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Post by Starguy on Oct 27, 2022 16:31:03 GMT -5
Here is my haul of slabs from the summer. There are some small hand pushed slabs and pieces that have already gone into the tumbler. These were all cut on the 16” Covington combination saw. I haven’t always been super happy with this saw but it performed well this year. I’m thinking about draining and cleaning it for the winter. I think I’ll have enough cabbing material for the colder months. The slabs average 13/64” thick.  |
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Post by drocknut on Oct 27, 2022 17:27:37 GMT -5
I see yummy Bruneau and Bots
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 27, 2022 20:09:03 GMT -5
I'm thinking you need to get that replacement 80 grit wheel and park your tail in the cabbing chair for awhile!  |
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Post by Starguy on Oct 27, 2022 20:22:55 GMT -5
I'm thinking you need to get that replacement 80 grit wheel and park your tail in the cabbing chair for awhile! LOL Jason. I think you’re right. I can’t decide on the #80 sintered or the much more expensive #60/70 sintered. I sold some stuff so I have the money set aside. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 27, 2022 20:43:08 GMT -5
I'm thinking you need to get that replacement 80 grit wheel and park your tail in the cabbing chair for awhile! LOL Jason. I think you’re right. I can’t decide on the #80 sintered or the much more expensive #60/70 sintered. I sold some stuff so I have the money set aside. Between those two options, personally I'd go with the 80. I would think the 60/70 would remove material in a "chunky" way compared to the 80 grit. Chunky on a microscopic level. I just think it would damage the surface and have to the potential for more subsurface fracturing if it's that gritty... |
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Post by Starguy on Oct 27, 2022 21:04:15 GMT -5
jasoninsd . Thanks my friend. I’ve thought of that too. It’s usually recommended to go one grit coarser for sintered over electroplated, but those big #60 diamonds would have some impact, especially on an 8” wheel. Since I probably won’t live long enough to wear either out, I appreciate the input. I’ve been watching the big diamonds in my sintered 16” saw blade. It’s funny that they push their way through the steel. With the 10x loupe you can see grooves behind the diamond particles. The steel holds onto them admirably well. When I peen the blade, it closes up the channels behind the diamonds and exposes more diamond. It doesn’t take long for the grooves to reappear. Have you peined your saw blade? The cutting improvement is remarkable. Some of my unhappiest moments have been trying to break in a new coarse grinding wheel.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Oct 27, 2022 21:12:58 GMT -5
jasoninsd . Thanks my friend. I’ve thought of that too. It’s usually recommended to go one grit coarser for sintered over electroplated, but those big #60 diamonds would have some impact, especially on an 8” wheel. Since I probably won’t live long enough to wear either out, I appreciate the input. I’ve been watching the big diamonds in my sintered 16” saw blade. It’s funny that they push their way through the steel. With the 10x loupe you can see grooves behind the diamond particles. The steel holds onto them admirably well. When I peen the blade, it closes up the channels behind the diamonds and exposes more diamond. It doesn’t take long for the grooves to reappear. Have you peined your saw blade? The cutting improvement is remarkable. Some of my unhappiest moments have been trying to break in a new coarse grinding wheel. I've always heard that about the sintered wheels, too. I think I'd be nervous about a 60 grit sintered, to tell you the truth. It sure would make short work of those incredibly hard Bruneaus, though.  |
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 27, 2022 21:17:16 GMT -5
jasoninsd . Thanks my friend. I’ve thought of that too. It’s usually recommended to go one grit coarser for sintered over electroplated, but those big #60 diamonds would have some impact, especially on an 8” wheel. Since I probably won’t live long enough to wear either out, I appreciate the input. I’ve been watching the big diamonds in my sintered 16” saw blade. It’s funny that they push their way through the steel. With the 10x loupe you can see grooves behind the diamond particles. The steel holds onto them admirably well. When I peen the blade, it closes up the channels behind the diamonds and exposes more diamond. It doesn’t take long for the grooves to reappear. Have you peined your saw blade? The cutting improvement is remarkable. Some of my unhappiest moments have been trying to break in a new coarse grinding wheel. I haven't peened my blades...I haven't needed to. Since it's a hand fed drop saw I do NOT cut slowly...which means my blades do not last. Admittedly, I do cut considerably faster than I should...and wear my blades out quicker than they should. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2022 21:19:46 GMT -5
StarguyThose are some real beauties Brent!! Can’t wait to see what you do with them. Thank you again for the peening tip for the blade. It has helped tremendously and its super simple to do! 
