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Post by rockyraccoon on Feb 1, 2005 20:35:12 GMT -5
my slab saw made it a day early and it is awesome! only thing is the manual was missing from the plastic thing that was secured to the inside of the saw. i looked all over the inside of that saw and it's just not there. so i have the saw and don't know how to use it and can't read how to use it . can anyone guide me? i have left a message with kingsley north to get the manual to me but i want to crank it up tomorrow morning! right now it's still bolted to the pallet but i shredded that box in no time flat ;D. if my husband does not get it off that pallet tomorrow morning i will find a way to get it off and in place. it's a covington 20" commercial slab saw. do i just pour the oil in the bottom? does it need water too or just the oil? how does the automatic feed thing work? and where do you set how thick you want the slabs? and what are those clamps in there for - they are clamped on the things you loosen and tighten to move the vise thing? any help would be appreciated or i might just chew all my nails off until the manual gets here . oh and i was going to take a picture to share but got to excited and forgot my camera . kim
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Post by cookie3rocks on Feb 1, 2005 20:59:53 GMT -5
OK, Kim, don't pull a cookie and burn that beautiful saw up (twice) cause you are winging it. Mine came with instructions but they were so vauge it didn't really help. Come on, ole pro's, give a lady a hand. And I don't mean clappin'. Congrats, and I'm in Heaven with my new rocks! cookie
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Feb 1, 2005 21:59:49 GMT -5
HOLY COW ....
A 20" Covington ... You definitely went first class!!! What a wonderful saw ... you lucky duck!!!
Suggestion:
The drain plug on the saw ... take some teflon tape and go around the threads as to stop the oil from slowly seeping throught the threads and leaving little drip marks on the floor for you to clean up. Be sure that the plug is securely re-installed.
With the 20" Covington ... I imagine that they will only recommend oil as a lubricant. You really do not want to mix the oil with any water. The automatic feed should have a switch of it's own. Once the rock has been secured and the unit started ... you simply turn the switch on and let it feed the rock into the saw blade. As far as the adjustment ... there should be a horizontal adjustment to move the rock one way or the other ... when the desired thickness of the slab has been achieved ... lock it into position and proceed to double check everything before strating your saw.
********** VERY IMPORTANT **********
When ever you put a rock into the vise assembly and tignten it down ... physically reach in and see if you can budge the rock. DO NOT JUST GENTLY TRY TO MOVE THE STONE ... BUT, RATHER SEE IF YOU CAN DISLODGE THE STONE FROM THE VISE ASSEMBLY ... WHY ... IF YOU CAN MOVE THE STONE IT IS NOT SECURED AND IS NOT READY TO BE CUT.
THE STONE ONLY HAS TO MOVE A FEW THOUSANTHS OF AN INCH TO PUT THE BLADE IN A BIND OR TOTALLY RUIN A $400.00 BLADE BY WHAT THEY CALL "KICKING OUT". WHEN THIS HAPPENS ... IT WILL ALREADY BE TOO LATE FOR YOU TO ANYTHING ABOUT IT ... IF THE SAW IS RUNNING ... SO ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS DOUBLE CHECK YOUR SET-UP BEFORE STARTING THE SAW.
KICKING OUT IS WHERE THE STONE IS TIGHTENED IN THE VISE ASSEMBLY AND THE PRESSURE OF THE VISE ASSEMBLE AND AN INCORRECT POSITIONING OF THE STONE ... WITH A LITTLE PRESSUDE APPLIED WILL CAUSE THE STONE TO RAPIDLY BECOME UNSECURED AND VERY POSSIBLY RUINING A VERY EXPENSIVE BLADE. THAT IS WHY YOU SHOULD ALWAYS CHECK AND DOUBLE CHECK YOUR STONE BEFORE STRATING TO CUT THE ROCK. IF YOU CAN NOT MOVE THE STONE WITH SOME REAL EFFORT, THEN YOU ARE READY TO CUT SOME ROCK.
It would be a good idea to check and see if all of the bolts have been tightened by the factory before starting you saw.
I know it's a burning briquette in your pocket ... but, beings that you have not ever had a rock saw before ... I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU WAIT UNTIL YOU GET THE OPERATIONS MANUAL, READ IT CAREFULL AND THEN PROCEED TO LEARNING THIS GREAT ASPECTS OF SLABBING ROCKS!
