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Post by tntmom on Dec 4, 2011 17:49:24 GMT -5
I was a bad girl My goal for the day was to get out and do some Christmas shopping for the kids. I did... but.... stopped by an estate sale and found a Graves Company Cab Mate in perfect working condition! The guy didn't want much for it and I justified the purchase after an internal debate in my head over the possibilities of hearts, crosses, inverts etc... So, I bought it! It was used for polishing metals and didn't have anything that came with it that I could use. I need to rig up a drip system and figure out what kind of wheels to buy for it? Need some help here! I'm thinking about going with the 6" x 1.5" expandos. Read some good stuff about that. What do you guys think I should do? I love my Ameritool more than anything and that will probably always be my main source for cabbing... but... I sure wouldn't mind experimenting and learning verticals too! Here's the machine: Thanks for any advice you throw my way!!!
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Post by gr on Dec 4, 2011 18:01:05 GMT -5
Krystee, I use expandos and diamond belts (when I can afford 'em) and, they work great for me. I think you would like them. Can't help ya on a drip for that but, stay tuned, someone will
gr
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Post by tntmom on Dec 4, 2011 18:29:50 GMT -5
Thanks Gary! I've read from a lot of people here that they really like the expandos. I think it was an old post from Shannon (Weeshan) that said she retrofitted hers with expandos and loved it. From looking at images on Google I know that the metal tube coming up from behind the arbor was designed to hold the drip container. The butterfly clips at the top front of the arbor (the ones that have a piece of carpet wedged into it) were used to secure the tubing for the drip. I just can't figure out how to mount a plastic container onto the metal tubing piece. Maybe it's missing something else? I tried finding an instruction manual for this online with no luck... That's ok though, people here know sooooo much more than an instruction manual anyway!
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Post by texaswoodie on Dec 4, 2011 18:50:40 GMT -5
I like the expando's as well, Krystee. I would recommend the 6x3 over the 6x1 1/2.
Curt
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 4, 2011 20:03:17 GMT -5
You can see the complete unit if you go to the Graves website. I used to sell them but don't remember how the plastic reservoir attached. They came with a saw blade (6" x 1/2"), 1 1/2" grinding wheel, and some flat laps. A 6" X 1 1/2" expando should fit OK (you may need spacers as the center of the drums are only 1/2" thick), not sure if a 2 1/2" would fit. Like any convertible thing the good thing is it converts from saw to grinder to sander to polisher the bad thing is you have to swap all those things around to convert. Set up with an expando and left that way would be a good idea. It (like all Graves products) is a well built machine.
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Post by rockmanken on Dec 4, 2011 20:19:48 GMT -5
Krystee, get an aquarium pump, some hose to fit it and order a brass spitter from Kingsley North. It would work great on this machine. I have rigged all my grinders to use spitters. I also would recomend the 6 x 1 1/2" expando. John has them and the belts for them too. Ken
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Post by Dicky the Rockhunter on Dec 4, 2011 20:47:41 GMT -5
The expando are really great give a quick way to change grit without changing the wheel. Also adds just enough cusshion to aid in not having high and low spots on the stones.
Great Find there lady.
Dicky
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LarryS
freely admits to licking rocks
SoCal desert rats
Member since August 2010
Posts: 781
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Post by LarryS on Dec 4, 2011 21:15:58 GMT -5
We love our Ameritool 8" machine. Quiet, clean and best of all, it's being used in our dining room on the telephone desk. Give me a Genie and I'd trade it in on more Ameritools, one for every room! I use 8" expando drum with 80 & 100 grit belts to do all the rough stuff outside on the patio. Run all the other stages on the Ameritool indoors while watching TV, etc. I do my final cerium polish on a felt belt on the expando using the squirt bottle & super cerium you buy from Covington. Lortone makes a water tank tower kit that comes with stand, tank, valve & hoses. You can go the aquarium pump/spitter method. Or you have the option of not using water at all, like I do. Make sure you wear the good OSHA approved 3M dust masks available from Home Depot. I picked up that method by reading all of Bobby1's posts on the other board. Polishing a slab by just using one worn out 100 belt works too! Amazing. LarryS
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Post by Rockoonz on Dec 4, 2011 21:31:29 GMT -5
I love my cabmate. with all the larger arbors and laps and whatnot, it's the unit I spend the most time in front of. Mine has a quick change nut on it so I can switch from my 100 grit hard diamond wheel to my 6x1.5 inch expando drum in less than a minute. I just ordered a new textured 100 grit wheel and more belts for it Here's the link to the Graves website: www.gravescompany.com/cabmate.htmHeres the parts list: www.gravescompany.com/cabmate1.htmA replacement water reservoir is $34.00, pretty reasonable. If you contact Graves they would probably send you a manual. Lee
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Post by Rockoonz on Dec 4, 2011 21:41:10 GMT -5
While you can run SiC expandos dry (diamond must be used wet) it's best to use them wet, also tiger eye, plumes and some others will heat up and blister if you run them dry.
Lee
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Post by tntmom on Dec 4, 2011 22:21:39 GMT -5
Awesome awesome awesome!!!! Thank you everyone! Guess I will go with my gut and go expando!
Ken.... THANK YOU!!!! John was the first person I am going to call,,,, thank goodness he carries what I need! He is definitely the most awesome go to guy for any equipment... i like him sooooo much... WHOOHOO I get to call him again (haven't been able to in awhile....)!!!!
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 4, 2011 22:44:50 GMT -5
Gosh Krystee, you made me blush. I sell the spitters too but look at the Ameritool drip system. It is a plastic cup (many use a "Big Gulp" cup from convenience store) with a 1/4" hole drilled near the bottom. A piece of 1/4" OD tubing and valve from garden center drip system. All you would need is a stand to hold the cup above the unit.
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Post by roy on Dec 4, 2011 22:55:46 GMT -5
krystee check with jason he had a expando for sale not long ago i think he was asking 50 dollars for
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 4, 2011 23:00:16 GMT -5
6" X 1.5" are only $55 brand new.
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Post by roy on Dec 4, 2011 23:01:57 GMT -5
his was a 8x3
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Post by jakesrocks on Dec 4, 2011 23:29:36 GMT -5
Nice score Krystee. But start out with junk obsidian on that thing. There will be a learning curve involved. Hate to see you mess up one of those killer OB cabs.
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Post by tntmom on Dec 5, 2011 0:59:47 GMT -5
No prob Don! Got at least 15 buckets of endcuts/slabbettes and stuff for tumble to play with. Nothing good is going on this baby for at least 6 months!
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 5, 2011 22:11:24 GMT -5
Diamond belts break in faster than plated laps or wheels. I don't think you will have a problem adapting to expando drum after the Ameritool. The other way around would be harder (from personal experience). Flat spots are much easier to avoid with a wheel with give.
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Post by tntmom on Dec 5, 2011 22:44:55 GMT -5
John, pm'ing you now!
I am frustrated, IE is giving me fits with this site for some reason. Everytime I hit reply or the back button it gets an error and reloads. I switched to Google Chrome tonight but that browser disables the reply button.... hmmmmm, back on IE and will try to figure out what's going on! Been happening for awhile now but only here....
Got it fixed! Ordered Directv bundle when we moved in November, and when it was installed we got this wierd toolbar that also installed on our internet. Disabliing it fixed my error messages!
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Post by mohs on Dec 6, 2011 0:08:11 GMT -5
your going to really enjoy the expandable drum that's a fine machine & will become a essential in your fun is that a 1/2 spindle on your motor? what size are your pulley's? shine on ! Ed
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