guitarc
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2010
Posts: 77
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Post by guitarc on Nov 15, 2010 9:22:46 GMT -5
Thanks John! So the MK145 already comes with a lapidary blade that is good and the tile blade that you watched that guy grind away the points? Hmmm that sounds like a complete setup for my needs. Here is what I found about the HF tile saws: The 7" is a portable with table tilt to 45 degrees. It has a 3/4HP motor, 1" arbor and has a 3565 RPM blade speed. www.harborfreight.com/7-inch-portable-wet-cutting-tile-saw-40315.htmlThe 4" tile saw has a 5/8" arbor and has a blade speed of 4480 RPM. Table tilts to 22.5 and 45 degrees to make bevel cuts and has an angle gauge for making 45 degree miter cuts. www.harborfreight.com/4-inch-tile-saw-with-wet-tray-3733.htmlThese two tile saws are the exact same price ($59.99) and with the standard "25% off" HF runs could be bought for $45 each. Only the 7" comes with a blade. The 4" does not come with any type of blade. I have read that the HF vibrating tumblers are junk but I am not sure about there tile saws. Would these HF tile saws be comparable to the MK145? So do you keep your dremel tip constantly underwater or do you keep the rock wet by dipping it? Thanks Chris
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Post by johnjsgems on Nov 15, 2010 10:32:16 GMT -5
MK145 has same tilting table. I would steer clear of any tile saw with 1" arbor as you would have problem finding blades. I can't speak for HF saws. If it is $45 without blades the MK145 would be better deal. If I use the Dremel stationary I dip the rock. For drilling or using flex shaft I keep rock in a shallow pan of water.
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guitarc
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2010
Posts: 77
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Post by guitarc on Nov 15, 2010 11:27:01 GMT -5
The 4" HF tile saw has a 5/8 arbor, is that ok?
It is also the one that does come with one tile blade and motor is 4480 RPM.
The MK145 is 5500 RPM's
When it comes to trimming and grinding hard stone what does this difference of 1,000 RPM's (4,500 compared to 5,500) mean?
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Post by johnjsgems on Nov 15, 2010 12:35:18 GMT -5
5/8" is a very standard size. Most lapidary saws run 1750 rpm. 5500 cuts extremely fast with trade off being faster blade wear. I doubt you would notice much difference between 4480 and 5500.
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Post by Bikerrandy on Nov 15, 2010 19:44:22 GMT -5
Yes, cutting and polishing guitar picks is definitely possible. I'd lean toward getting the Thumlers UV-3. I've had my UV-10 for more than 5 years and I love it. You will have to go through all three stages, and yes, you can use the tile saw for cutting and some minor touch-up grinding. The grinding can be done by using the edge of the blade carefully. I've tumbled thin slabs before. You just gotta go easy, and don't use filler rocks that out-weigh the picks. Contrary to popular belief, you aren't required rocks of different sizes in a vibe tumbler. You will definitely need filler though, or the picks will clump together and you won't get the grinding action. You may need to re-charge the coarse grit a couple times to thin the slabs to the proper thickness, but you'll need to check in on them several times a day to ensure that you're not grinding them away completely. Also, you'll want to take plenty of pics and post them, because we all want to see!!
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guitarc
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2010
Posts: 77
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Post by guitarc on Nov 15, 2010 19:59:23 GMT -5
Thanks Randy!
I will check out the UV-3. How long do the bowls last. I have heard the Lot O bowls last for 15-20 years and more.
So is it a tile saw blade that you would switch to when doing minor grinding? What tile saw do you like or specific specs do you advise to look for when buying a tile saw to be used for trimming or grinding?
Would Ceramic pellets be your choice of filler in the tumbler with hard stone?
So thinning a pick considerably is done in the vibe tumbler? I know tumbling obviously removes material but I was thinking of using the vibe tumbler for smoothing rough edges and polishing and maybe the pick thickness/size decreasing 2/10 of a mm during the entire vibe tumbling process. But being new to all this I have no idea how much this process reduces a hard stone. I am not opposed to reducing the thickness this way but if my plan is to thin the picks significantly then I think I would also have to count on tumbling making the picks size significantly smaller. I would then plan for this by staying a specific distance away from the pick template outline when trimming a slab.
I definitely plan on posting pics!
Chris
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Post by Bikerrandy on Nov 15, 2010 20:19:48 GMT -5
The Husky tile saw will be best for grinding but not for cutting because they are too rough on the stones to cut thin slabs. I use hotdog blades to cut my small slabs. Most of my comments are based on my own experiences, but keeping in mind that I've never attempted anything as thin as guitar picks. The thinner the slabs are from the start, the better off you'll be. I'm thinking that this will be a difficult task for sure, but definitely possible.
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Nov 15, 2010 20:25:41 GMT -5
Someone used to post pics of picks he made.Cant remember who,there are some old threads somewhere.
snuffy
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guitarc
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2010
Posts: 77
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Post by guitarc on Nov 15, 2010 20:33:44 GMT -5
Randy,
I think I was modifying my last response to you while you were answering it. Sorry, I realized parts of what I first wrote were not too clear.
