|
Post by Tweetiepy on Feb 24, 2005 12:35:46 GMT -5
I saw a grinder at Costco yesterday, it was about $48 Cdn. Does the grinder have to be a special kind of grinder? Hubby pointed to it and said, "look for your rocks" Not sure if I should take that as a go ahead for purchasing it or if he was mocking me. Do I need a special type of grinder? This one has two grinding wheels (maybe they all do?). And is that what these suckers run at price-wise? My dad may even have one, that I could use, but this whole using-water-around-electricity thing scares me -I really don,t need to get shocked! My dad mentioned using the vacuum to suck up the stone dust. Can you do that?
|
|
MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
|
Post by MichiganRocks on Feb 24, 2005 13:42:05 GMT -5
Hey Tweety, I just use a plain two wheel bench grinder. I put some green silicon carbide wheels on it (the Aluminum Oxide wheels that come on them are for metal) and just use a cup of water to grind dip. I wear a dustmask and use my shop vac to suck up the dust as best I can. If you get diamond wheels (a LOT more pricey) you will have to have water or they will burn up. With the carbide wheels, the water mainly just keeps the rock cool so you can handle it.
Ron
ps. $48 CN sounds pretty darn good to me!
|
|
|
Post by krazydiamond on Feb 24, 2005 15:48:22 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Tweetiepy on Feb 24, 2005 16:26:23 GMT -5
Okay KD, that looks nothing like the one I saw apart from actually HAVING grinding wheels, nothing looks like that. I think I'll stick to getting a decent stone split & tumbled before getting into grinding. But I thought it looked like a good deal. maybe I should be taking little baby steps before trying to runé.
|
|
bschultz
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2004
Posts: 234
|
Post by bschultz on Feb 24, 2005 16:38:10 GMT -5
Tweaty, I just checked ebay and there is a 6" Rock Rascal grinder that has been bid up to $26. If you want to grind rock I would try to procure a rock grinder. Even if you have to modify a regular grinder somehow to except diamond grinding wheels. However if you go the modifying route be careful. As you said in your post, water and electricity don't mix. Also spinning grinding wheels that come off and bounce around the room can be a little nasty also. I would just look around ebay, want ads, garage sales, rock shows etc. You'll find one eventually.
Good Luck Bob
|
|
|
Post by docone31 on Feb 24, 2005 18:40:29 GMT -5
Ok, I used a conventional bench grinder for a long time before I went to a water oriented grinder. I got some really great results with the "dry" grinder. I put a rubber drum for sanding on one side, used a grinding wheel for the other. I had a coffee cut for a cooling cut, and I occasionally sprayed the drum sander to break the glaze. To be honest, I did more with the "dry" grinder than the wet one. I do like Krazy's unit however. I want one for the shop.
|
|
|
Post by docone31 on Feb 24, 2005 18:46:32 GMT -5
As a matter of fact. I showed the unit Krazy got to my wife, and It looks like a conventional bench grinder. When I got my official bench grinder, saw, the motor was really not insulated from water. I believe, there is no reason a person cannot get a bench grinder from Harbor Freight, 8", get shaft extensions from the site Krazy posted, make some pans out of sheet metal, use a grounded outlet with a GFI outlet installed and grind away. I have done it, so why could not others?
|
|
MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
|
Post by MichiganRocks on Feb 25, 2005 6:57:00 GMT -5
As a matter of fact. I showed the unit Krazy got to my wife, and It looks like a conventional bench grinder. When I got my official bench grinder, saw, the motor was really not insulated from water. I believe, there is no reason a person cannot get a bench grinder from Harbor Freight, 8", get shaft extensions from the site Krazy posted, make some pans out of sheet metal, use a grounded outlet with a GFI outlet installed and grind away. I have done it, so why could not others? I agree Doc, the lapidary units are really no different in their basic components, they just have the modifications already done for you, but you pay a price for it. Another consideration is that you can always start with a standard bench grinder and later on buy an arbor setup, such as the Lortone Beaver and then use the motor from the bench grinder to drive the Beaver arbor with a remote belt. Ron
|
|
chassroc
Cave Dweller
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
|
Post by chassroc on Feb 25, 2005 9:24:52 GMT -5
Tweetie, You can certainly use a bench grinder and $48CDN is a good price. ;D ;D Grinders are very messy either dust or flying rock drippings or both get everywhere. The specific lapidary grinders have water hookups and collection basins, and housings to minmize spattering built in. The dust generated by rock grinding is not good for you (maybe a carcinagen?) so water helps to lessen the health risk. You can always rig some kind of dripper or use a spray mist bottle but you want to collect the waste water too. I think if you just want to grind a few high point or blemishes, the generic grinder approach will work just fine. Beware that grinding, like Tumbling is addictive and you will want to do more. I bought a professional type dust respirator for $20 or $30 USD becuase of dust fears. I bought my Tumblers from Kingsley North (very reputable) but my grinders came from Ebay auctions. Beware, there are many ripoff artists who try to take advantage of the good people who post here. One tried to rip me off for about $300.00; I stopped payment though VISA on that one. Another ripped me off on a $100.00+ purchase (He gave me a sob story about recovering from some bad health situation). So I didn't stop the credit card payment and he ripped me off and never got back to me. Of course, he may have died too (in which case I feel terrible for saying bad things about him!). The bad experiences are exceptions, not the rule; You can say I'm nuts (my wife does), but I still purchase items on the internet!