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Post by Starguy on Oct 27, 2022 21:26:58 GMT -5
jasoninsd . Thanks my friend. I’ve thought of that too. It’s usually recommended to go one grit coarser for sintered over electroplated, but those big #60 diamonds would have some impact, especially on an 8” wheel. Since I probably won’t live long enough to wear either out, I appreciate the input. I’ve been watching the big diamonds in my sintered 16” saw blade. It’s funny that they push their way through the steel. With the 10x loupe you can see grooves behind the diamond particles. The steel holds onto them admirably well. When I peen the blade, it closes up the channels behind the diamonds and exposes more diamond. It doesn’t take long for the grooves to reappear. Have you peined your saw blade? The cutting improvement is remarkable. Some of my unhappiest moments have been trying to break in a new coarse grinding wheel. I've always heard that about the sintered wheels, too. I think I'd be nervous about a 60 grit sintered, to tell you the truth. It sure would make short work of those incredibly hard Bruneaus, though. Robin, I love it that you know about Bruneau. Not many people know how tough that stuff is to saw or grind. Anytime I want to saw Bruneau, I do everything possible to make sure the saw is set up for cutting tough material. Grinding is slow too but it takes as good a polish as anything I’ve seen. I bought a few nice pieces in Quartzite in the mid 80s. It’s much harder to find and more expensive now. |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Oct 27, 2022 21:40:19 GMT -5
I've always heard that about the sintered wheels, too. I think I'd be nervous about a 60 grit sintered, to tell you the truth. It sure would make short work of those incredibly hard Bruneaus, though. Robin, I love it that you know about Bruneau. Not many people know how tough that stuff is to saw or grind. Anytime I want to saw Bruneau, I do everything possible to make sure the saw is set up for cutting tough material. Grinding is slow too but it takes as good a polish as anything I’ve seen. I bought a few nice pieces in Quartzite in the mid 80s. It’s much harder to find and more expensive now. The first time I ever tried to cut a Bruneau, I thought I'd never get it done. It took me forever! Bruneau is up there with all of the porcelain jaspers in terms of polish, but I don't think any I've cut was as tough. |
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Post by Starguy on Oct 27, 2022 21:40:21 GMT -5
jasoninsd . Thanks my friend. I’ve thought of that too. It’s usually recommended to go one grit coarser for sintered over electroplated, but those big #60 diamonds would have some impact, especially on an 8” wheel. Since I probably won’t live long enough to wear either out, I appreciate the input. I’ve been watching the big diamonds in my sintered 16” saw blade. It’s funny that they push their way through the steel. With the 10x loupe you can see grooves behind the diamond particles. The steel holds onto them admirably well. When I peen the blade, it closes up the channels behind the diamonds and exposes more diamond. It doesn’t take long for the grooves to reappear. Have you peined your saw blade? The cutting improvement is remarkable. Some of my unhappiest moments have been trying to break in a new coarse grinding wheel. I haven't peened my blades...I haven't needed to. Since it's a hand fed drop saw I do NOT cut slowly...which means my blades do not last. Admittedly, I do cut considerably faster than I should...and wear my blades out quicker than they should. I hear you. I’ve thumb pushed my share. Peining the blade will put a smile on your face. I need to set up the water saw again. I have a bunch of Alimajos that need to be cut. The wife wants me to cut some bottles too so she can etch them. I purchased some blacksmithing stuff lately. I don’t need another hobby but what the heck. You only live once. |
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Post by Starguy on Oct 27, 2022 21:59:39 GMT -5
Robin, I love it that you know about Bruneau. Not many people know how tough that stuff is to saw or grind. Anytime I want to saw Bruneau, I do everything possible to make sure the saw is set up for cutting tough material. Grinding is slow too but it takes as good a polish as anything I’ve seen. I bought a few nice pieces in Quartzite in the mid 80s. It’s much harder to find and more expensive now. The first time I ever tried to cut a Bruneau, I thought I'd never get it done. It took me forever! Bruneau is up there with all of the porcelain jaspers in terms of polish, but I don't think any I've cut was as tough. I’m guessing that you were happy with the results. They polish really nicely, and I’m thinking you shoot for a nice polish. I know you guys polish small cabs too. I have a bunch of high quality Idaho star garnet. I can sell, trade or just send you some. If you have anything to trade, let me know. |
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Post by Starguy on Oct 27, 2022 22:02:23 GMT -5
hummingbirdstones. That first picture is like 20 pounds of slabs. I can trade those too.
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 27, 2022 22:09:37 GMT -5
I haven't peened my blades...I haven't needed to. Since it's a hand fed drop saw I do NOT cut slowly...which means my blades do not last. Admittedly, I do cut considerably faster than I should...and wear my blades out quicker than they should. I hear you. I’ve thumb pushed my share. Peining the blade will put a smile on your face. I need to set up the water saw again. I have a bunch of Alimajos that need to be cut. The wife wants me to cut some bottles too so she can etch them. I purchased some blacksmithing stuff lately. I don’t need another hobby but what the heck. You only live once.That's what I tell my wife! She says, "Yeah...but it's the WAY you're living that's the problem!". LOL Those Alimajo Agates should be a nice little surprise (hopefully!) like Botswana Agates! Make sure your thumbs are ready to go before you start those! That's really awesome your planning on doing some blacksmithing! Maybe someday...but for now, I'm not adding another log to the fire...so to speak. |
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Post by Starguy on Oct 27, 2022 22:24:11 GMT -5
jasoninsd . I got an 88 lb anvil ordered. Free shipping, smile. I’ll let you know how this goes. Keep me focused on rocks. I don’t need other hobbies.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Oct 27, 2022 22:39:49 GMT -5
jasoninsd . I got an 88 lb anvil ordered. Free shipping, smile. I’ll let you know how this goes. Keep me focused on rocks. I don’t need other hobbies. Where did you order the anvil from? I'm always on the lookout at yard, estate sales and auctions for a used anvil. They're expensive and people don't like to let them go, either. We have a nice stash of Bruneau that we acquired from a friend who was selling all his rocks and equipment. He has macular degeneration.  He dug it himself way back. It's one of those stones I like to hoard because you can't dig it anymore. I'm kind of a pack rat like that with old stock stuff you can't get anymore. |
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Post by Starguy on Oct 27, 2022 23:06:10 GMT -5
hummingbirdstones . It’s an 88# Chinese Vevor anvil. $210. On eBay. I’m leaning toward a new forging Damascus hobby. I’ve got pretty good background in cutting Bruneau. They’re a PITA to saw. I can help you turn out a bunch of nice slabs if you have good material. Show pictures and we can talk. Vince can cut them too. Tell him to contact me. Bruneau is a bitch to saw. Sorry about the French It’s funny. One of my bucket list items was to saw all of my Bruneau. I’m getting close. . Now I’m sawing up 4 square inch square slabs.
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He dug it himself way back. It's one of those stones I like to hoard because you can't dig it anymore. I'm kind of a pack rat like that with old stock stuff you can't get anymore.
