10thumbs
spending too much on rocks
I want to be reincarnated as a dog.
Member since March 2009
Posts: 480
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Post by 10thumbs on Apr 16, 2009 16:30:33 GMT -5
I have not tried my Rock Rascal trim saw yet and I know I got recommendations on this forum not to use it for cutting mini-slabs but the blade sticks up like 3" from the tray. Assuming I don't put too much pressure on the rock it has to be easier to use this saw than trying to spin chunks of rock around the blade of my Workforce. It takes so long and it's still cold enough up here in Michigan that my wet hands are cramping and aching in no time. I have to start chopping up these bigger rocks and see what is inside!!!
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firewalker45
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since August 2006
Posts: 929
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Post by firewalker45 on Apr 16, 2009 19:49:11 GMT -5
Hi Thumbs, no problem. Just remember that the blade is thiner and the rpm is slower, therefore take it slow. It will be easier to bind your blade than with the workforce. After awhile if the blade doesn't seem to be cutting good, sharpen your blade by 1. cutting into a silicon carbide grinding wheel (best method) or 2. cutting some obsidian, or 3. cutting a soft brick. Hope this helps. Daniel
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docharber
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2008
Posts: 693
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Post by docharber on Apr 17, 2009 8:58:05 GMT -5
My advice is, just don't. I have ruined blades repeatedly triyig to cut even the smallest slabbettes. The Rock Rascal (yea, I have one) is a trim saw and it cuts very slowly, the blades are delicate and expensive, and and they will not only bind but kink and warp SOOOOOOOO esaily. I recently bought a 6" sintered blade from Rock Lady and haven't used it yet, but it is much heavier duty and might work better. The Rock Rascal turns maybe 1750 RPM with similar size pulleys and a standard motor of the same RPM. With a 6" blade, that isn't much surface feet per minute over the rock. The RR is great for valuable or thin material, but as I have been told on this forum and learned the hard wy, it is a TRIM saw.
Mark H.
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Post by deb193redux on Apr 18, 2009 10:04:33 GMT -5
If you need the less-wet cutting experience, you can try. A thicker blade (.032 or .040) with slintered diamond will work OK. You could also put a larger pulley on the blade or a smaller one on the motor and boost the speed.
But if one of your complaints was how long it took to spin rocks on the WF, it will not be much faster (if any) on the RR.
ALso while turning the rock on the WF can lead to blade damage, not turning them on the RR does not necessarily avoid blade damage. The lateral force at the edge of the blade is multiplied by the square of the cut depth. SO the 5lbs of lateral force on the blade that sticks up 1.5" may be 5*(1.2)^2; on a 3" it will be 5*(3)^2 - which means it takes less force to bend the blade with the deeper cut.
But, everyone's hand-held style and patience differs. Might be best to try and see how satisfied you are with the results and the time. Be prepared to ruin a blade, but be hapy if you don't, and it works well enough for you. Be prepared to make a few adjustments, spend a few dollars on parts .. etc, and try again to find what works best for you. I agree, cutting, albeit slowly, is better than not cutting at all.
Good luck
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