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Post by christopherl1234 on May 5, 2010 20:31:57 GMT -5
So the other day I found an 18" saw for the grand price of $300. The housing is made out of wood. I can either use the automatic feed or gravity feed to cut the rough. Also I noticed that my vice has a slab grabber built right into it. I thought that was pretty cool. It looks like it would be a very simple matter of welding on a couple pieces of square metal stock that has been tapped. The saw cuts very good. I got one of those green blades and am quite impressed. I have been cutting all day! Anyhow here are some photos of my new to me saw and the slabs I have made today. The outside The inside notice the square metal stock on the square metal stock with screw holes on either side of the vice. I cut a piece of stone canyon jasper and used this at the end and I learned if I am careful and plan a little I can end up with a good slab at the end. Here are the slabs I changed a few things on this saw. The first thing I did was put wheels on it. I then made a shelf on the bottom. I had to mount a pulley system on the back for the gravity feed. Later I will repair the viewing port as it leaks a little there when I raise the lid. All and all I am very happy and excited about this saw, it gets the job done and does it well and it was the right price for me. Now I can get those chunks of rough, I have had for awhile, cut!!
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brent
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2008
Posts: 1,316
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Post by brent on May 5, 2010 20:55:20 GMT -5
Nice saw. How do you like that blade? I'm thinking of buying one.
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on May 5, 2010 21:14:12 GMT -5
That's a smoking deal on that saw. Looks like it works well to. Nice score.
Nate
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Post by christopherl1234 on May 5, 2010 21:19:17 GMT -5
I wasn't sure about these blades until I saw catmandewe using one of these out at Quartzsite this year. The first cut seemed a little rough but after that it has been smooth sailling. I have cut all day on it and it is cutting very good. I am happy. Seems like it is going to last a long time with care. It cost $150 including shipping from www.color-wright.com. If anyone else knows where to get the same blades cheaper please let me know. Thanks Nate I am pretty jazzed about it. I have been looking for a long time waiting for a good deal.
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Post by catmandewe on May 5, 2010 23:14:18 GMT -5
Nice find Christopher! Does it leak oil or does it recirculate? Hard to find a wooden saw that doesn't leak, but it looks real clean in the pictures.
Good score...................Tony
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Post by christopherl1234 on May 6, 2010 0:08:15 GMT -5
Tony,
The tub does not leak any but up by the viewing port it leaks when I lift the lid. Looks like the glass had broke at on time and they just put plastic and duck tape to fix it. I am going to cut a new piece of glass and put a little silicone around the trim and I think that will fix it. Those green blades work good too!!
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Post by catmandewe on May 6, 2010 1:34:30 GMT -5
Those blades work good as long as you keep it dressed by slabbing up a chunk of obsidian every 5th rock or so. I am curious to see if the tub starts leaking as the oil soaks into the wood, very rare to see a wood saw that does not leak. I have seen 2 that didn't, one was coated on the inside with fiberglass and one had a sheet metal tub inside the wood tub. The metal tub one still seeped a little, but the fiberglass one was dry as a bone on the outside.
Have fun cutting!
Tony
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firewalker45
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since August 2006
Posts: 929
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Post by firewalker45 on May 6, 2010 8:11:11 GMT -5
What a deal! You did great. Hard to find a better toy for 300. Have fun and keep the pics coming. Daniel
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fosldog
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2008
Posts: 13
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Post by fosldog on May 6, 2010 8:46:09 GMT -5
Looks alot like my 24" saw I got a few years ago. heck of a steal for the price! I really like the slabgrabber idea on the vice and going to make one for myself 2mods I made to mine were I built a safety guard around the pulley on the outside so hands and clothing wont get caught or snagged while the saw is running. I also took out the solid board to the left side of the blade and installed a some expanded alimunum metal mesh I had off an old sattelite dish. This lets the oil drain down to the sump better and faster. My saw also has a sump pump that delivers the oil to the top and runs out over the top of the blade and down into a 5 Gal bucket. This way, I only have to use 2 gal of oil at a time instead of 12 or so. Lots quicker and cheaper when its time to clean the oil!
