spokanetim
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2009
Posts: 656
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Post by spokanetim on Nov 29, 2009 22:54:52 GMT -5
I had a free day, no rain or snow and a bunch of rocks to slab with my old WF saw. Killed a blade and a half until I killed the saw! Somehow I bent the shaft so it has a big wobble. Tried older blades to make sure it wasn't the blade but they all wobbled. Guess I better look into that Husky 7" at the Home Depot. What and where do you buy your blades? The cheep blades hardly last and the premium 7" blades at Home Depot cost $35. The better blades last three times as long but still it gets pricey. Anyway, I got threw a bunch of rock and some preformed cabs. I don't have a clue what most of this stuff is other than it looks more interesting in person than the pics show. I just pick it up off the Yellowstone or Columbia river. Tomorrow I'm going to the local rock club for the first time to start learning how to properly cab. In a week or so I should have my "new to me" all diamond DP Genie! I'm buying it from a really nice local guy who has two. It's only couple years old and in like new condition (including practical new wheels) and for only $700 total. Today's slabs Really like this peach color Very nice green with yellow Green with white quartz Green Quartz Purple with white quartz Moss Agates, with a back light you can see the moss like material. Fossilized tube worms back light Preformed cabs
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jcinpc
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2009
Posts: 722
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Post by jcinpc on Nov 29, 2009 23:10:21 GMT -5
good amount of slabs and a good deal on the genie. I think you should start with drums and sandpaper belts to appreciate what the genie does,lol cant wait to see those finished
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Nov 29, 2009 23:20:15 GMT -5
That's quite a bit of cutting...and it looks like your well prepared for the Genie. Congratz by the way. That's a great price on a machine your gonna LOVE!!! That green quartz and worm hole one is really neat. I buy my blades from SuperAgates.com. Mark Boche sells 6" blades for 25.00 and they are great quality and they last! I cut mainly agates with my 6" saw and I won't buy another blade. You can buy a saw with the money you saved on the Genie find. Looking forward to seeing some cabs soon. Steve
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Post by 150FromFundy on Nov 30, 2009 20:35:56 GMT -5
Call me cheap, but I buy the Qep replacement blades from Home Depot for $17.95 here in New Brunswick. They are the "biggest bang for the buck" if you are not concerned with their thickness. There is 7mm (0.275 inches) of diamond availabe on the rim. You should get at least 200 and up to 300 cuts on a blade. I'm not sure if you are making that many cuts, or not.
Chances are, if you are not getting 200 to 300 cuts, and your shaft is bent, you are applying WAY too much pressure to the blade. Make sure you are advancing the cut with minimal pressure. No sparks, no vibrations.
You will like the Husky WAY more than the WF. The aluminium top will take a long time to wear through and the reservoir system is good. Get a good drip pan for beneath the saw to minimize your mopping. Use plenty of water and you should get 200 to 300 cuts on the cheap Home Depot blades.
Darryl.
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spokanetim
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2009
Posts: 656
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Post by spokanetim on Dec 2, 2009 0:54:32 GMT -5
Thanks for the saw info Darryl. I'm not getting that many cuts even with the better blades. I'm probably applying way to much pressure. At the end I was really forcing the rocks as I was sort of cranky about the blade wearing down. That's when I bent the shaft! Expensive lessons learned. I should get that new Husky saw soon and I'll take your advice about buying the cheaper blades and NOT force the rocks. I have a real 6" rock trim saw to cut preforms but it's just so darn slow to hack threw bigger rocks.
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