phoenix1647
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2013
Posts: 186
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Post by phoenix1647 on Jan 28, 2005 11:04:04 GMT -5
OK guys...my wife said I can get a rock saw !!!! Now what I need to know is..what to get... Should I get a rock saw or a tile saw? How thick a rock can I cut with a tile saw.. Or..does anyone here have an old rocksaw/tile saw they would like to sell....I am starting from scratch on this....
Pho
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Post by krazydiamond on Jan 28, 2005 12:29:43 GMT -5
way to go, Pho! yay Mrs. Pho!
my experience is get a regular rock saw, i was/am very unhappy with my tile saw, but i have to get a lapidary blade for it and then work up a set up as shown by MichiganRocks before i condemn it completely.
i am happy with my 6 inch Lortone trim saw, though if i had it all to do over again, i'd get a larger diameter (8-10 inch at the least).
rule of thumb is you can cut a little less than half of the diameter of the blade, i'm comfortable cutting 2" thick on the 6" trim saw, but i ruined a few blades in the learning process. the blades last a LOT longer is you are just cutting thinner material.
i got some extrordinary help in here when i first got the saw, it's rather intimidating to start, but then it's pure joy!
good luck!
KD
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69beeper
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 377
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Post by 69beeper on Jan 28, 2005 13:11:43 GMT -5
No kidding... WTG!!
I have almost bought a tile saw, oh say, about 50 TIMES now, but keep telling myself to hold out for a real rock saw. It gets harder and harder with each trip to Home Depot or Lowes though... heh!
If nothing else, I will try my luck at slapping something together this summer for outdoor use.
Again, congrats on the go-ahead for the new saw!
Jimmy
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Tellfamily
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2004
Posts: 476
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Post by Tellfamily on Jan 28, 2005 14:34:31 GMT -5
I went through the same thing looking at saws. Did a lot of research and came to the following conclusions.
A tile saw will work! However, A tile saw will take up more room and will make a larger mess. You can make a clamping system that will work quite easily. The motors & blade on a tile saw were not designed to cut large hard material (like agate) Most tile is under 1/2 inch thick and tile is NOT too hard.
My advice would be get a trim saw at least 8". After three months of looking at anything that would cut rocks, we ended up with a Lortone 8" saw.
Check e-bay or a local rock shop for a good used one. This will sound real bad, but it is true. Rock shops get phone calls from relatives wanting to sell collections & equipment when someone dies. You may have to wait a little while, but can pick-up some good equipment for a great price. This holds true for e-bay as well, but local means NO SHIPPING.
And get the biggest saw you can afford & have space for.
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Post by connrock on Jan 28, 2005 18:00:18 GMT -5
I spent a lot of money when I started out and the one thing I didn't get was a slab saw.I bought the 8" trim saw attachment for the Gennie but got tired of taking it on and off so I mounted it on it's own. If I had to do it all over again,after the tumblers it would be a salb saw.No matter how big of a slab saw you buy you will want a bigger one.It's just like starting out with a small tumbler,,,,,you want bigger and better and kick yourself for not doing it in the first place. The problem with slab saws,as you probably already know,it the cost but I guarantee you if you buy a 10" you will want a bigger one in no time flat! When you shop on the web compare not only prices but how rugged the saw is.You will see a 12" saw for "x" amount of dollars and also see the same size saw built by another company for a LOT less.If you want it to last and have the money go for the better of the two. There was a company called Highland Park that has gone out of business.They made a fantastic saw that would last a lifetime.Last summer I bought 2 18" Highland Park saws that are at least 30 years old.I paid somewhere around $700.00 -$750.00 for the 2 of them.I still have to do some work on them and one needs a new feed gear but for the most part they are just as good as the day they were built and they were used every day in a professional lapidary shop. One thing in your favor is that your wife gave you the go ahead. If my wife gave me the go ahead many years ago,,,,,There would have been trucks delivering slab saws for a week !! Tom
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Post by rockyraccoon on Jan 28, 2005 19:54:53 GMT -5
pho what are you looking at slab saw or trim saw? i think you are getting some good advice here on bypassing the tile saw and getting a rock saw. i think if you get a tile saw you will later wish you had gotten the other. you only go around once - get the one you really want!
