cooknet
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2009
Posts: 169
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Post by cooknet on Aug 2, 2010 11:53:42 GMT -5
So what prevents a guy from going to the local sign shop, buying a couple big pieces of magnetic stick on material, like the ones for mounting a sign to your vehicle door, cutting out 6 or 8" rounds from that magnetic material, and then getting a round piece of steel for a base, and either welding it or gluing it to the arbor mount?
Seems pretty straight forward to me, and it also seems like something that really shouldn't be THAT expensive!
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Post by jakesrocks on Aug 2, 2010 12:22:42 GMT -5
It would probably work if you can cut perfectly round and in balance disks. At 1725 RPM's, the least little bit out of balance the disk is, and you'll end up with it chasing you around the shop. Not to mention the damage an out of balance disk will do to your shaft and bearings. The spin on discs that you can buy are machined perfectly flat, and are balanced. The steel face on the disk is very thin, and is securely bonded to the backing. The Nova disks are a fairly soft, flexible piece, with a pre- determined amount of give engineered into them. They aren't stiff like a faceting disk would be. Don
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cooknet
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2009
Posts: 169
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Post by cooknet on Aug 2, 2010 18:13:53 GMT -5
I guess that makes sense. I was more or less thinking in terms of if you were to glue on a steel round disk on top of maybe an aluminum thread on polishing disk that goes on the end of your shaft, i think as long as you cut the steel disk to be perfectly round, and the same shape as the aluminum polishing disk, and then took a file and ground it down at LOW RPM's, until it was totally balanced it wouldn't be "that" dangerous! I can see if you were an idiot and just slapped on a piece of round sloppy cut steel "hoping" that it would stay in place where it would be a very stupid and dangerous thing to do! i don't mess around with anything that spins fast, and has the ability to fly off and nick my jugular vein! I've had a couple close calls with weird dremel cutting disk malfunctions, and I was doing NOTHING wrong, so ever since then, I'm double cautious about injuring myself, as I'm clumsy as it is!! I'm not trying to be stupid about making things that should be store bough, especially if there is a safety issue involved, but I like to make things on my own if they "can" be made by myself, saves alot of money in the long run, and as you know, you get that certain satisfaction that YOU created something yourself, and didn't have to rely on a store bought item to do it. I think to a degree, the average guy is not self confident enough to even "try" to build anything himself anymore, as modern day marketing has pretty much brainwashed us that if it's not "store bought", then it's either no good, or it's not safe, as it's not "approved" by someone that is supposed to know what he is talking about! I have a new baby coming in September, and I can sure tell you that I'm absolutely dumbfounded by some of the toys and baby products out there that are blatantly dangerous the way they are designed! One only has to take one quick look at some of them just to see the potential for injury, what were they thinking?? I don't know who we were supposed to trust in those cases, but clearly, the safety standards people need to look closer at some of these products out there!
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Post by jakesrocks on Aug 2, 2010 18:49:03 GMT -5
Chris, not saying that you couldn't make a disk that would work, but the store bought disks are either cast aluminum or cross linked plastic. The threaded bolt is molded right into them. There is very little chance that the bolt will come loose from the disk. For the magnetic disks, a very thin piece of plated steel is bonded to them with a special adhesive. This is done under heat and pressure in specially designed machines. The whole assembly is then spun at very high speed, and balanced much like a tire is balanced. Only instead of adding lead weights, they remove very minute amounts of material from the rim. Spinning a steel disk, and rounding it with a file, there's very little chance that it will come out in balance. While I agree that there's a lot of satisfaction in building something yourself, when it comes to something that will be spinning right in front of my face, I'd rather trust the professionals. Don
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cooknet
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2009
Posts: 169
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Post by cooknet on Aug 2, 2010 20:34:10 GMT -5
Hi Don, your totally righ on this one, i see your point. Like I say, where there is ever a risk of injury, I stay away from it! That is why I'm being SO careful to ask everyone throughout the process of the manufacture of this shaft for my arbor, to make sure that it is agreed upon by those here who are seasoned builders of this kind of machine that it is safe and will run properly. When in doubt, i have no problem "asking". In fact, my wife hates it when I ask directions from people, I guess "real men" aren't suppose to ask, nor are they supposed to read manuals before assembling things they buy from the store, haha. Thanks don, Chris
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Post by johnjsgems on Aug 3, 2010 9:22:36 GMT -5
I've talked to Earl (Rockin&GeminwithET) many times at shows and he seems like a straight up guy to me. I think he told me last year at Buena Vista show he was getting out of shows but was going to keep his website and small rock and gift shop in Grand Junction.
