Post by docharber on Nov 23, 2008 15:35:04 GMT -5
Florida is a wasteland for rock collecting, except for fossils. There are also few lapidarists to give advice, so I learn mainly by reading and correspondence. So, HELP!
i have decided it's time to buy a slab saw, or at least think seriously about it. i won't be doind prodduction work or cutting anything arger than about 5" thick. More often, I'll be cutting two inch material or less, mainly quartz stones. How large a saw do I need and what kind of blade for general work? I want autofeed, of course or weight feed. Needless to say, oil cooled. I have a couple of suitable motors, I think. Those things get really pricey in a hurry. Could I get by with a 10" for stuff up to about thrree inches?
Other problem, I have a trim saw I bought on eBay that I have decided is a rock rascal Model J. i bought a vise for it and I'm having problems with blade damage and dulling more than I think i should. I have tried (probably foolishly) to cut stuff up to an inch thick with it and at first, seemed to be succeeding. Now, after very little use, i find it takes forever to cut in spite of the edge feeling suitably abrasive. I am careful about alignment and use the vise with gentle pressure, and I use generous amounts of water and run the blade at about motor RPM of 1720+. I use a 12 mil blade. Still, I have buckeled a blade and apparently dulled another. I'll try the brick cutting trick to restore the blade, but I think it's had it. Am I forgetting something? Generally I have only tried to cut material under 3/4" max diamenter and it takes 20+ minutes to do it. I'm scared of ruiining something expensive (material or tool). UInput welcome!!
Mark H.
i have decided it's time to buy a slab saw, or at least think seriously about it. i won't be doind prodduction work or cutting anything arger than about 5" thick. More often, I'll be cutting two inch material or less, mainly quartz stones. How large a saw do I need and what kind of blade for general work? I want autofeed, of course or weight feed. Needless to say, oil cooled. I have a couple of suitable motors, I think. Those things get really pricey in a hurry. Could I get by with a 10" for stuff up to about thrree inches?
Other problem, I have a trim saw I bought on eBay that I have decided is a rock rascal Model J. i bought a vise for it and I'm having problems with blade damage and dulling more than I think i should. I have tried (probably foolishly) to cut stuff up to an inch thick with it and at first, seemed to be succeeding. Now, after very little use, i find it takes forever to cut in spite of the edge feeling suitably abrasive. I am careful about alignment and use the vise with gentle pressure, and I use generous amounts of water and run the blade at about motor RPM of 1720+. I use a 12 mil blade. Still, I have buckeled a blade and apparently dulled another. I'll try the brick cutting trick to restore the blade, but I think it's had it. Am I forgetting something? Generally I have only tried to cut material under 3/4" max diamenter and it takes 20+ minutes to do it. I'm scared of ruiining something expensive (material or tool). UInput welcome!!
Mark H.