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spokanetim
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2009
Posts: 656
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Post by spokanetim on May 6, 2010 9:13:08 GMT -5
Great find! You got to love new toys. I wonder how hard it would be to break it down and coat the inside with fiberglass??
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Post by Bejewelme on May 6, 2010 21:59:28 GMT -5
WOW everybody is cutting away! Nice saw!!! And again another great bargain! Happy cutting!
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Post by christopherl1234 on May 6, 2010 23:57:12 GMT -5
I think it would be pretty easy to just build a whole new box with fiberglass and just put the guts in it. I like that expando metal idea for the tray.
Tony, I will keep a keen eye out for leaks but she is doing good so far. The inside looked pretty good when I cleaned it out. No obvious cracks in the finish or joints. I think whoever built this one did a really good job of coating the inside so that it wouldn't leak. I let you know how it goes.
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Post by johnjsgems on May 7, 2010 1:53:16 GMT -5
That is the nicest looking "Kit" saw I've seen. Most have azillion coats of paint and fiberglass smeared everywhere. Covington sells the carriage/vise still to build your own. Check out the price of that and you will really feel good. In my opinion, 2 gallons of oil would not cool properly for a 24" saw. Mine has a 10 gal tank. You need enough volume for oil to cool.
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brent
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2008
Posts: 1,316
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Post by brent on May 7, 2010 10:58:25 GMT -5
That's the best deal I've seen on blades so far.
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fosldog
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2008
Posts: 13
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Post by fosldog on May 7, 2010 20:17:43 GMT -5
I agree that 2 gal of oil is not enough to cool any "oil slinger " style saw as mine used to be but the previous owner put a sink drain in the bottom so all the oil drains down into a 5 gal bucket. There is a sump pump in there that pumps the oil up through 1/2" tubing through the top of the saw and pours out on top of the blade and does an excellent job of blade cooling as its constantly bathed in oil.
Ive never had any problems with overheating. The problem Ive had before is forgetting to make sure the bucket was lined up under the drain again after I cleaned my oil. I guess thats what they make lkitty litter for!
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chromenut
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2009
Posts: 1,971
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Post by chromenut on May 7, 2010 23:03:15 GMT -5
holy crap! that's a nice saw!
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Post by christopherl1234 on May 7, 2010 23:48:07 GMT -5
Yeah Brent that was the best price I found also.
Thank Chromenut
So I cut a chunk of Sci-Fi Jasper today. That stuff is really hard. I never knew it was that hard, I guess that is why the call it Porcelain Jasper. Now that I have slabs of it I can get some cabs cut.
I will post some pics of my new cut slabs after the weekend. I cut some Rhodonite, Obsidian, Sci-Fi/Porcelain Jasper. Stone Canyon, Rainbow Ledge Jasper and some type of Chrysocolla that broke into smaller pieces so I stopped until maybe I can stabilize the chunk.
I wish I didn't have to go away this weekend. This whole slabbing thing is very addicting!!!! :drool:
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zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
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Post by zarguy on May 8, 2010 0:11:14 GMT -5
Christopher, awesome deal on a great saw.
It looks way too clean, though. Let's see pix after you cut a bunch of rocks!
I'm going to take a closer look at my vise & see if I can drill & tap it for a slab grabber. That's the simplest way to deal with that problem. I've got one of those Bill's Super Rock Clamps, & it's a great tool, but way too complex compared to what your vise has.
Lynn
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Post by johnjsgems on May 8, 2010 7:24:40 GMT -5
Mine has the same pump system with a cut off blue barrel that holds 10 gallons. I never tried it with less oil. A smaller barrel would be nice. A chambered tank would be even better.
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Post by christopherl1234 on May 8, 2010 22:45:10 GMT -5
Oh yeah, it is a lot grubbier today then it was the day I took those pictures, but she sure does clean up really nice. My saw holds about 6-7 gallons. Not sure exactly because I started with on open partially used 5 gallon bucket and then opened another and it didn't take it all. I will have to post some after photos
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