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Post by Peruano on Oct 2, 2023 16:12:29 GMT -5
I've always stubbed rocks on wood to mount in the vice when slabbing, but today I had several pop off the mount. The problem was due to agates that had been face polished by a foreign vendor and they may have been treated with paraffin or something else to make them shiney. So I reached for my largely unused slab grabber and was greatly impressed. It was fast to mount and nothing slipped. I probably mounted a dozen stones in one session.they were small and each only produced two to four slabs. www.flickr.com/gp/186066986@N08/jKq1JW31d7I have one small one made by star diamond and a larger one made in a minn. Workshop they are similar in design. Another option for those tricky rock cutting challenges. |
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Post by Starguy on Oct 2, 2023 19:46:30 GMT -5
I agree, slab grabbers are great. I still usually end up with one wedge shaped slab but you can usually get the entire nodule slabbed up.
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rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
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Post by rocknewb101 on Oct 3, 2023 12:28:04 GMT -5
Oh cool!! I need a slab grabber for my saw - although because mine is a drop saw my regular vice is in the same direction as your slab grabber. I have several rocks that have the wedge look, but my vice won't hold them very well. Hubby is looking at fabbing something that can hold these so we can get good cuts out of them. I'll show him this and see if something similar could work for us. Thanks for posting!
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Post by Peruano on Oct 3, 2023 13:19:51 GMT -5
What is unique about the slab grabber type of mount is the triangular slots that are able to securely wedge the often thinned and triangular edge of a nodule or sloping rock that has a somewhat flat face. The standard vice doesn't have that slot for the rock edge to fit into. There is another version which involves machine screws that have sloping heads that accomplish the same thing. Here is another shot of the one I'm using.  20231002_130132 by Thomas Fritts, on Flickr |
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realrockhound
Cave Dweller 
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
Posts: 4,495
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Post by realrockhound on Oct 3, 2023 13:46:29 GMT -5
I have one. I love/hate it. As previously mentioned, it’s great if you have a flat edge for it to bite. But I’ve also experienced it getting too much vibration from the saw, then coming loose. I’ve determined it’s due to the uneven placement of pressure when you tighten down the back wing nut. I’ve found I can mitigate that problem by placing an equal height block of wood to the height of the slab being cut. Then fasten the top plate down evenly, if that makes sense?
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Post by parfive on Oct 3, 2023 15:01:05 GMT -5
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Post by parfive on Oct 3, 2023 15:26:58 GMT -5
rocknewb101 Keep some wedges handy for that drop saw as well. The problem – only two points of contact  Couple of wedges to help hold and orient the rock  Four points of contact does the trick. Just make sure it’s solid before ignition. 
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Post by oregon on Oct 3, 2023 15:47:04 GMT -5
I have one. I love/hate it. As previously mentioned, it’s great if you have a flat edge for it to bite. But I’ve also experienced it getting too much vibration from the saw, then coming loose. I’ve determined it’s due to the uneven placement of pressure when you tighten down the back wing nut. I’ve found I can mitigate that problem by placing an equal height block of wood to the height of the slab being cut. Then fasten the top plate down evenly, if that makes sense?
Do you have Nuts under the top plate? I usually bring the nut under the top plate up on the rod far from the rock so the plates are close to parallel, then tighten down the front top wing nut followed by the back. Seems like you want to keep the grabber faces parallel so the cut rock face has a flat place to rest. Saves you from having a bunch of wood blocks around...
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realrockhound
Cave Dweller
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
Posts: 4,495
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Post by realrockhound on Oct 3, 2023 15:56:49 GMT -5
I have one. I love/hate it. As previously mentioned, it’s great if you have a flat edge for it to bite. But I’ve also experienced it getting too much vibration from the saw, then coming loose. I’ve determined it’s due to the uneven placement of pressure when you tighten down the back wing nut. I’ve found I can mitigate that problem by placing an equal height block of wood to the height of the slab being cut. Then fasten the top plate down evenly, if that makes sense?
Do you have Nuts under the top plate? I usually bring the nut under the top plate up on the rod far from the rock so the plates are close to parallel, then tighten down the front top wing nut followed by the back. Seems like you want to keep the grabber faces parallel so the cut rock face has a flat place to rest. Saves you from having a bunch of wood blocks around...
I do. I don’t use that saw much, as it’s only a 10-inch. But it’s just an annoying lil contraption to use. Maybe I need to mess around with it more. |
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Post by Rockoonz on Oct 4, 2023 1:29:38 GMT -5
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Post by Peruano on Oct 4, 2023 6:09:01 GMT -5
It might be easy to improvise such a mod to a vice like the standard HP setup. I like the fact that it grabs horizontally and not vertically. I can envision a lot of pressure and distortion on those holes if used often and hard.
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rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
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Post by rocknewb101 on Oct 4, 2023 7:17:41 GMT -5
rocknewb101 Keep some wedges handy for that drop saw as well. The problem – only two points of contact Couple of wedges to help hold and orient the rock Four points of contact does the trick. Just make sure it’s solid before ignition. - thank you! Ironically hubby was talking about using wedges helping to secure the rock. I'll have to pick some up. He has one of his welders working on a 'side job' to make us a slab grabber. I'll be curious to see what he comes up with. We learned too that the drop saw can also be used as a trim saw - anyone have experience with that? The blade is so much bigger than my little trim saw that I wondered if it would cause chipping with trimming. |
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Post by Peruano on Oct 4, 2023 7:38:15 GMT -5
Have someone handy with a table saw, cut a whole bunch (carefully of course) of hardwood wedges to keep at hand. You will soon learn what sizes and shapes are most useful but sharp and not to thick are probably good candidates.
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Post by HankRocks on Oct 4, 2023 8:38:47 GMT -5
Have someone handy with a table saw, cut a whole bunch (carefully of course) of hardwood wedges to keep at hand. You will soon learn what sizes and shapes are most useful but sharp and not to thick are probably good candidates. I made a set of wedges, different angles. They work well and for a couple selected cuts on the 24 inch saw I have use 4 wedges. I did find out rather quickly that I need a selection of different wedge lengths as some setup does not have space for longer wedges. If I am making a cut, I use a small hammer to tap the wedges to make sure they are still gripping firmly. Not had good luck with the slab grabber as I had a couple of rocks releasing. Do not trust them and have moved to the gluing to wood method. It has worked well for me. |
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Post by parfive on Oct 4, 2023 12:53:46 GMT -5
We learned too that the drop saw can also be used as a trim saw - anyone have experience with that? The blade is so much bigger than my little trim saw that I wondered if it would cause chipping with trimming. Cancel that idea . . . oil all over your hands and your face too close to any spray. In those wedge pics above, you’ll see I removed the trim plate and replaced it with ½“ hardware cloth. Cushions the cuts a bit and the oil drains right away. |
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rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
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Post by rocknewb101 on Oct 4, 2023 13:26:57 GMT -5
We learned too that the drop saw can also be used as a trim saw - anyone have experience with that? The blade is so much bigger than my little trim saw that I wondered if it would cause chipping with trimming. Cancel that idea . . . oil all over your hands and your face too close to any spray. In those wedge pics above, you’ll see I removed the trim plate and replaced it with ½“ hardware cloth. Cushions the cuts a bit and the oil drains right away. Oh! I didn't consider that! I always wear my goggles and respirator but also know the saw sprays and don't want that all over my gear if I can help it - not too fussed about my hands since it's just mineral oil, but still would make it hard to hold the slab. I noticed the mesh-like bottom you had. I didn't know about the hardware cloth...interesting. Thanks for your input!! |
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