Dave Austin
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2008
Posts: 104
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Post by Dave Austin on Feb 28, 2009 11:19:01 GMT -5
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Mudshark
fully equipped rock polisher
Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock. Will Rogers
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,083
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Post by Mudshark on Feb 28, 2009 13:12:25 GMT -5
Dave,great job!!Looks nicely made.You should get a lifetime of use out of that machine.Thanks for sharing with us.
Mike
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Dave Austin
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2008
Posts: 104
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Post by Dave Austin on Mar 1, 2009 9:25:37 GMT -5
Hi Mike, yep it does the job and will soon be busy again once it gets warmer out in the workshop
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Post by mohs on Mar 1, 2009 13:15:05 GMT -5
That’s a fine machine you made there! I wanted to do something similar and now I see how the idea might have worked out! I saw 5/8th drive mandrels for 50.00 bucks but went with a Lortone.
Have you done the water system yet? What I use is a water pump ($6.00) piece of ¼ inch tubing reduced to 5/16 inch tubing. In the middle I have a brass lever pit valve. That was 18.00 bucks. I get fairly good control from slow drip to full flood.
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Post by sparkles on Mar 1, 2009 14:39:27 GMT -5
Hi Dave!
Great to see you here - I have enjoyed reading and seeing your stuff over at RoughRocks, very neat site and excellent jewels! ;D
I have to say a huge thanks for posting your details this weekend. I enjoyed seeing the detail on your machine design - which is quite brilliant, and the links to suppliers means that I'll be able to track down the parts I'll need to put together my own. That is a very neat design indeed, and I really enjoyed seeing what you've put together. Thanks so much for the details! Hope to see more of your work soon, and I can't wait to see that flint polished up!
Have fun!
Cheers,
Sparkles.
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Post by stoner on Mar 1, 2009 16:31:24 GMT -5
Great job. I like the idea of using the plasti-dip to seal everything. Lapidary equipment is way over priced, and if you can make it yourself, you're a lot better off.
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NDK
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,353
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Post by NDK on Mar 1, 2009 21:40:36 GMT -5
Great looking machine, Dave! Thanks for sharing.
Nate
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Post by cpdad on Mar 1, 2009 23:16:48 GMT -5
 ...kev.
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Dave Austin
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2008
Posts: 104
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Post by Dave Austin on Mar 2, 2009 17:41:19 GMT -5
Hi all,
thanks very much for all of your comments they are very encouraging to us and wil spur us on for other projects as time goes on.
Deeptime, a friend promised me a fish tank pump abput 6 months ago, I aim to chase him up about that.
Sparkles, if you need any advice when building your machine just give me a hollar ok
Next job, a 16" saw I think, now where can I find a suitable arbour or what can I adapt...
cheers
Dave
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drjo
fully equipped rock polisher
Honduran Opal & DIY Nut
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,581
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Post by drjo on Mar 12, 2009 10:26:31 GMT -5
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Mar 13, 2009 3:50:38 GMT -5
HiDave,
Great machine you made
Thanks for all the links I love to make things also
If your ever on the M62 drop into Burhouses warehouse( its just off the 62) there are tons of rocks and bits from all over the world,
Some good beaches along the yorkshire coast Saltburn to Scarborough (Ravenscar for focels NOT hard rocks) if you ever get this way.
I get bearings & plummer Blocks localy at a Bearing firm who specilise in just bearing products , you might find one in your area ?
Good to see another UK rock tumbler and machine builder on RTH
Jack
Yorkshire uk
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Dave Austin
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2008
Posts: 104
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Post by Dave Austin on Mar 16, 2009 3:32:53 GMT -5
Dr Joe, you have given me all kinds of ideas now for an arbor, even been looking at a second hand go kart drive shaft with bearings, now that could make a cool full size cab machine with multiple wheels - we will get there.
Jack, as always your comments are really helpful and encouraging.
I fired up the machine yesterday afternoon for a short while and had a go at a bit of the flint I found, the result, mirror fiinish would be about right.
Cheers all
Dave
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Dave Austin
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2008
Posts: 104
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Post by Dave Austin on Mar 20, 2009 2:57:17 GMT -5
Got go and revisit the water system on this machine over the weekend, I have treied all kins of things to get the whole width of the wheels wet, the diamond wheel is 2" and the expanding drum is 3" but so far have never been able to get the whole width of the wheel wet which means all the wear is around the moddle of the cutting areas.
I do have a small fish tank pump which I mught be able todo something with.
I have seen pictures shpwing wet fabric being draped over the top of the wheels which look slike a good idea, but ever time I have tried that the fabric gets snagged by the rotating wheel and subsequently it gets ripped off and ends up on the floor.
Some head scratching time coming up I guess.
Cheers
Dave
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Post by rockmanken on Mar 20, 2009 6:56:22 GMT -5
Cut up a motor oil bottle into a flap and fasten it to the top against the wheel to spread the water.
This worked for me 35 years ago when I used SiC.
Ken
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Dave Austin
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2008
Posts: 104
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Post by Dave Austin on Mar 20, 2009 7:48:56 GMT -5
Hi Ken,
thanks for your suggestion, I will rty it tomorrow when I am in the workshop.
Best regards
Dave
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drjo
fully equipped rock polisher
Honduran Opal & DIY Nut
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,581
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Post by drjo on Mar 21, 2009 7:58:46 GMT -5
Someone else on here used paint brushes to spread the water too.
Dr Joe
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Dave Austin
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2008
Posts: 104
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Post by Dave Austin on Mar 27, 2009 16:23:49 GMT -5
Hi Guys,
I meant to write this last Sunday, anyway I have sorted out the water system, had a sort of light bulb moment and realised that there wan't enough water in the resevoir to create enough flow, the answer, simple, fit a bigger bucket, more water, more weight = improved water flow which goes all over the surface of the wheels now.
Cheers
Dave
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...kev.
X - Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's rocks
- O Henry