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Post by ashleeannajones on Apr 18, 2024 15:51:56 GMT -5
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Post by vegasjames on Apr 18, 2024 16:21:47 GMT -5
Does look like chalcedony, but not chert/flint, which are opaque forms of chalcedony.
Since you have an angle grinder, one option is to get diamond grinding cups for the angle grinder. They work great for cleaning up the outside and creating flat surfaces quickly and not ever expensive. The tricky part is if you do not have a wet angle grinder, you need to keep wetting the rock frequently as you go. You could set up some type of drip or mist system so you do not have to keep stopping to wet the rock and there will not be enough water to spray back in to the motor.
The cups do leave a bit of a rougher surface, so I usually follow up with diamond pads for the angle grinder using an aluminum backer. Do not use the plastic backers they often sell with the polishing pads. They cannot handle to very high RPMs of the angle grinder and will fly apart. So, I get aluminum backers instead, which are about $11.
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,979
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Post by khara on Apr 18, 2024 18:07:17 GMT -5
Some of those look small enough to use the tile saw.(?) Have you tried that, or do they not fit?
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Post by ashleeannajones on Apr 18, 2024 18:43:49 GMT -5
Some of those look small enough to use the tile saw.(?) Have you tried that, or do they not fit? I hadn’t tried it yet because I was honestly concerned if I could or not, I’m new to it and honestly didn’t know if I could because the material sounds like glass when they touch but I will! I just need to probably get a new blade I never know when the one I’m issuing is actually dull and go by when it seems like it’s having a harder time cutting |
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Post by ashleeannajones on Apr 18, 2024 18:44:41 GMT -5
Some of those look small enough to use the tile saw.(?) Have you tried that, or do they not fit? That is exactly what I was looking for! Thank you so much I am actually on my way to the store now so perfect timing! |
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Post by ashleeannajones on Apr 18, 2024 18:45:45 GMT -5
Some of those look small enough to use the tile saw.(?) Have you tried that, or do they not fit? I’m also not sure if my angle grinder is a wet one, I know my husband told me not to even use wet rocks for a polishing disc set but maybe that was the discs? |
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Post by vegasjames on Apr 18, 2024 22:32:38 GMT -5
Some of those look small enough to use the tile saw.(?) Have you tried that, or do they not fit? I’m also not sure if my angle grinder is a wet one, I know my husband told me not to even use wet rocks for a polishing disc set but maybe that was the discs? A wet angle grinder will have a hose attachment and a hood to help keep water out of the motor.
I use water with both the grinding cups and the diamond pads. Not using water with the diamond pads can cause too much frictional heat burning the pads.
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Post by ashleeannajones on Apr 18, 2024 23:53:01 GMT -5
I’m also not sure if my angle grinder is a wet one, I know my husband told me not to even use wet rocks for a polishing disc set but maybe that was the discs? A wet angle grinder will have a hose attachment and a hood to help keep water out of the motor.
I use water with both the grinding cups and the diamond pads. Not using water with the diamond pads can cause too much frictional heat burning the pads.
Could you show me a picture? I got a grinding disc but this is a dry one.. am I okay to keep the rock wet at least? I have it set up upside down in a vice so use it like a stationary machine.. any pictures of a set up would be helpful! Appreciate you taking time to tell me this! |
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,979
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Post by khara on Apr 19, 2024 5:27:18 GMT -5
Just be careful since you don’t know your equipment very well yet. Wear safety glasses and even gloves, and long hair tied back. The saw blade can kick your rock out forcefully and sharp edges on the rock can cut you if it does this unexpectedly. Move it through the blade at the speed it’s seeming to want to go, don’t force it or try to go too fast. Make sure it has water for cooling.
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Post by Bob on Apr 24, 2024 11:12:00 GMT -5
This looks very much like pieces I find a lot in the California desert. Many have to be hand-held trimmed quite a bit on a 10" lapidary saw. Some end up gorgeous, some just blah.
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