demihuman
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2024
Posts: 131
|
Post by demihuman on Jul 8, 2024 21:25:37 GMT -5
You guys! I scored an old 18 inch Frantom slab saw on craigslist! I even got it off my truck without bending any of the legs. I think it’s got to weigh close to 300 pounds. Not sure how old it is, but it seems like it’s been sitting in somebody’s garage for a really long time. The paint is in great shape, all of the rods and bearing seem pretty tight. It might have a little bit of play in the clamp and how it sits on the carriage rods. But I’m not sure, maybe just needs to be clamped on something. I need to spend some time working on it.  It has a blade but it looks very worn and about a 1/4” out if true. The previous owner said he and his neighbors had used it over the years for tile and landscaping projects. They inherited it from an uncle. I can’t find any data plates on it except on the motor which is 1/2 hp Westinghouse. The previous owners thought it was from the 1950’s.  Should I get a new blade? Any suggestions on a good blade for a newbie? Going to cut Jasper, Agate, Quartzite and maybe some Jade.  |
|
goldfinder
Cave Dweller 
Member since December 2020
Posts: 273
|
Post by goldfinder on Jul 8, 2024 22:23:02 GMT -5
Heck yeah, that's a great looking saw! Did you pick it up in San Francisco for an insanely good price? Lol
I saw that one on there and I'm glad a forum member picked it up! That was the deal of the century lol.
It looks to be in great shape for it's age. I have a 24" Frantom and it's a tank, Frantoms are super well built saws. With a little care and maintenance they will last a long long time. Great score!
|
|
ThomasT
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2022
Posts: 616
|
Post by ThomasT on Jul 8, 2024 22:23:03 GMT -5
Looks like somebody ran it with water at some point. If you find that you need some parts they have parts for that saw here: Frantom 18/20 Inch Saw Parts |
|
|
|
Post by Rockoonz on Jul 8, 2024 22:43:05 GMT -5
That is a serious oldie but goodie. If you could slide the carriage back to get a good view of the feed clamp? Please and thank you.
I texted a link to Matt, curator of the FranTom museum. The stencil painted label is old for sure, the type of clamp for the feed will help determine the age.
|
|
|
|
Post by Rockoonz on Jul 8, 2024 22:48:48 GMT -5
HP replacement parts may not fit depending on the age, Matt will know.
As far as the blade, you should look at the YouTube channel for HP lapidary and find the blade aligning, straightening and sharpening videos to see if you can make the blade on it work, but I would go ahead and get another for when it wears out.
|
|
demihuman
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2024
Posts: 131
|
Post by demihuman on Jul 9, 2024 0:27:31 GMT -5
It is indeed the one that was on Craigslist in San Francisco. I had been casually looking at saws and other stuff on craigslist and I saw that listing and I immediately texted and emailed the guy I sent him a email explaining who I was and what we were doing with the family and rock hounding and all that sort of stuff and he said he’d hold it for me. So I went up and got it! Super nice folks they hadn’t used it much. I think they had some emotional attachment to it and wanted it to go to someone that would give it a nice home. Rockoonz I’ll send you some pictures tomorrow.
Do you guys think a new blade is in order? Any recommendations on which blade to get?
|
|
rocknrob
has rocks in the head
If Costco only sold slabs in bulk...
Member since May 2024
Posts: 611
|
Post by rocknrob on Jul 9, 2024 0:58:53 GMT -5
Holy smokes! I'm jealous! That's a beautiful old saw.
|
|
|
|
Post by Rockoonz on Jul 9, 2024 7:46:15 GMT -5
Matt has already gotten back to me and pointed out something I missed. Measure that blade, it may really be a 20 inch saw. It has a flat bottom as opposed to the normal stepped bottom of a FranTom, which should only be on a 14 inch or 20 inch saw. I can see by the pics that a larger blade won't fit so if it is 18 inches it's a rare one, possibly custom built.
|
|
|
|
Post by Rockoonz on Jul 9, 2024 7:50:02 GMT -5
Oh, wait. Nevermind, it also looks like the spray guard on the back of the blade isn't all the way to the rear, and I recall the 20" saw I worked on for a dealer friend had a shield that could be repositioned for 18 or 20.
