prairiedog41
starting to shine!
Member since October 2009
Posts: 35
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Post by prairiedog41 on Mar 6, 2010 2:07:56 GMT -5
I just acquired a Spartan 12" chop/slab saw and it came without any paperwork. The previous owner said that he had found out that the company had only stayed in business about two or three years and was unable to find out anything else about them. I would like to find a maintenance or users manual if at all possible. If anybody could give me any type of info on this machine I certainly would appreciate it.
Thanks in advance
Will
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Post by frane on Mar 6, 2010 21:41:24 GMT -5
I have no idea about the manual but maybe someone will see this post and pipe up.
Good luck!
Fran
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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 6, 2010 22:01:03 GMT -5
Perhaps posting a couple of pix will loosen the dusty cobwebs around here ;D
Dr Joe
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prairiedog41
starting to shine!
Member since October 2009
Posts: 35
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Post by prairiedog41 on Mar 7, 2010 1:31:26 GMT -5
I am trying to work on the pix, but all I have at this time is some on a MS Word document and I don't think I am going to get them to upload to PB.
However, I will keep trying.
In your travels and what have you, do you know of any other brand of drop or chop saw for rocks? I am looking for maintenance info, but also any nuances or idiosyncrasies peculiar to the chop/drop style of saws.
-=W=-
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Post by catmandewe on Mar 7, 2010 3:29:17 GMT -5
clamp the rock really really good
make sure there is coolant getting to the blade
start the saw, gently drop it on the rock or gently drop the rock onto the blade, depending on type.
shut off when done.
Some need extra weight, some have enough weight in the drop arm.
Some blades are fixed and the rock swings, some blades swing and the rock is fixed.
Oil coolant is the best, but water will do (it will also shorten the life of your blade)
Check for play in your bearings, replace if needed.
Some older motors have an oil port, put a drop or two of oil in each port. Some are sealed bearings, just replace when they wear out.
Check belts for excessive wear, replace if needed.
Check pulleys for nicks and cracks, replace if needed.
That should be it in a nutshell.
Good luck..............Tony
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Post by rockmanken on Mar 7, 2010 7:47:47 GMT -5
I have 2 14" Lortone drop saws. They have pumps to bring the oil up to the top of the blade. The blade drops to the rock that is clamped in a vise. Adjustment to the thickness of the slab are made by turning a crank to move the motor and blade to the left (or right).
Ken
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 7, 2010 11:46:57 GMT -5
Nice manual Tony. Tagit makes a "Preformer Saw" and as mentioned, Lortone makes one. Drop saws are the simplest to build so many home made units out there too. I just picked up a Preformer and will let you know if there is a manual with it. I can copy and mail you one if there is.
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prairiedog41
starting to shine!
Member since October 2009
Posts: 35
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Post by prairiedog41 on Mar 7, 2010 14:59:35 GMT -5
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Post by rockmanken on Mar 7, 2010 16:13:37 GMT -5
EXACTLY like a Lortone. Looks just like mine, only mine are 14".
From the spacing, it look like yours may be a 14" also.
Ken
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prairiedog41
starting to shine!
Member since October 2009
Posts: 35
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Post by prairiedog41 on Mar 7, 2010 17:46:19 GMT -5
Well then Ken, I got two questions...........
How do I determine whether 12" OR 14" for sure?
And........would you have any literature on the Lortone? I was out checking it out a while ago and I found some extra pieces down in the well but I am not sure just where they fit on?
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prairiedog41
starting to shine!
Member since October 2009
Posts: 35
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Post by prairiedog41 on Mar 7, 2010 17:53:33 GMT -5
From the spacing, it look like yours may be a 14" also. I forgot to ask, what do you mean by "spacing"? |
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Old Hickory
having dreams about rocks
Member since March 2006
Posts: 67 
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Post by Old Hickory on Mar 7, 2010 18:26:01 GMT -5
Hi Will
I agree with Ken - that is exactly like a Lortone 14” drop saw. My brother in law picked one up about a year ago and he was also looking for an operators manual. I contacted Lortone and they copied an old manual and mailed it to me.
If I were you I would call Lortone at 800-426-6773 and tell them that you have lost the manual for your LS14 / LS14C Slab Saw they would send you one. Lortone calls the saw a slab saw not a drop saw. I am not sure what the difference is between the LS14 and the LS14C but the manual covered both models. I think they made these saws until about 1999. Their address is Lortone, Inc, 12130 Cyrus Way, Mukilteo, WA. 98275. Hope this helps.