Snuffy I would really like to see them! When I searched for guitar picks here a few days ago it did not bring up anything. I have seen pictures of some really cool looking picks though!
Chris
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guitarc
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2010
Posts: 77
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Post by guitarc on Nov 15, 2010 20:39:57 GMT -5
I forgot to mention that most stone guitar picks are thicker than the average plastic guitar pick. I would say the average stone pick is over 2mm thick. However, my taste in picks is not average LOL. For the past 6 years I have used a Lexan 3mm thick jazz pick called a Jim Dunlop Stubby. Its overall size is smaller than a regular pick shape but much thicker. I will most likely be making stone picks in the 2-4mm thickness range.
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snowdog
fully equipped rock polisher
RIP David Fildes, aka: snowdog
Member since January 2005
Posts: 1,527
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Post by snowdog on Nov 15, 2010 22:01:57 GMT -5
HI, I cut agates & such about 1/8" ( slightly more) but don't know how that relates to your 2-4 mm--------- anyway , I have pieces that are trimed off that would prob be big enough for your picks -- I could send you some and you could check them out -- just pm me your addy ----------- I also cut and polish slabs in a vib so could throw in a couple extra if you had them marked out or cut to size that you wanted
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guitarc
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2010
Posts: 77
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Post by guitarc on Nov 15, 2010 22:08:46 GMT -5
Thanks Snowdog! I am going to PM you right now.
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Post by johnjsgems on Nov 16, 2010 7:53:16 GMT -5
Chris, if you run them in a vibe a day or two at 120/220 (or 220) you won't reduce size much if at all. Vibes generally maintain shapes. I think ceramic media would be ideal for what you want and lots of it (70% of load). You need a grit carrier to do flat surfaces.
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guitarc
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2010
Posts: 77
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Post by guitarc on Nov 16, 2010 10:23:31 GMT -5
John,
Thanks for those tips! I guess I asked the right question here based on research I did before into different vibe tumblers. LOL You like the Gy-Roc and the UV-3 and Lot O have also been recommended to me so I take it they all would do a great job. The UV-3 is the smallest bowl so it would probably be best for my intended small stone usage right now and I wouldn't have to use as much filler as with the others. I have heard that the bowl for the Lot O will last forever and never crack but it needs to be adhered to a 40# cinder block which makes portability an issue. Any idea about how long the Gy-Roc bowl holds up and ways to keep it stable? Decisions, Decisions!
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Post by jakesrocks on Nov 16, 2010 12:08:49 GMT -5
I can't speak for the UV-3, but I've had a UV-18 since 95, and am still using the same bowl. I've had to replace the gaskets and center bolt a couple of times, but those are only minor issues. I'd suspect that the UV-3 bowl is made of the same material, and would give the same amount of service. Don
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guitarc
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2010
Posts: 77
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Post by guitarc on Nov 16, 2010 12:36:02 GMT -5
Thanks Don!
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Post by deb193redux on Nov 16, 2010 22:14:58 GMT -5
The HF saw works OK, but is very VERY loud, and you don't have a blade like the 303. The MK 145 is on the web at $100, (even with free shipping from Amazon) but I am unclear if you also get the 303.
The rockshed has it with 303 & thick blade for $104 + shipping. I don't know what John has it for.
... and I really meant the LOUD
you can round edges enough for a pic on th eblade. if any of the slabs have saw marks, you can't really get those off on the blade. You might manage with a glass grinder.
You should also consider a used ROckRascal with 6" trim saw (you can get .020 blade) and a 6" 100g diamond wheel. this would cost less than $200 even after buying blade and wheel. Only 2x the cost of MK 145.
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Post by johnjsgems on Nov 17, 2010 8:03:44 GMT -5
The GyRoc 'B' is 2.5 lb. I've heard the bowls last "years". They are pretty inexpensive to replace and it is the only brand I know of with "piggy back" kits to add up to two additional bowls. You don't need to mount them either. I have not seen the UV3 but sold Thumler's at one time. Their "Industrial" designated vibe tumblers are very good. The non-industrial models are not for rock.
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guitarc
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2010
Posts: 77
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Post by guitarc on Nov 17, 2010 15:17:25 GMT -5
Thanks deb193redux!
Did not think of loudness as an issue but if it is that loud that could be annoying.
I looked at the RockRascal and it looks like it would be very good for what I want to be able to do. Can it use any saw blade or is it specific? Does the saw use oil or water? Is there a water hook up on the unit to keep the grinding wheel wet?
Good point about the MK145. The 303 is a $40 dollar blade. Anyone know if it is only sold that way by the Rockshed?
Chris
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guitarc
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2010
Posts: 77
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Post by guitarc on Nov 17, 2010 15:44:49 GMT -5
John,
So are the UV-3 tumblers sold by rock shops the "Industrial" ones?
I like that the Gy-Roc B has 2 speeds which are determined by which belt is used. Do you know if they come with those 2 different belts?
Chris
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