|
|
AzRockGeek
has rocks in the head
Member since September 2016
Posts: 703
|
Post by AzRockGeek on Jul 9, 2024 8:37:31 GMT -5
Matt has already gotten back to me and pointed out something I missed. Measure that blade, it may really be a 20 inch saw. It has a flat bottom as opposed to the normal stepped bottom of a FranTom, which should only be on a 14 inch or 20 inch saw. I can see by the pics that a larger blade won't fit so if it is 18 inches it's a rare one, possibly custom built. I restored a FT18 years back that had the flat bottom as well as the newer clamp mechanism, it would definitely not take a 20" blade.  |
|
|
|
Post by Rockoonz on Jul 9, 2024 8:44:07 GMT -5
Matt has already gotten back to me and pointed out something I missed. Measure that blade, it may really be a 20 inch saw. It has a flat bottom as opposed to the normal stepped bottom of a FranTom, which should only be on a 14 inch or 20 inch saw. I can see by the pics that a larger blade won't fit so if it is 18 inches it's a rare one, possibly custom built. I restored a FT18 years back that had the flat bottom as well as the newer clamp mechanism, it would definitely not take a 20" blade. Tim the clamp on yours looks like a 2 of 3 styles. The newest clamp just had the arm without the round handle, possibly after they sold to HP. First was that impossible clam shell. Interesting that it had the flat bottom though, Bonus IMO, I like more oil in my saws because I can run longer between the dreaded muck outs. |
|
AzRockGeek
has rocks in the head
Member since September 2016
Posts: 703
|
Post by AzRockGeek on Jul 9, 2024 8:52:28 GMT -5
I restored a FT18 years back that had the flat bottom as well as the newer clamp mechanism, it would definitely not take a 20" blade. Tim the clamp on yours looks like a 2 of 3 styles. The newest clamp just had the arm without the round handle, possibly after they sold to HP. First was that impossible clam shell. Interesting that it had the flat bottom though, Bonus IMO, I like more oil in my saws because I can run longer between the dreaded muck outs. I was not aware there were three different clamp styles. Thanks. Here is one of my current projects with the step tank and what I believe to be the original clamp style.  |
|
demihuman
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2024
Posts: 131
|
Post by demihuman on Jul 9, 2024 19:09:57 GMT -5
It’s definitely an 18” saw. There is only about 1/2” of clearance between the blade and the bottom of the tank and the blade that is on there is 18” Here are some pictures of the clamp and the pulley set up. Looks to me like the pulleys are correct. I haven’t done any math, but I am guess the reduction in onthe main drive belt gets me around 900 rpm on the blade. The clamp doesn’t completely disengage unless you hold it at sort of the mid point. If you just put the handle into the open position the clamp grind a little bit in the carriage drive screw.   |
|
AzRockGeek
has rocks in the head
Member since September 2016
Posts: 703
|
Post by AzRockGeek on Jul 9, 2024 20:00:03 GMT -5
You got yourself a real nice saw!!!!  Put some new belts on it and start cutting. Looking forward to some slab pics.  |
|
|
|
Post by Rockoonz on Jul 10, 2024 0:21:31 GMT -5
The smaller pulley on the saw arbor is too big, someone replaced the original one to speed up the feed, not a good idea if you want a good surface finish on your cuts and longer blade life. I personally went with a smaller one to slow down the feed, do it with all my saws. I also only use steel pulleys or good HD cast aluminum, I get rid of the cheap stamped ones. Here's what I put on mine. www.amazon.com/dp/B003N17JPW? |
|
demihuman
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2024
Posts: 131
|
Post by demihuman on Jul 10, 2024 0:53:02 GMT -5
The smaller pulley on the saw arbor is too big, someone replaced the original one to speed up the feed, not a good idea if you want a good surface finish on your cuts and longer blade life. I personally went with a smaller one to slow down the feed, do it with all my saws. I also only use steel pulleys or good HD cast aluminum, I get rid of the cheap stamped ones. Here's what I put on mine. www.amazon.com/dp/B003N17JPW?Even with the the belt on the largest of the 3 speeds on the (?)lateral carriage drive rod? |
|
|
|
Post by Rockoonz on Jul 10, 2024 1:23:52 GMT -5
demihuman with the pulley always on the largest step. Current configuration would run at about the highest speed in the original new saw configuration. Here is my 18" saw before I swapped pulleys. You can see the pulley was half the size of the shaft pulley before I put an even smaller one. Cut surface looks sanded on cuts the way I set it up.  
|
|
|
|
Post by Rockoonz on Jul 10, 2024 1:28:02 GMT -5
I run a sintered blade at about 1100 RPM, which also runs the feed speed faster, another reason to slow it down. Your blade speed for your current blade would be the left side of the chart, but you can't get that style any more.  |
|
demihuman
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2024
Posts: 131
|
Post by demihuman on Jul 10, 2024 17:21:47 GMT -5
Interesting. I certainly would be happy to wait a few minutes longer for a cleaner cut. I haven’t had anytime this week to play with it yet, but I am looking forward to seeing if I can get the blade that is in there a little more true. The blade that is on there is fairly bull nosed too. I need to do some serious reading.
What are some good carriage speeds for hard stones? Do most folks just go as slow as possible?
|
|
ThomasT
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2022
Posts: 616
|
Post by ThomasT on Jul 10, 2024 19:03:37 GMT -5
On big rocks the best speeds are .... Slow and slower...
|
|
