distantshore
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2008
Posts: 10
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Post by distantshore on Apr 7, 2008 16:30:39 GMT -5
We live in the Falkland Islands (South Atlantic) where you can collect agate pebbles on some beaches. They are black, white and translucent stones up to about 2” diameter, (most of them are smaller). We have tumbled some of them but would like to do a bit more – slab and polish, and perhaps make cabochons. We would greatly appreciate some advice on equipment.
We have no experience of lapidary nor does anyone else here and anything we get will have to be ordered from the US or the UK – we can’t go into a shop and have a look or go to a club and try it out.
Given that our stones are quite small, can you cut reasonably thin and accurate slices with a trim saw? Could you polish them on a grinder/polisher or do you have to have a lap?
We can’t spend a lot of money but wondered if something like the Covington Model 494 or 495 Combination Units might do the things we want. There is also a Covington 421 & 422 - 8" Standard Combination Units With 10" Trim Saw but they are quite expensive. Covington machines look good quality and we have heard bad reports of some of the cheaper combination machines.
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Post by akansan on Apr 7, 2008 17:23:33 GMT -5
At only 2" in diameter, you'd probably have to roll the rock on a 6" trim saw. It can be done, you just have to take care. Other than that, the 494 or the 495 would work great for what you're wanting to do.
If you don't want to look at a combination saw, look around for a diamond wet tile saw. The WF saws we talk about on here are a low cost alternative to a trim saw. It has it's trade offs - the RPMs are higher than a trim saw, so it cuts with more force (more brutality some times).
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Post by deb193redux on Apr 7, 2008 21:35:19 GMT -5
When rolling rocks, a thicker blad is good so you do not bend it by accident. Also, if you get the saw seperate form the grinder, you can change the saw pulley to make it spin faster. Standard lapidary speed is 1725, but today's slintered blades on stainless-steel core are built for much faster. You could likely run at 3400 RPM, which would make cutting a 2" thick nodule on a trim saw easier. After all the trim saw is only designed for slabs, and you want to help it as much as you can so you do not have to suffer slow cuts or bent blades.
You can polish a wheel. Many do. If you get a grinder that can take an end-plate, it will likely not cost much more and will give the option of a polishing pad.
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distantshore
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2008
Posts: 10
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Post by distantshore on Apr 8, 2008 17:54:33 GMT -5
Thank you for your very kind help. I have been looking at the HomeDepot website in the US and cannot find the WF saw anywhere. Have they changed their name? I am putting in the local store as Miami as that is probably the most likely place we would import from. Anyhow, I can't imagine they would stock it in one shop and not another. Can anyone give an exact link or description so that I can find it on their website please? Many thanks
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rockonsister
having dreams about rocks
Member since March 2007
Posts: 56
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Post by rockonsister on Apr 9, 2008 23:24:50 GMT -5
WF means Work Force. Great Questions.
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Post by fishenman on Apr 10, 2008 11:42:36 GMT -5
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Post by akansan on Apr 10, 2008 11:59:28 GMT -5
I'm not really sure it was ever available online, actually. Any wet tile saw will do, it's the diamond blade that makes the difference. (Just double-checked. It's available in stores only.) Here's the equivalent from Lowe's - www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=124503-1255-60087&lpage=noneFrom some reviews on here, you'd have to change the original blade sooner than you would the WF saw, but other than that it should be fine. |
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distantshore
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2008
Posts: 10
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Post by distantshore on Apr 10, 2008 15:31:18 GMT -5
We are overwhelmed by your help and your kindness! Thank you so much.
We have now managed to buy something we think will be suitable from the UK. It'll take about 6 weeks or 2 months to arrive and we are very impatient so it is agony.
The relative strength of the pound against the US dollar and slightly closer geographical proximity make importing from the US v attractive for us but we aren't sure about shipping via Miami. One v helpful US supplier has found the shipping question completely baffling and even asked whether the Falklands was the same as the Maldives! My geographical knowledge is atrocious so I am not in a position to poke fun at anyone. I was once corrected by an 8 year old child when I pointed to Madagascar and declared it was the Falklands.
Thanks again, Sarah and Richard
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