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cooknet
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2009
Posts: 169
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Post by cooknet on Aug 3, 2010 9:56:45 GMT -5
Ho Jon, I'm not surprised that you know him, you know, "birds of a feather" and all that...lol.
What I mean is that "like attracts like", and good guys seem to find one another and end up conversing or doing business in small enclosed markets like this one, so it doesn't surprise me that the reputable and "honorable" people in the lapidary industry already know one another.
Also inversely, I'm sure that the "jerks" of the industry also know one another, and group together somehow, it always seems to be that way...lol.
Right away I could tell that they were a good place to deal with, I don't care how large or small an organization is, as long as my items arrive in a timely manner, and they have a comparable range or products, and of course, as long as they have good customer service, which Earl seems to have all of those things, although my stuff is still in shipping, most likely due to customs delays.
I'm the type of person that calls it like it is, if someone treats me like crap, I have NO problem making sure that everyone knows that happened to me, and also the opposite applies, if I receive GOOD treatment, and service, I make sure everyone is aware of THAT as well, as I wish I would have been guided myself by someone local here who had similar experiences trying to purchase from these companies.
Nobody here would have had an issue, your all in the US, it's just being in Canada that seems to be an issue.
I'll tell ya, there are going to be some BIG attitude adjustments if the North American union gets their way, and Canada, US, and Mexico become all ONE country, with ONE currency, the "dollaro", which absolutely NOBODY wants to happen, but it WILL, because you know, NONE of us REALLY have a say you know!
I can see it now, the maple syrup taco....LOL
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Post by johnjsgems on Aug 3, 2010 11:16:52 GMT -5
As far as shipping to Canada goes, I use USPS whenever possible. The last two orders I shipped arrived in Canada in one week and then were in Canada Customs for 4-5 weeks. Thankfully I had a way to track the orders and prove to the customers it was not my fault.
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cooknet
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2009
Posts: 169
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Post by cooknet on Aug 3, 2010 11:26:56 GMT -5
Yeah, that works inversely as well, when I was selling alot of stones on ebay, everyone was getting cheezed at me for the long wait, as Canada post said 4-6 days delivery, which is true, EXCEPT for the 2-3 weeks sitting in customs! They recently passed some new customs law that I cannot seem to find ANY info about, that is making the shipments both ways take longer, apparently, this went through around march or something like that. I dunno. Glad your customers understood in the end! Chris
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Post by cpdad on Aug 3, 2010 17:39:26 GMT -5
o.k. chris....new shaft is made....you now have 2 shafts to play with ;D...its 24" long.....1 end threaded 1/2" right hand 2" long....1 end 2" long 1/2" left handed....right hand end tapped 1/4"-20...3/4" deep....5/8" between the threads. click pic. i still have to make the spacers tomorrow....i am going to make them out of UHMW (hard plastic)...give me lengths on what you would like as far as spacers go....and quantity.....kev.
