rocknrob
has rocks in the head
If Costco only sold slabs in bulk...
Member since May 2024
Posts: 611
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Post by rocknrob on May 22, 2024 19:27:38 GMT -5
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Post by chris1956 on May 22, 2024 20:12:27 GMT -5
I am tagging Jugglerguy (Michigan Rocks Youtube). In Rob's last video he mentioned that the diamond dry grinder he uses is from Harbor Freight. He didn't mention who manufactured the wet grinder he uses. Kingsley North also has a wet grinder that I am assuming is made for them. Below is a link for that. Looks like it is about the same price. kingsleynorth.com/lapidary-wet-polisher-grinder.html
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Post by Rockoonz on May 22, 2024 20:39:53 GMT -5
I have 3 wet grinders and just set up an area to start playing with them, I have a Secco 4" that I got brand new a few years ago at a garage sale. I tried it out on a practice piece of Petwood a few days ago and was happy with the grinder, and after a few more tries I will hopefully be happy with my work... I have a used 5" Damo that seems pretty robust as well, but needs the water lines unplugged. I suggest using an inline RV water filter, especially if you have hard water. That should keep the calcium to a minimum. I think the KN is a rebadged Damo, they are identical in shape. I also have a BD air operated one NIB that I will probably end up selling, it requires a large air compressor to run, and I don't want to fork out a ton of money for that. My "practice" so far tells me there's a learning curve, and that I need something water resistant that will keep the pieces from moving. www.amazon.com/SECCO-WV5GRIN-5-Inch-Wet-Polisher/dp/B001KAMAMAwww.amazon.com/DAMO-Variable-Polisher-Countertop-Polishing/dp/B07CV9H4M8/ref=asc_df_B07CV9H4M8
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Post by chris1956 on May 22, 2024 21:00:48 GMT -5
In the video below, you can see how rob uses wood blocks to help keep the rock in place when grinding.
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,167
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Post by rockbrain on May 23, 2024 9:14:38 GMT -5
I've been planning on making a piece of plywood with different size holes cut in it with hole saws. Clamp that in a work table to polish thundereggs. I got a Barranca Diamond grinder that works well. I picked it up for $20 at a sell. Considering it has a couple sets of diamond pads and a couple of hard grinder heads, including a never used one with a $115 price tag still stuck on the face of it I think I did pretty good.
I don't know anything about the HP model you linked. It looks like a pretty good deal. I would look at the tool alone and buy the diamond pads elsewhere. Unless those are some great quality pads they are pretty expensive.
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,167
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Post by rockbrain on May 23, 2024 9:19:28 GMT -5
Actually the HP branded unit looks very similar this one. The first thing I noticed on the HP was the water line coming in the top. I think I'd prefer it underneath.
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Post by Jugglerguy on May 23, 2024 13:24:03 GMT -5
I have a regular Makita angle grinder with a diamond cup wheel from Harbor Freight. I also have a Makita Electronic stone polisher that I use with velcro diamond pads. I like both of them.
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rocknrob
has rocks in the head
If Costco only sold slabs in bulk...
Member since May 2024
Posts: 611
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Post by rocknrob on May 23, 2024 16:19:02 GMT -5
In the video below, you can see how rob uses wood blocks to help keep the rock in place when grinding. - The addition of wearing waders is SPOT ON! I sometimes feel like I need a wetsuit just using the trim saw.
- The wood braces are a nice addition, I kind of wonder if a setup of two "L" shaped 2x4s interlocking and some memory foam underneath it to hold what is being grinded might work.
- I wouldn't have thought of doing a dry/wet grind on a large rock like that. I have a regular angle grinder which would work well for that part but that wet one he has looks like a decent set.
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Post by Rockoonz on May 23, 2024 17:29:28 GMT -5
here's what I used so far, table came in an estate. Unfortunate that I just did a burn barrel last week and all the 2x4 scraps went in.
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Post by rockjunquie on May 23, 2024 18:11:09 GMT -5
In the video below, you can see how rob uses wood blocks to help keep the rock in place when grinding. - The addition of wearing waders is SPOT ON! I sometimes feel like I need a wetsuit just using the trim saw.
- The wood braces are a nice addition, I kind of wonder if a setup of two "L" shaped 2x4s interlocking and some memory foam underneath it to hold what is being grinded might work.
- I wouldn't have thought of doing a dry/wet grind on a large rock like that. I have a regular angle grinder which would work well for that part but that wet one he has looks like a decent set.
Just had to mention that I love your avatar.
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rocknrob
has rocks in the head
If Costco only sold slabs in bulk...
Member since May 2024
Posts: 611
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Post by rocknrob on May 23, 2024 19:13:49 GMT -5
Just had to mention that I love your avatar. Hahaha, Thanks. I wish I was as fit as that gentleman was but I had some fun with the Microsoft AI image generator
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lapidary1234
spending too much on rocks
"If you like rocks you can't be all bad!!" ~ old timer quote
Member since October 2021
Posts: 293
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Post by lapidary1234 on Sept 26, 2024 21:41:22 GMT -5
This is a great thread! I have been eyeing up those wet grinders for a good minute here. They look like they'd work well and are surprisingly more affordable than alot of things in this hobby. My biggest concern is how I would get the rock to stay put while I grind it so ill be watching that video shortly. Otherwise I am thinking a good bench vise *might do the trick! If rmf approves, I think its a good choice Edit: Holy jeebus!! 6.5 hours on that one rock (in the video). And he destroyed his 50 grit disc in the process. It does look good though and if a person is only trying to polish slabs I bet it would be a good bit faster but still...questioning if I really want to go down that road
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Post by rmf on Sept 30, 2024 17:18:06 GMT -5
lapidary1234 I think those angle grinders are great but they do take time and yes in a rock with big holes you can easily destroy the diamond pads. I have done three big pieces with the angle grinder. Two have been pet wood and one was a geode with KY Agate in side. The KY Agate had a big hole and a lot of cracks and ate up the pads abit. All were big and I used a 5 gal bucket with small rock chips and rounded rocks about the size -1/4" by 1/8" more or less. I just pressed the rock into the gravel and and when it got wet it held fine. Only one P wood was bigger that the bucket mouth and hung out to one side but I could still wedge it in the bucket no problem. BTW the bucket had drain holes so as not to fill with water. It takes a while to break in the pads and that took a lot of grind time on the first wood piece. The next two took less time. But you are captive for the whole grind time not like on a vib lap. Also I did not polish flat but did an undulating face on the stones to follow the broken surface. I have plans to polish some fist size Brazilian agates that have been sawn but I have other priorities right now. But the Brazilian agates are set in concrete inside a 10" PVC pipe slab which I cut about 3" thick. Then set it on 1/4" nuts on a plywood plate. I set the Brazilian agates in face to the plywood and poured concrete to the top of the PVC. This gives me a slab about 3.25" thick and the agates stick out one side and can be flatlapped in a vib or set upside down in my bucket of pebbles to hold while I use the angle grinder. hope this helps.
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lapidary1234
spending too much on rocks
"If you like rocks you can't be all bad!!" ~ old timer quote
Member since October 2021
Posts: 293
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Post by lapidary1234 on Oct 3, 2024 17:19:45 GMT -5
rmf. Nice and thx for the review. I will definitely get one when the time is right (and can find space to store it lolz). And for reals about the break in periods of new resin/matrix equipment. I got a set of nova discs and I swear my 60 grit will prolly be worn out by the time the 1200 and 3000 are broken in. Its frustrating to see scratches show up when you know they shouldn't. But once broken in they work so nicely!
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