trwagner1
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2008
Posts: 3
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Post by trwagner1 on May 23, 2008 12:32:52 GMT -5
I am a COMPLETE greenhorn to this hobby. I saw the butterflies and other pre-form shapes and I am very interested in doing the preforms.
I've read quite a bit here on this topic and decided I will (at some point this summer) get a vibe machine and tile saw.
However, I've not seen any of this done "in person"...
So, couple of questions at you guys about safety.
One book I have is from the 60's. Picture shows the guy cutting rock with his hands. I like my fingers for some reason... so, how do you cut your rock? Do you make jigs to hold certain rocks or do you have some device to assist in cutting rock so you don't cut your fingers off?! ;-)
I've never used or have seen the operation of a tile saw. What's it's speed compared to a regular table saw? My concern with this question is how loud it is and how fast chips or pieces will fly up and hit you. So, I assume nice leather gloves, etc. But, the speed at which chips fly will determine if I buy the el-cheapo habor freight face shield or a good one from home depot or one of the other box stores.
Thanks
Ted
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huffstuff
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since August 2007
Posts: 1,222
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Post by huffstuff on May 23, 2008 13:14:45 GMT -5
Ted, I've been at this less than a year and I have a Home Depot Workforce tile saw.
Most people hold the smaller rocks that are cut on these saws with their hands. The diamond saw blades are different than wood saw blades, they will not take off a limb! ;D From what they've told me, you could get a bit of an abrasion but there are no teeth on the edge to cut.
My husband got nervous and brought me some puncture-proof gloves from work. I wear them for his sake. I'm cutting smaller pieces now (preforms for pendants, for example) and it's hard to hold them with the gloves, since my fingers are a little shorter than the gloves.
I don't know how speed and noise compare to a regular table saw. I think it's pretty noisy and I wear ear plugs and safety glasses. I have small chips fly up at me including my face, but these are probably about the size of coarse Kosher salt (not rock salt!). I'm trying to think what else is this size... large grains of sand.
Some here have lost hold or had the saw grab a chunk and fling it. I hope they chime in with their experiences and their opinions on whether a face shield is necessary.
Welcome to RTH!
Amy
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Post by deb193redux on May 23, 2008 13:30:36 GMT -5
Yes, the big danger is abrasion, or getting skin pinched between blade/wheel and table, or having a stone that rode up the blade bind and get slammed down on the table with your finger underneath.
You can brush the backs of your fingers against the blade and have no problem. It is good not to fear the blade so much that you hold fingers so far away you end up with poor control of the stone and it flies off the saw.
I think gloves would create more problems with reduced control they they would add in safety.
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Post by stardiamond on May 23, 2008 14:18:21 GMT -5
My equipment isn't very noisy. I wear large size reading glasses to protect my eyes. I hand feed my material. My biggest concern with the saw is it binding. I'm not more afraid of my wheels than the saw. The worst thing I get are small cuts and abrasions. I don't use a dop stick.
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Post by akansan on May 23, 2008 14:29:02 GMT -5
You can touch a spinning saw blade and maybe create a friction burn (if you press hard enough and hold long enough), but other than that...not much to fear. The most dangerous thing that's happened to me on my saw was that stupid obsidian shard that I was cleaning off the table.
Noise (to me) is actually a little less than a table saw. I can carry on a loud conversation using my tile saw, but I can't carry on any conversation when working with a table saw. Perhaps that's just me, though.
Amy - make your husband touch the saw blade. I think you would be able to do away with the gloves then.
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Post by Bikerrandy on May 23, 2008 16:19:20 GMT -5
As Daniel said, wearing gloves would most likely creat an unsafe condition rather than prevent one. I've been cutting for almost three years with a Workforce tile saw and haven't ever worn gloves. I touch the blade at least one time with each rock that I cut, and I haven't been cut yet. I imagine that it could cut you if you touch it hard enough. After all, it is a spinning piece of steel! ;D
akansan- that's too funny. (I also cut myself cleaning obsidian from the Workforce table) ;D
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Post by fishenman on May 23, 2008 21:23:35 GMT -5
I cut by hand on my 10" star-diamond saw all the time. Today I cut a small mine-run emerald and I steadied the blade with my finger when I started the cut. I have touched it many times without injury. Yes, if you get your finger between the table and the blade but I find cutting with oil, my fingers are never grabbed by the blade. Woodworking tools are much more dangerous. Lapidary is safe enough for most 10 year olds.
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Post by akansan on May 23, 2008 21:55:15 GMT -5
LOL fishenman. I think you meant you Put your hand on the blade. That was one unfortunate typo there.
Randy - you gotta watch out for that obsidian! The piece I sliced my hand on was too small for even tumble rough!
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Post by fishenman on May 23, 2008 21:58:58 GMT -5
That's too funny. No, I really meant that I cut small rocks and odd shaped rough holding by hand not the vice. LOL
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Post by akansan on May 23, 2008 22:01:51 GMT -5
Okay, I think I need to go to sleep. I read that as "I cut my hand on my 10" star-diamond saw all the time". So yeah - I'm reading typos where there are none, and assuming it's a typo where it's actually right. Whoops. I guess I don't play well after 10.
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Post by Michael John on May 24, 2008 14:24:20 GMT -5
I bump my WF blade all the time. Not only doesn't it cut, but it's never left an abrasion, and it doesn't hurt at all. I don't even flinch or lose stride when I bump the blade anymore.
I definately push the WF to the limit as far as trying to cut big rocks into slabs, using the "rolling" method. The rocks often bind on the blade, sending the rock shooting out. They hit me sometimes, and hurt a little (very little, really). That doesn't stop me from standing in front of the saw and shoving rocks into the blade with a lot of pressure. As foolish as it may be or seem, I use absolutely no safety precautions whatsoever, never even think about safety, and tear into that saw like a red-headed step-child. Damn the torpedoes!
Do I recommend that others take the same approach as I do? NO.
The only safety precautions that I'd recommend are to remove all jewelry and anything that may inadvertently get caught in the blade ... like an unbuttoned shirt, for instance. I don't wear jewelry, and I almost always wear t-shirts, so these aren't issues for me, but I would take these precautions if they applied.
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chadman
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2008
Posts: 106
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Post by chadman on May 26, 2008 2:59:03 GMT -5
Well like any machine, just when you think your safe and can relax BAM! Something goes wrong. NEVER underestimate any machines ability to hurt you! The blade is relatively safe as far as cuts goes, but that does not mean it can't hurt you. Some saw blades have kerfs or notches in them. That can bite you. Your material can fracture in your hand. The spinning blade can fling stuff at a good clip. your clothing can get caught up in.
I'm the first one to say "If you don't give some blood, sweat and tears you aren't doing it right."
Keep your head about you when working with any machine. do not get distracted. ALWAYS wear safety glasses! I've been to the hospital 2 times to remove splinters from my eye. Not fun! Never from rock cutting but I have been hit in the face while doing it.
I cut plenty of stuff with my hands. So don't be too worried about it. Rock can fracture sharper than a razor. I haven't been cut by it so far. I have had stuff flung at me a t high speed on a cab machine. That hurts. Don't worry about it and have fun. Be careful and wear eye protection.
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Post by Tweetiepy on May 26, 2008 10:55:37 GMT -5
Lots of people have mentioned using safety glasses and I'll chime in on that one - can't be too safe there.
No one has mentioned this so I will: plug that saw into a GFI plug! it uses water, water & electricity don,t like each other... use a GFI plug!
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