Ron
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prairiedog41
starting to shine!
Member since October 2009
Posts: 35
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Post by prairiedog41 on Mar 7, 2010 21:49:37 GMT -5
Went out a little while ago and measured to see if it was a 14 incher or not. The blade guard width would allow a 14" blade, the height would not, although you could insert some one inch risers under the guard brackets and make it work. A closer look revealed the stamp on the frame indicated 12.1 which would coincide with the 12 blade diameter and the one inch arbor sizes.
Soooo, I guess I will see what, if anything, Lortone can come up with. I see they do list an LS12/LS12C parts list.
Thanks for all your help. (So far ;D ;D)
Will
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Old Hickory
having dreams about rocks
Member since March 2006
Posts: 67
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Post by Old Hickory on Mar 8, 2010 1:02:11 GMT -5
Hi again Will,
The LS12/LS12C that they make reference to is not a drop saw and not the same as the LS14/LS14C. If you talk to them refer #054-90 LS/14 and #054-93 LS/14C
Ron
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Post by rockmanken on Mar 8, 2010 7:37:57 GMT -5
I really don't see what good a manual would do. I wouldn't read it anyway. ;D ;D ;D
Just stick in a rock and turn it on and let it down and cut it. AFTER you add some oil. Mineral oil will not work on a drop saw because it is too thick for the pump to lift it up.
I used diesel fuel for many years until they started adding crap to it.
Ken
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prairiedog41
starting to shine!
Member since October 2009
Posts: 35
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Post by prairiedog41 on Mar 8, 2010 10:49:50 GMT -5
You are right Ken. You know I would only read it when I can't find the answer by guessing or just bluffing my way through. However, like I said earlier, I found some extra pieces tossed in the oil well that go on the machine but I just can't find where.
Thanks for the tip re: the mineral oil, cause that is what I use in my others. Really don't like kerosene though and that is what the PO was using.
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Post by catmandewe on Mar 8, 2010 11:03:12 GMT -5
I have had a couple of saws with mineral oil in them that pump the oil to the blade.
Should be able to use mineral oil in the drop saw.
Have a great day............Tony
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,980
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Post by khara on Jan 24, 2023 0:06:34 GMT -5
prairiedog41 Well it’s been about 13 years!🤣 How do you like your Spartan? Still using it? I have one as well and am refurbishing it now. Just cleaning it up, new wiring, etc. It ran pretty well but all the wiring was scary old and we’ll see if we can get the pump going. I searched specifically for this saw and “saw” your old posts as you were starting to use yours. It’s interesting about the mineral oil. I was just researching that as well but didn’t yet know about the pump not working well with regular mineral oil. I’m now wondering about a water soluble oil milk. I’ve also been brainstorming a cover to try and contain the spray. Anyway it currently sits completely disassembled in my garage, partly cleaned, partly fresh painted. We are looking forward to getting it running and getting it dirty with our own rocks.🤓
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Post by Rockoonz on Jan 24, 2023 1:44:10 GMT -5
khara they haven't been online since September, they might be around without logging in but if so they won't see the tag. Here's a lortone manual for their 14" drop saw. The old Little Giant pump is NLA. cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1783/4633/t/4/assets/LS14_Instructions.pdf?v=5797519960518075291524508942I hear Smokeys EZ cut works well with pumps. I don't recomend J-Bros additive, they added or subtracted something and now it froths up terribly. Regular machinists soluble oil should not be used. Seen some dandy covers, Acrylic is really easy to work with. My SLIK drop saw is similar and has a lid, after the saw shop is re-roofed I may start on the resto-mod for it, thinking about some real non standard add ons.
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,980
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Post by khara on Jan 24, 2023 3:05:49 GMT -5
Rockoonz Thank you for the manual. That should help some. I’m imagining we might be missing some parts and there are parts we have that we aren’t really sure what they are for. And thanks also for the new coolant ideas. I’m still thinking of the lighter weight lapidary mineral oil per the other thread as a possibility but this is good to know there’s a whole nother route to consider given that we have a pump. We have bent acrylic on our trim saw for a cover. It works pretty well. So we are thinking of that for a partial guard on this drop saw as well and if it ends up being a crazy sprayer I’m thinking of a curtain around the whole unit since it’s in our garage. Ya I did see the September date but I thought well maybe I’ll hear back in 6 months or so! 🤓 Thanks for your earlier than that input though!
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