Congratulations ... If I can be of any further help/assistance ... please let me know.
John
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Post by cookie3rocks on Feb 1, 2005 22:03:32 GMT -5
"Kicking Out" Wish I had known that sooner. "Forcing Out" Not good cookie
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Post by rockyraccoon on Feb 1, 2005 23:00:31 GMT -5
john thanks so much - i just read all that to my husband. somebody's gonna have to fax me a manual tomorrow then so i can get started then they can mail me the other. i wish one of you experts was here to show me on the 1st few - i'm nervous! go over with me again the largest size i should put in. and is there a smallest or does that matter?
kim
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Post by sandsman1 on Feb 1, 2005 23:36:56 GMT -5
kim you can prob cut 7x7 or maybe even a 8x8 rock with that saw and small just make sure you have a good bite on the rock so it dont pop out,, i woud say if its smaller then a fist i wouldent try it
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Post by krazydiamond on Feb 2, 2005 8:45:34 GMT -5
Kim! i can't believe you got such an awesome machine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i am SO green with envy! i must say, i'd be a bit intimidated by such a large unit, but i'm sure you'll get the hang of it. then we can all send our big rocks to you!
good luck! take photos so we can drool!
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 Feb 3, 2005 13:36:08 GMT -5
Congratulations! That is sooo cool!! ...and not just any saw, but a BIG saw!!
Jimmy
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deepsouth
fully equipped rock polisher
He who rocks last rocks best
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,256
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Post by deepsouth on Feb 3, 2005 14:52:43 GMT -5
Congratulations Kim on the arrival of your new cutting machine.
I know you will be cutting lots of rock with it as I am still doing with my saw.
As John wrote:" Be double- double -double sure that the rock is securely in place". I always try to dislodge mine quite forcefully and give it at least 3 or 4 BIG tugs.
Only use cutting oil , no water !
Be patient , wait for your manual and get to know your machine before attempting to just cut. I would love to come over and give you some help. The huge distance prevents this . I had my machine explained to me by the person who sold it to me. That was a big help. I have no manual as it is a secondhand one and homemade.
Good luck and enjoy.
Jack
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Post by rockyraccoon on Feb 3, 2005 22:29:34 GMT -5
they faxed me the manual and i was gonna sit down and read it today and get started. looks like it's written in english but i can't seem to understand it at all! level the saw; align the blade was as far as i got and called my husband to see when he could schedule me in for getting the saw up and running and give me a few lessons. but it is now in it's official temporary place. i need a light installed over it. and i've got him over in the recliner now reading that manual. it's john deere green! guess what was in that box that's in the vise......THE MANUAL! well now i have 2. kim
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Post by sandsman1 on Feb 3, 2005 22:59:29 GMT -5
hahaha i knew it had to be there somewear ---kim you are one lucky woman thats a beautiful saw its a monster you will be a master in no time --just remember when you use it keep your mind on what your doin and never think this is easy i got this down im a pro haha
i remember the first motorcycle i got i was 15 didnt even have a licence yet hahaha,, my dad usta ride bikes too and he said i wanna tell ya one thing boy dont ever think your that bikes master cause thats the day it will prove you wrong (when you lose respect for it it will get ya) and if you think about it that can be a good thing to remember about alot of things ---just alittle of pops advice hahaha
oh yea till you get a light put in you can use a drop light just dont drop it in the oil --hahaha
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Post by stoner on Feb 4, 2005 1:47:49 GMT -5
Wow Kim, Very nice. Going with the big saw is really the only way to go if you can afford it. Now ya have to go out and get some big rocks. One more important thing to remember is to try and position the rock to be cut so the surface that the blade first contacts is perpendicular to the blade. If the face of the rock is angled off to one side, when the blade contacts the rock it will deflect and possibly ruin the blade. I'm sure all the do's and don'ts are in the manual, so "please read and follow all the safety rules" and you'll be slabbing in no time. Have FUN.
Edwieser
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Feb 4, 2005 9:25:29 GMT -5
WHOA, Kim! That is one serious saw! I am green with envy! I think I would be a bit intimidated by that big honker, at least at first. You gonna be one slab cuttin' fool when you learn how to use it!
llana
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Feb 4, 2005 11:02:01 GMT -5
Ummm Can I come over and play with that saw- Holy JOHN DEERE GREEN- That is one beautiful piece of MACHINE- Can't wait to see some of the slabs- ;D Oh and congrats!
