept up for how old it is. I'm guessing the previous owner or someone down the line restored it. The parts aren't rusty at all and the bearing and arbor as a whole seem like they are in good condition and functioning smoothly. Do you have any recommendations for changing out the wheels? What did you end up putting on yours? What kind do you think would work well on this? What grits should I have? Or should I stick with the silicon carbide wheels it already has on it? Two of the wheels are still pretty new and haven't had much use since being installed the person I bought it from said and the others seem to be holding up well with no fracturing. Is there any advantage to these kind of wheels over say expanded rubber wheels? 

Thanks!

I have the rebel and also have Harbor Freight and Highland Park double 3 pounders. I have had no issues with either one; I like the Highland Park more for no real reason. We still use both of them for coarse on smaller or "special" batches and finish everything in a vibe. If I used a rotary for later steps it'd be in the smaller ones. I've actually only done coarse in the Rebel. Still wind up waiting for enough to finish.