kim
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Jan 29, 2005 15:13:17 GMT -5
I wish my wife would tell me to go get a saw- She just gave me permission today to order some more grit- but then we can't afford any real big ticket items right now- but after the kids move out and we get the house paid off- well who knows
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Post by connrock on Jan 29, 2005 17:15:11 GMT -5
Stefan, I'm 60 years old,have 3 children and a mortgage. My son got married and still is.Both of my daughters have been married twice and divorced as many times.The 2 girls have moved in and out a total of at least 15 times!! They have never come here having a job or money in their pocket nor have they contributed to the cost of running the house,food,electric,heat,cooling,etc, included. We have fixed their cars,paid their insurance and registration,paid for medical bills,etc and gave them money for divorces. They have a total of 3 children and we have taken care of them as well. My father-in-law lost his house and moved in with us,jobless and broke.We paid all of his expences like we did the girls.He got very ill and had to be in a hospital bed which was right in the center of our living room.He also had a portapotty there by his side because if he tried to make it to the bathroob he wiuld "mess" all over the place.He lived with us for a very long time. The story goes on and on and you may be thinking what kind of a family does this guy have??Well the way I see it is that our family is normal for todays standards. I'm not saying this will happen to you or if you would even tolerate any of it but,dont ever say "never". My point being,unless you have a a VERY good job with security for as long as you want and the "perfect" family you'll never come to a point where you are free and clear of debt or obligations. GO BUY THE SAW!!! Tom
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Jan 29, 2005 22:44:58 GMT -5
Hi Phoenix, Doesn't it feel good to know that you get to have a saw? I have enjoyed lapidary for some 25+ years now and my first saw was a 6" trim saw. After a month ... I wanted a 8" saw or maybe a 10" saw and I wished that I had got the saw I wanted in the first place. The 6" saw was readily available and the price was right ... so, I got the 6" saw. It allowed me to cut stones from 2 through 2 1/2" and it did the trick for a while. The problem was ... that I kept finding stones larger than my 6" could handle. I would cut half way through the stone and then drive a screwdriver down in the cut and break the stone in two ... it worked, but it also caused a lot more waste. I then went to a 10" saw and again ... I wished I had held out for a larger saw. It worked but it did not allow me all of the comforts of a larger saw ... so I settled for the 10" for years. I had the opportunity to acquire a 14" Star Diamond saw and you know what ... uh huh ... I wish I had a bigger saw! I guess it is part of the rockhounding addiction that we are always looking for more rocks and to have bigger equipment that will handle the big stuff. My 14" allows me to cut a 5 1/2" rock with ease and I have a lot of stones that are too big for my 14" so ... I either half to go back and cut through a good portion of the stone and then split it in two or continue to use them as yard decorations. One of the biggest determining factors for me was: what am I going to be doing with it and will it handle what I am trying to accomplish. The majority of the rocks I cut are within the 3'' - 6" size and I do not necessarily need a larger saw. Could I use one ... sure ... but, do I NEED one ... not really. If you are contemplating on cutting slabs for cabs or wind chimes or ... chances are that a 10" - 14" will do the trick. If you are wanting to cut bookends ... you will need a larger saw. So, seriously ask yourself ... what do I want to do with this saw? Does it allow you to do what you want to do or will you be limited by it's abilities? Does it offer you more than you want to do, for those bigger rocks or special projects? I have used Lortone, Raytech, Highland Park, Star Diamond and Covington saws and all have performed perfectly. But, I would definitely get a good brand name saw. Check prices of the blades and lubricants and see how readily available they are going to be should you need some (basically for the oil, as blades are readily available). If you have a 14" saw and the blade gets damaged by a rock that kicks out ... how much is it going to be to replace the blade? The last 14" blade that I purchased was right at 180.00 less shipping. I would suggest that you sit down and ask yourself just exactly what are you wanting to do with the saw and then see what is available that offers you the ability to not only do what you are ultimately wanting to do ... but, figure in a fudge factor ... for those odd jobs that you will run across from time to time. My son has a 12" Highland Park saw setting in my rock shop that he no longer uses. If you want I can ask him if he is looking to sell it? Since he has moved out of the house ... he has not really had the time/interest of cutting rocks. Possible marriage plans are in his brain at the present time. Congratulations and if I can be of any help, please let me know. John