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Post by rockyraccoon on Feb 4, 2005 11:29:37 GMT -5
i am extremely intimidated llana (screwdriver and hammer are my specialty tools). but i think i'm more intimidated by this manual. i didn't take "shop" class at any point in life and if my dad even acted like he was fixing to get out some tools i was out of there. i have read and read in this manual (thank goodness my husband has too and i think he understands it ). the part that i could understand was this "close the hood. start the motor by pulling the knob out on the switch rod. the rock will be sawed automatically. this can be viewed through the inspection window." now that's on my level lol ;D. i WILL figure it out though. stoner i have the big rocks all over the place with lots of them now riding around in my truck so i'm ready when my husband says "hand me a rock". he said he would get it going after lunch today. and if he doesn't you will probably hear me howling for a long way. i will take my camera (and some extra batteries stefan lol ). kim
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Feb 4, 2005 12:35:57 GMT -5
Oh I have rechargables- just forgot to charge them
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Post by krazydiamond on Feb 4, 2005 15:58:03 GMT -5
now THAT is some serious business, Kim!! i am about as green as that saw with envy. i have no doubt that you will get the hang of that monster, though it might take a while to really feel comfortable with it. as Sandsman so wisely suggested, you never want to get too complacent with a super mega monster machine like that, or any machine for that matter, but i am sure you will come to respect it for what it is and what it can do for you. and then you will have hours of FUN peeking into rock secrets.
be sure and take lots of pics for us to drool over.
KD
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Post by rockyraccoon on Feb 4, 2005 22:01:44 GMT -5
yes i'm just getting home. my husband had to push me out of the office as i was having so much fun. he got the oil in it and leveled and such and was still reading the manual and decided to cut it on with the top up. i just had stuck my head through the door in time to watch him get his oil bath ;D. you never heard such cussing and i was rolling on the floor. it took us awhile to figure out how to set it for automatic cut-off but believe it or not i figured it out all by myself. here are my 1st ones from left to right: heel, too thin, too thin, too thick, just right, repositioned the stone and goes from thin to thick, and the last 2 are just right - this is savannah royal jasper from kingsley north (please note the oil saturated manual that my hubby was holding when he got his bath ;D) and this is where i stopped until i can return - i wanted to stay until it was finished but my hubby was hungry - now who needs to eat when you can be playing in the rocks! he wanted to know if i had more big rocks or if that was the only one - i have big rocks all over the place and apparently he hasn't noticed . must need to get some more . kd you definitely have to put this on the top of your list. you will love it! kim
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Post by sandsman1 on Feb 4, 2005 22:51:41 GMT -5
ooohhh baby you must be loving this hahahaha ---i told ya remember not to turn it on with the lid up hahahaha you just forgot to tell hubbby that one for bein late hahaha----glad to see ya got to use it i know it must have been killin you sittin there ---ENJOY--BUT BE CAREFULL
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Feb 5, 2005 0:45:57 GMT -5
Hello Kim, HA ... that's too funny! Chalk it up as lesson number one ... I bet you were laughing ... I know I would have been on the floor myself ;D I have found that on larger stones that do not offer a real good positioning for slabbing ... I will make one cut and then reposition the stone so that I have one side that is fully resting on a solid portion of the vise ... that will increase your safety zone quite a bit. It can be tricky when you are trying to cut a chunk of rough for a specific angle - as in Labradorite ... so that you get the best color play from the stone. On some pieces ... I will make a cut on both sides of the rough ... that way I will have two faces of the rough that are securely in the vise assembly - especially the larger stones! I used to have a gravity feed 10" lapidary saw ... and if you were not standing right there when it finished cutting through the rock ... it would go back and raise the blade guard and allow the blade to sling oil all over the walls and the ceiling. This happened one night when I was feeding our ducks. I came back to my rock shop and discovered mineral oil dripping from the ceiling!!! Consequently, my wife came out and seen what had happened and told me right then and there ... DO NOT EVER ASK TO BRING THAT THING INSIDE OF THE HOUSE ... BECAUSE IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! There was no reason to even try to tell her why it happened. That is why I am still outside in the concrete water building with all of my tumbling and slabbing equipment
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