ltphala
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2023
Posts: 8
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Post by ltphala on Jun 29, 2023 11:55:18 GMT -5
Hello, I was about to purchase a 14 inch highland park high tone saw, and thought of asking: it seems that the machine has a fixed automatic feeding rate, and I heard that for hard stone such as agate, it is better to lower the feeding rate to protect the blade. Does any one have any experience with the machine to cut agate? How many hours of use before replacing the blade if cutting agate? And, any advice of an economical blade?
I recently bought lots of agate rough and now have a headache on how to cut them. I have a toy Hi-tech 6 in trim saw, and I tried to cut agate once, it was a pain of ass..... mission impossible.....
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Post by stardiamond on Jun 29, 2023 12:30:28 GMT -5
I have/had two slab saws, a Covington 16 inch combo and a 10 inch HP. The Covington had a clutch system that would cut fast through softer material and slow down to clear harder material. My HP is fixed rate feed.
The Covington could like a bat out of hell. The HP is much slower and should do fine on harder material. I'm retiring my Covington and have an HP 14 waiting to be set up.
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ltphala
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2023
Posts: 8
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Post by ltphala on Jun 29, 2023 12:51:44 GMT -5
oh cool, I am glad to learn that HP 14 cuts slow. Actually I just reserved the machine today (it is backordered) and I hope to get it in August. I have bought too many rough agates, and they all piled up in my backyard, and I can't cut them without a good saw.
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stefan
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Jun 30, 2023 16:18:02 GMT -5
The 14 inch cuts like a dream and I'm even pleased with the greenline blade. If they are high value agates you will want something thinner but for run of the mill stuff it is a very functional blade. My saw cuts mostly agates, jaspers and cherts with ease. I have 100's of cuts with no mechanical issues. I have had a few operator errors (loose rocks in the vise) but mechanically this is a well built and very smooth running saw.
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ltphala
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2023
Posts: 8
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Post by ltphala on Jul 1, 2023 14:18:00 GMT -5
Stefan, what type of vise do you use to cut small rocks? I have some good grade Laguna agate, and some of they are small, less than 2 inch. Can the vise hold small stones tightly?
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Jul 1, 2023 16:39:06 GMT -5
Yes I just use the standard vise. 2 inch rocks are no problem, I have done smaller. You need about 3/4" in length to go from the vise to the blade. A lot of people glue the rocks to a block of wood but anything too small to cut goes in the tumbler for me.
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,548
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Post by tkvancil on Jul 2, 2023 16:16:47 GMT -5
ltphala My HT-14 arrived on Thursday and after building a stand I made my first cuts today . Out of the box, one bolt on the motor mount misaligned, a quick easy fix. Also a couple loose fasteners, no big deal as well. My vise had too much play on the rails, I would not have known that except for the fact I had watched HP's videos. Pretty easy to adjust as well. Watching the videos before hand was a huge help for me getting it going. I cut a small piece of Morrocan seam agate first. About 3" x 4" and around 1 inch thick. I chose it to be sure the first piece clamped well. Plan on upgrading the vise some day but this one seems to be serviceable and surprisingly strong. Got a much larger piece of Ohio flint in now. My ear is telling me I still don't have the shut off chain figured out but I'll get it. LOL. I really like this thing, I think you will be happy with yours....
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ltphala
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2023
Posts: 8
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Post by ltphala on Jul 3, 2023 10:29:01 GMT -5
Stefan and tkvancil, Thanks for sharing your experiences. Now I feel more assured with the machine. Mine will arrive in August since it is backordered, now I get more time to watch the video tutorials from their website.
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