|
|
MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
|
Post by MichiganRocks on Feb 25, 2005 9:45:52 GMT -5
The main problem with the dust is Silicosis, which causes scarring in the lungs resulting in decreased function. That's why breathing the dust from your Silicon Carbide grit is not a good idea either. Don't mean to scare you. An occasional sniff won't hurt, but continued exposure over a period of time isn't good.
Ron
|
|
stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
|
Post by stefan on Feb 25, 2005 10:10:01 GMT -5
Hey I love this thread- I'm in the same boat as tweet- I WANT A GRINDER- Ok here are my questions- I have a 7 inch tile saw- So I slab a rock then what- Grind it? I gather there are different "grit wheels" but after it is shaped then what- In the tumbler- or is there a way to polish with the grinder (I saw something about a leather pad) KD your set up looks ideal- HOW MUCH? Even if you get a cheap bench grinder- it looks to me as the wheels and such will add up to what a complete unit is gonna cost- DETAILS DETAILS DETAILS!
|
|
|
Post by Cher on Feb 25, 2005 12:33:52 GMT -5
Hey Tweety, I just use a plain two wheel bench grinder. I put some green silicon carbide wheels on it (the Aluminum Oxide wheels that come on them are for metal) and just use a cup of water to grind dip. I wear a dustmask and use my shop vac to suck up the dust as best I can. If you get diamond wheels (a LOT more pricey) you will have to have water or they will burn up. With the carbide wheels, the water mainly just keeps the rock cool so you can handle it. Ron ps. $48 CN sounds pretty darn good to me! Ron, do those green wheels come in various grits? Any suggestions as to the best one? Cher
|
|
MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
|
Post by MichiganRocks on Feb 25, 2005 12:39:49 GMT -5
Hey Cher, I think mine are like 60 and 100 grit. I think. I'm pretty sure? I have no complaints with mine. I have no problem grinding shapes including hearts and crosses. I have no plans to ever do enough of that kind of work to warrant the expense of a full blown cabbing machine. Maybe someday if I happen across someone selling one used for a very used price! I do plan on getting a second bench grinder that I can put a buffing and polishing wheel on. I also have my bench belt sander/disc sander. Ron
|
|
|
Post by Cher on Feb 25, 2005 14:17:58 GMT -5
Thanks Ron, more ??'s now ;D Do you have yours hooked up so it runs at a slower speed or can you use those green wheels as is?
Do you use the soft or hard wheels?
Do you have a good place that you buy them from online or do you get them locally?
Thanks *smile* Those are way less expensive than the diamond wheels so I'm hoping I can find something that will fit my grinder.
Cher
|
|
MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
|
Post by MichiganRocks on Feb 25, 2005 14:32:48 GMT -5
|
|
MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
|
Post by MichiganRocks on Feb 26, 2005 18:37:40 GMT -5
Hey Cher, one other note about using a bench grinder with green silicon carbide wheels. The rock handle that I made for my "Beatles Tribute" cane was made grinding it on my bench grinder. I shaped it with my bench grinder and then finished it on my belt sander with silicon carbide belts. It can be done. Ron
|
|
Voodoo Rage
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2005
Posts: 127
|
Post by Voodoo Rage on Feb 26, 2005 21:35:48 GMT -5
We had a discussion about this in this thread: andy321.proboards16.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1108838150I found an inexpensive diamond wheel on E-bay through this guy: search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZrichonQ5ftoolsI haven't received it yet, so I'll let you know how is goes. Here is a picture of the grinder I will be working with: I'll be setting up a splash shield, water drip line, and collecting pan. I'll put up a picture once I am up and running. In a related issue, I just did a bunch of "blemish grinding" on some jaspers running through the coarse grind and the Dremel diamond burs definately work much better if you keep both the bur and the stone partially submerged under water.
|
|