|
|
Post by HankRocks on Dec 7, 2023 7:43:39 GMT -5
Does anyone use a Diamond Band Saw to cut out shapes? The YouTube videos I have seen make it appear rather slow cutting. It does seem like it could reduce some of the grinding time on wheels.
Reason I ask is that I seem to have come into ownership of an Inland Saw. Was just wondering if it was something I should keep. I do plan on testing it out soon(whatever that word means!). Have just about reduced my 3 car garage to a few narrow paths where the floor is still visible. Hope to make some progress on that soon(there's that word again!!)and get some more workspace.
Thanks
Henry
|
|
|
|
Post by hummingbirdstones on Dec 7, 2023 22:36:57 GMT -5
I believe Patty liveoak uses one. Maybe she'll chime in. |
|
|
|
Post by Rockoonz on Dec 8, 2023 0:08:08 GMT -5
Many are successful with them but they require a bit more gentle touch than I am willing to provide. Of course if reserved for mohs 5 and lower, no problem at all. If I recall liveoak converted a regular band saw to wet use, so considerably more robust than an Inland. |
|
|
|
Post by liveoak on Dec 8, 2023 7:39:54 GMT -5
I'd give it a try Hank, without a doubt.
The Inland has always looked a little delicate to me, but at free, what do you have to loose.
Bandsaw cutting might seem slightly slower than a trim saw, BUT you wind up with a pre-form cut TO any shape you want, AND you don't waste material. Which, as you suggested, does indeed reduce grinding time later.
Easy to cut a shape out of the center of a slab & retain the rest of the slab for another use.
I think a bandsaw can pay for itself in saving rock/slabs alone.
As Lee pointed out, I converted a larger 9" woodworking bandsaw to using a diamond blade
I will give an added comparison:
My bandsaw is in the need of repair at the moment - the tension unit on the blade has malfunctioned.
SO I had to get out my 7" tile saw for pre-forming. 
I was reminded how much stone is wasted. I wanted a 1" circle pre-form, but of course lost most of the small slabette to cutting.
Normally I would have gotten another cab & maybe even matching earrings out of the same small slab.
Frankly, it surprises me how few people talk about them.
I'd be interested in seeing your review of the Inland, as I said it always seemed small, but I've never used one.
Patty
|
|
|
|
Post by HankRocks on Dec 8, 2023 8:15:08 GMT -5
liveoak Rockoonz Thanks for the input. Will definitely plan on using(testing) soon. I do have some softer slabs, Sodalite, Rhodochrosite, Mahogany and Snowflake Obsidian, etc that I need to cut shapes out of. The other factor may be that in some cases I use slabs that are a bit thinner as my Pendant Stones(not Cabs) do not have the high dome. Maybe I will very gentle with the Montana's and some of the Jaspers. When I get to it I will report the results and maybe even post some pictures. Henry
|
|
rockbrain
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,172
|
Post by rockbrain on Dec 8, 2023 10:05:51 GMT -5
I've followed Patty's lead and bought and set up a bandsaw after reading her post about it. I still use my tile/trim saw some as it is a bit faster and if there isn't much waste I use it. Most of my preforms now are cut on the bandsaw. I've always hated cutting a nice slab in half, and then cutting that half in half again just to get 1 cab out of it! I'm really surprised how tight of a curve you can cut with an 1/8" blade. I was also able to split my thick pieces of Larimar down the center (well, close to the center) to get two cabs out of each piece. Maybe a real lapidary trim saw would have been ok, but the vibration of the tile saw turned them to gravel when I tried to split them. The biggest downside is not as many scraps to feed the tumbler, but I don't buy slabs to tumble them.
|
|
khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,980
|
Post by khara on Dec 8, 2023 15:34:48 GMT -5
I have also been planning this and even made progress on it recently. We had an old wood bandsaw that was damaged (hit by a car and bent) and have been thinking it was just going to end up in the trash. But this last weekend finally took a good look at it and managed to get it straightened and repaired enough to use for crafting. So now I need to figure out the best blade (diamond?) for trimming rocks and I had planned to come here looking for that info and then just happened to see this thread! Serendipitous.👍👍
|
|
|
|
Post by liveoak on Dec 9, 2023 7:24:39 GMT -5
Geez khara, you really shouldn't let your bandsaws play in traffic ! What size bandsaw is it ? I know with my 9" saw, diamond blades are readily available & had cheaply from China.
A bigger saw might be a problem ?
Patty
|
|
khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,980
|
Post by khara on Dec 9, 2023 18:26:49 GMT -5
Geez khara, you really shouldn't let your bandsaws play in traffic ! What size bandsaw is it ? I know with my 9" saw, diamond blades are readily available & had cheaply from China.
A bigger saw might be a problem ?
Patty
Patty, I will check the size soon-ish. It looks similar to yours. Good to know your blades weren’t a hindrance as far as cost goes. Ya we don’t let it play in the street but unfortunately it lived in the garage a little too close to the cars. We’ve given it a new home. (PS - It wasn’t me. 🤓) |
|