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cooknet
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2009
Posts: 169
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Post by cooknet on Aug 3, 2010 17:59:11 GMT -5
I was going to make a joke about playing with my shaft, but I think I need to keep this a family friendly forum...lol. That is absolutely AWESOME cpdad, THANK YOU!!! Sorry about the miscommunications in the specifications, everything sounds perfect with the shaft you made, if it's not going to work out, it's because I did something wrong to it! As far as the spacers go, what do you recommend? There is the space in the center, where the arbor goes, which "was" 6" wide, but that was when I planned on using that arbor that I have, I might end up using the 2 pillow block bearings that I just purchased, and am awaiting delivery on, so I'm just not sure of the actual space in the middle of the shaft that the arbor bearings will take up. Lets "assume that if I use the pillowblock bearings I'll also space them the same, at 6" apart, so count on 6" of the total shaft length being taken up in the center of the shaft by the arbor or the bearings i install. So,taking that 6" out of the middle of the shaft, take what is left on each side, and plan on having a qty or two wheels that are 1-1/2" wide each. How do you think those 2 wheels on each side should be spaced? I will leave it up to your expertise, as well as those here to put their 2 cents in to decide the appropriate measurement of the spacers, based on how far apart the wheels should be from each other, and the arbor, ect. Thanks again for everything Kev!! Chris
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Post by jakesrocks on Aug 3, 2010 18:58:06 GMT -5
The wheel hubs aren't 1-1/2" wide, unless you're talking about silicon carbide grinding wheels. The hubs of diamond wheels very in width from maker to maker. I'd suggest a set of spacers in 1/8" increments from 1/4 " To 1". 2 of each size for each end of the shaft. You can never have enough spacers. Just put the ones you aren't using away in a safe place for future use. Don
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cooknet
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2009
Posts: 169
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Post by cooknet on Aug 3, 2010 22:02:31 GMT -5
Sounds good to me Don, what do you think Kev??
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Post by cpdad on Aug 3, 2010 22:12:19 GMT -5
i will just make a slew of them....then hopefully they all will work out....will send on shaft....kev.
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cooknet
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2009
Posts: 169
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Post by cooknet on Aug 4, 2010 0:06:07 GMT -5
Thanks Kev, can't wait to receive the shaft(S) and start building this darn thing finally! Thanks for doing that for me!! Chris
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cooknet
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2009
Posts: 169
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Post by cooknet on Aug 4, 2010 0:46:43 GMT -5
Here it is so far, it's starting to look like something now at least!
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Post by cpdad on Aug 4, 2010 22:11:22 GMT -5
finished everything today.....have shafts and spacers boxed up....my secretary arranged for ups to pick up tomorrow....will email tracking info.....it was expensive....from the southeast U.S. it was $50.94.
but i went ahead and paid for it....i thought i would get a bill later....but it gave us a price right away.....dont worry about paying for it right away.....we will work it out.....all spacers should work out for your wheels...i made a few ;D
i sure hope this works out for you.....a lot of people have time invested here.....im signing off...i am working on my wedding....its a bitch to do ;D....especially all that stuff those crazy women want.....good luck....kev.
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spicer m
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2008
Posts: 337
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Post by spicer m on Aug 4, 2010 23:18:18 GMT -5
cpdad You are one heck of a Guy for doing this for Cooknet, Looks like He will end up with a nice machine. Mike
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cooknet
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2009
Posts: 169
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Post by cooknet on Aug 5, 2010 1:50:23 GMT -5
Thanks SO much Kev and everyone else that helped out with the shaft! I couldn't have done it on my own, that's for sure, nor would I have been able to afford to buy a commercially available shaft, I checked those guys out 1st, the average price for a shaft like that is around 200 bucks, and that is without any shipping, spacers, or the excellent advice! I hope things go good at your wedding, you deserve for good things to happen to you Kev! You really ARE one heck of a guy for doing this for me, and all the effort you and others made will be appreciated for a very long time! Thank you SO much! Chris
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cooknet
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2009
Posts: 169
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Post by cooknet on Aug 12, 2010 17:10:52 GMT -5
Well, I got my pillow block bearings from the bearing store today in the mail, but unfortunately, one of the bearings has the grease nipple broken off the top of the bearing, (the loose broken off piece laying in the bottom of the bag) and the threads are still inside of the bearing housing, and the other bearing doesn't turn freely, and is virtually stuck, although it does move a "bit". Also, it wasn't even taped shut, the box was hanging open when i got it. Usually, if customs opens something, they put yellow customs tape on it if they cut it open, but this box doesn't even have ANY tape on it at all! I'm regretting purchasing from them now. Is this a normal occurrence from these guys, or am I once again the exception, with the usual bad luck?? Grrr..... chris
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