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Jan 30, 2005 14:12:12 GMT -5
Ahh Conrock- I would love to go buy a saw- But My wife and I strive to not be in debt- beyond what is reasonable for us- We have a 30 year morgage that is almost half paid off, We own 2 of our 3 trucks free and clear- and we will have our travel trailer paid for in the next 2 to 3 years. My wife and I just can't spend money easily- we never have been able to- and we never will- 3 years ago i went through several layoffs- and it was our ability to save for a rainy day- that we were able to keep our house and trucks. No when I can afford the saw- well then I'll get it ;D
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phoenix1647
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2013
Posts: 186
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Post by phoenix1647 on Jan 30, 2005 16:06:14 GMT -5
Boy...it's not easy trying to decide what to buy here. I've looked at a lot of saws from the little 4 inch up to the 14 inchers.....cost will be a major factor for now. Please..do ask you son if he will be willing to sell his saw and let me know how much he would take for it. I am thinking in the 10 to 12 inch range....that way I figure I will be set up for a very long time. I have one piece of petrified wood I would love to slab out but seeing as it weighs in around the 500 pound mark..I don't think I will be able to handle it....might have to consider breaking it into smaller pieces..but...not sure about that yet.
Mostly I am thinking I will be slabbing out smaller stuff in the 2 to 4 inch range....
Thands to everyone for all the great advice you have given me...I knew I could count on you to help out...
Pho
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Jan 30, 2005 16:55:33 GMT -5
Well, I may be crazy, but I am really pleased with our 10" China made knockoff of the MK100 and I am REALLY going to be happy when I get my new SuperCut lapidary blade on it. It cuts like a dream. It is loud, but I'm so used to using circular and jig saws the noise doesn't even faze me. I also love my little 4" tile saw I got a Lowes for $50. It's small & light enough that I can put it on the kitchen counter and trim away at my slabs. Maybe I am content with it because I know that I could never afford a 10" rock saw without going in debt for it. The guy I got the Mex Lace from has a used 20" saw that I would sure like, but can't afford right now and wouldn't have anywhere to put it until BE and I get ourw workshop built. Which we're gonna have to do soon! BE bought a grinder from the rock guy but doesn't have it yet.
Stefan, for what it's worth, I think you are a very smart man not to incur any more debt. The TV and our leaders (I use that term lightly because the only place they are leading us is somewhere most of us don't to go!) say the economy is doing just fine, yada, yada, yada, but that is not quite the truth. The economy may appear to be doing fine but if one does some serous research, they will discovered the economy is, in fact, NOT doing just fine. The country has a trillion dollar debt, our manufacturing base is going offshore, hundreds of companies are laying people off, there are not many new jobs coming on the market, unemployment rates are high, personal bankruptcy is at the highest level ever, alot of what is proping up the country's economy not are foreign investors, some of which are pulling their money our of the country,due to our tremendous national debt. No, the economy isn't really doing well and things are forecasted to get worse long before they get better. Those who are not in debt or have little debt will fare much better than those deeply in debt.
llana
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Jan 31, 2005 8:27:45 GMT -5
I couldn't be happier with my 10 inch MK-100 tile saw. And besides, it's the same saw that is sold as a "rock saw" by Barranca as the TS-100 model. Only difference is they paint the one sold by Barranca blue instead of red.
Ron
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Jan 31, 2005 9:20:28 GMT -5
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Jan 31, 2005 19:15:05 GMT -5
Yes it is hard not to go deep into debt- but we resist it- Just today the county I live in closed all the county parks (owned by the taxpayers) cause the county budget won't pass because the legislators finally stood up and refused to allow a 1 percent tax increase- Well the taxpayers are up in arms and there have been threats to knock down the barriers and such- It is time we all started to ask our elected leaders to be more accountable with OUR hard EARNED money- I don't mean to ramble or step on toes- but the parks are one of the greatest free places to ski sled and snowmobile and now they are closed- and it is very tiring being held hostage by an employee (after all our officials are paid by us- we are the boss). Oh and I just ordered grit and some bubble gum agate from the rock shed- anyone do anything with bubble gums?
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