mikeinsjc
spending too much on rocks
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Member since June 2010
Posts: 329
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Post by mikeinsjc on Dec 25, 2010 13:50:16 GMT -5
roller, I have owned three 18" saws (two Highland Parks, and a Covington) plus some smaller stuff. Here's my advice. Buy the biggest saw you can afford and fit into your space. It isn't long before I find myself looking wistfully at that 24" I passed up. I have several pieces I cannot cut on my 18"- they are lawn decorations, including a 300 lb. piece of Tom Miner wood. When you have to pay fifty cents per square inch for some guy with a 36" saw to cut your stuff, it doesn't take long for it to pay for itself.
I currently have an 18" Covington, and I would never recommend it to anyone after owning the Highland Parks. I regret getting rid of them. Cuts smooth though. I would recommend using the saw outside unless you have a very well-ventilated workspace, but I'm sure you already know this. After a cut I lift the cover and often a cloud of oil vapor rises from the saw. Can't be good for you. There is a local junior college offering a lapidary class and they have a 24" saw. I know a guy who won't take the class because the whole shop fills up with oil vapor.
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agatemaggot
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2006
Posts: 2,195
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Post by agatemaggot on Dec 25, 2010 17:31:53 GMT -5
Go down to the auto supply store and pick up a bottle of NO-SMOKE.
A little dab will do ya !
It stops your tail pipe and saw from smokin up the neighborhood !
;D
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Post by Roller on Dec 26, 2010 14:05:33 GMT -5
ahah so thats what no smoke is for
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 26, 2010 15:01:19 GMT -5
Don, I'm assuming the HP laps passed through Contempo Lapidary to DP as did the DP rotary tumblers. I heard they had a shipping container of HP parts as well.
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cabjunky
has rocks in the head
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Regency Rose Plume
Member since November 2008
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Post by cabjunky on Dec 27, 2010 18:42:09 GMT -5
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riverbendlapidary
fully equipped rock polisher
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Member since September 2006
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Post by riverbendlapidary on Dec 28, 2010 23:26:33 GMT -5
Made in China.... Is anything made in USA anymore?
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,472
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Post by Sabre52 on Dec 28, 2010 23:53:31 GMT -5
Thanks to our labor unions JR, manufacturing is getting too expensive in the US. The company my brother in law used to work for manufactured train cars and even they have moved to China for cheap reliable labor that doesn't demand as much in perks as they do in salary. I doubt our manufacturing will recover until workers are willing to readjust what they ask for their labor or we give our companies protection against competition from China's government subsidized labor and controlled currency...Mel
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dbrealityrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
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Member since February 2010
Posts: 1,084
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Post by dbrealityrocks on Dec 29, 2010 6:17:35 GMT -5
Actually the Chinese are starting to open factories here because land and labor costs are going up over there. I read a story about a chinese firm buying land in Spartanburg SC. Land is less than 1/4 the price and electricity is 1/4 of the price in China.
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chromenut
fully equipped rock polisher
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Member since December 2009
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Post by chromenut on Dec 29, 2010 10:19:16 GMT -5
While we are discussing all this, is there a decent blade you can put on a 10" tile saw that won't waste so much rock? I've got one but it's got the original blade which is like 1/16" thick. Also, it's not a clean cutter, wants to fracture the stones. Just curious....
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 29, 2010 10:35:10 GMT -5
I have an MK101 tile saw. I tried a 303P porcelain blade which did an amazing job on softer stones but bogged down on big agates (4"). I put a new 301 10" x .040" blade on and it sailed through. Barranca puts that blade on their version (BD2014) for the Winter Sale which is an OK to use on a 3450 RPM saw to me. I have not tried a 303C yet but will when I wear the 301 out. Both the 301 and 303P are pricey blades.
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Post by Roller on Jan 6, 2011 21:59:08 GMT -5
I almost bought a saw today ... but I couldnt do it ... I was going to get the Barranca Diamond PF-10 Power Feed Saw.... but then i seen that it only cuts 3.5 by 3.5 rocks and i have 5.5 long rock waiting for a cutting ..lol ughhhhh Iam so close ..cant decide ..
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