bitterbrook
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Always remember STEP NUMBER ONE!
Member since September 2006
Posts: 99
|
Post by bitterbrook on Oct 17, 2006 4:50:59 GMT -5
A friend of mine, Mike Sullivan, gave me this tip on how to get your saw's vise to grip those smaller pieces of rock . Take a small cardboard milk or whipping cream carton and set your rock in Plaster of Paris in the end of the carton. I submerged the rock in my first attempt (see photo), but in subsequent tries I used part of an empty toilet paper roll to support the rock in a good position. The square shape makes the block easier for my saw's vise to hold. The Plaster of Paris does not deteriorate, and the vise grips tightly all the way to the end.     |
|
|
|
Post by sandsman1 on Oct 17, 2006 16:43:03 GMT -5
hey Steve thanks for letting us use your tutorial I'm sure many will get info from this i know i have a few smaller stones id like to get a few small slabets from for cabs and the pics make it look like a good way to do it thanks again for taking the time to post it----- sands
|
|
adrian65
Cave Dweller 
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,792
|
Post by adrian65 on May 19, 2007 12:49:36 GMT -5
Thanks Steve, for sharing this very good idea!
Adrian
|
|
chinook203
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since February 2006
Posts: 849
|
Post by chinook203 on May 21, 2007 8:04:06 GMT -5
This is a brilliant idea! I"m going to have to break down and buy a vice I guess!
Sandy
|
|
fossilman
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2007
Posts: 256
|
Post by fossilman on May 21, 2007 10:16:57 GMT -5
i use this technique to saw ammonite fossils in half, works well!
|
|
SuperiorRed
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2007
Posts: 18
|
Post by SuperiorRed on May 21, 2007 12:12:16 GMT -5
excellent idea, thanks
|
|
nightop
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2007
Posts: 132
|
Post by nightop on May 21, 2007 13:24:42 GMT -5
Thanks for the tip!!!
|
|
RockyBlue
fully equipped rock polisher
Go U.K.
Member since June 2006
Posts: 1,719
|
Post by RockyBlue on May 21, 2007 18:58:30 GMT -5
Thank you so much Steve!I have a couple of large green Garnets that Last gave me and i was wondering how to cut them length ways,you just solved the problem,I didn`t want to make any bad
moves that might destroy them,there to cool for that................Rocky
|
|
fossilman
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2007
Posts: 256
|
Post by fossilman on May 23, 2007 0:17:50 GMT -5
another tip...
if you want to orient a cut, make sure a piece of it is sticking out of the plaster. Preferably with an arrow showing where the saw placement needs to be. It's particularly useful if you're sawing stones with schiller effects like feldspars (moonstone, amazonite, labradorite), purpurite, etc.
TO quickly clean off the plaster, you can bop it off with a ball peen hammer, or just throw it in muriatic acid, providing the slab's acid resistant.
|
|
|
|
Post by LCARS on May 24, 2007 21:54:10 GMT -5
Wow, that's a great tip!  ... now all I need is to get a rock saw so I can try it out.  |
|
RockOn
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2007
Posts: 18
|
Post by RockOn on May 28, 2007 9:48:53 GMT -5
Bitterbrook Thanks.. It's information like this that inspires. You've expanded my graphic thought process.  |
|
RockOn
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2007
Posts: 18
|
Post by RockOn on May 28, 2007 10:00:29 GMT -5
Bitterbrook
You must be using a dry cut or the oil or water would soften the plaster of par. I have a 10" wood saw that I would like to try this process on. What type of blade do you use for your cuts?
|
|
adrian65
Cave Dweller
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,792
|
Post by adrian65 on May 29, 2007 12:19:31 GMT -5
I tried today that method for the first time. I've cut an ostrich egg shaped agate + quartz, I use water cooling and it worked great.
Adrian
|
|
blarneystone
spending too much on rocks
Rocks in my head
Member since March 2010
Posts: 307
|
Post by blarneystone on Jun 7, 2007 18:38:50 GMT -5
I think I may have discovered a problem with this method.... rust. I've been cutting small nodules encased in plaster of paris for several days now. I have a 12" saw and I use cutting oil.. the oil sits in the bottom and the blade runs through it. I've been using the saw for about a year now and never had any rust at all but now every piece of exposed metal is rusting.... including the blade and clamp feed rails. I'll have to tear it down and grind the rust from the metal parts again.
I did a quick search on the net and it turns out that gypsum will cause steel to rust... yep, even in oil. I don't think I would recommend plaster for folks with the type of saw I use unless you intend to drain and clean it after.
Just thought I'd let ya'll know so that someone else doesn't have to find out the hard way...
Dan
|
|
fossilman
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2007
Posts: 256
|
Post by fossilman on Jun 8, 2007 1:29:55 GMT -5
that's a bit strange, mine hasn't done that. I've sawed bunches of big Peru ammonites this way, and no more rust on the blade than before. I'm using farm transmission fluid, maybe that's why.
|
|
blarneystone
spending too much on rocks
Rocks in my head
Member since March 2010
Posts: 307
|
Post by blarneystone on Jun 8, 2007 8:42:52 GMT -5
I guess that there might be a difference using tranny fluid... I'll have to give it a try I suppose. It would be a shame if I was forced to stop using this method because it works really well! I can slab an entire nodule with almost no waste at all and I don't have to fight with the rock to get it clamped in....
I'll try the tranny fluid Fossilman... thanks for the info.
Dan
|
|
fossilman
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2007
Posts: 256
|
Post by fossilman on Jun 9, 2007 9:46:42 GMT -5
if you use the transmission fluid, I've noticed on particularly nasty rocks, like llanite or giant agates, it can heat up a bit. Nice thing is, you can get it at Wally world or Napa, or any Tractor Supply store ( my favorite).
|
|
|
|
Post by rocklicker on Jun 13, 2007 2:19:39 GMT -5
I use mineral/baby oil and have not found a problem with rust. I use that method too. It works wonders and really lets you get a good grip with the vise. I try to avoid doing it too much because the plaster causes sludge to build up faster.
Steve
|
|
|
|
Post by larrywyland3 on Jun 13, 2007 8:14:43 GMT -5
I have an idea. I don't have a clamp, but I seen enough big saws in action that I think this would work. There is a casting wax that is very hard. When you do lost wax for casting they make a whole variety of waxes. One type is so hard you can file it. This would solve the potentional of rust. If you could wash away the saw oil you could remelt the wax and reuse. The wax would or should float on top of the oil. I don't know if this would create any problems. If anyone tries this let me know if it works. Rio Grande sells casting wax and so does Gesswein they have one called plast-o-wax candle wax may be worth a try as it is cheaper, but I don't know if the saw blade cut through it as it may stick to the blade. www.gesswein.com |
|
lndcrz47
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2007
Posts: 153
|
Post by lndcrz47 on Jun 29, 2007 22:38:55 GMT -5
Automotive plastic body filler "bondo" works well and comes off easy,@ $10 a gallon its hard to beat E  thinner will remove any residue |
|
... to the New Guys from The ChatBox V.2 Crew