blarneystone
spending too much on rocks
Rocks in my head
Member since March 2010
Posts: 307
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Post by blarneystone on May 5, 2007 9:42:30 GMT -5
I read in another post that you can use wooden wedges to assist with clamping down nodules and eggs for slabbing. That was news to me so I'd like to hear more if anyone has done this before..... Ed? Pictures would be a great help....  Thanks... Dan |
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Post by stoner on May 5, 2007 16:47:16 GMT -5
Hey Dan. I'll try to get some pics for you as soon as I'm able to get up and move around. But the basic idea is to make it so the clamp has got more than just one point of pressure. Let's say you're trying to clamp a rock that is fairly flat on one side but comes to a point on the opposite side. The rock will pivot on the point and therefore move around. Now if you take a piece of wood sized to fill the gap between the low section and the jaws of the vise (on the pointy side of the rock), you've made it so now the vise has two points of contact on that side and the rock won't be able to move around on the pivot point. Did that make any sense? I'll try and get some pics today.
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Post by connrock on May 6, 2007 6:27:40 GMT -5
Makes a lot of sence Ed.
One thing though.The wedges (if possible) should be made of hardwood like oak or maple and have different angles cut to suit the job.
connrock
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blarneystone
spending too much on rocks
Rocks in my head
Member since March 2010
Posts: 307
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Post by blarneystone on May 6, 2007 8:10:16 GMT -5
Ok... I get the concept but I'm having trouble seeing it in my head.. too many rocks in my head. The clamp on my saw has 2 large bolts that stand up on either side allow the top of the clamp to be tightened down on the rock. Does that make any sense? I'm still half asleep.... lol. Dan |
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lsmike
spending too much on rocks
Maxwell's demon lowers tumbling entropy
Member since January 2007
Posts: 468
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Post by lsmike on May 6, 2007 9:13:57 GMT -5
Dan,I know a guy who does this to cut thunder eggs.He uses wood glue to fasten the egg and wedges to a short piece of two-by-four which goes in the vise thereby giving a nice flat surfice to grip.Afterward,he just soaks the whole thing in water to release the stone.Mike.
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Post by stoner on May 6, 2007 12:39:20 GMT -5
Hey Dan, yea I know the type of vise you're talking about. We make a great team, you're still half asleep and I'm doped up on pain killers and muscle relaxers, but I'll try and set something up to take some photos for you!
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blarneystone
spending too much on rocks
Rocks in my head
Member since March 2010
Posts: 307
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Post by blarneystone on May 6, 2007 21:05:35 GMT -5
I must have missed something last week while I was away.. was out of town and away from the board for most of the time. What happened to you?
...and listen.. please don't go to any trouble fir this Ed.. I can wait..I didn't know you weren't 100%
BTW - the banner looks good....
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Post by parfive on May 6, 2007 21:34:34 GMT -5
Another reason to use a wedge is to change the angle of the cut.
The rock might sit solidly in the vise but you may not wanna cut it that way, so you can wedge it around to get the cut you want. Or to line up (plumb) an existing cut face with the blade.
Rich
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lsmike
spending too much on rocks
Maxwell's demon lowers tumbling entropy
Member since January 2007
Posts: 468
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Post by lsmike on May 7, 2007 17:01:43 GMT -5
My friend does as Rich says.Note too that you cold use a piece of 4by or whatever works to make your base.My guy has never had one let go and if one did,I'm guessing the rock would fall off in one piece and not dish the blade.Mike.
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blarneystone
spending too much on rocks
Rocks in my head
Member since March 2010
Posts: 307
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Post by blarneystone on May 8, 2007 8:59:17 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies fellas. I think I have a good idea how to do this now... I'll give it a try soon.. possibly this evening... Have lots of nodules and eggs that need cutting.
Dan
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Post by deb193 on May 8, 2007 11:10:11 GMT -5
I just hold the nodule in my hands and cut it across the middle. Then I put the cut face into a slab grabber and put that into the vise. I then crossfeed and slab until the half-nodule is gone. Then I do the other half the same way.
This lets me get the 1st cut onthe exact plane I want - not whatever orientation works best for the vise.
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lsmike
spending too much on rocks
Maxwell's demon lowers tumbling entropy
Member since January 2007
Posts: 468
|
Post by lsmike on May 9, 2007 19:36:15 GMT -5
I called my friend and learned two more things about his method:1.In addition to the wedges he will sometimes stick in some rock chipsv to increase the glueing surface2.He uses Elmer's yellow wood glue and it is ready to cut when he can't wiggle it loose by hand.Good luck.Mike
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