shadowhound
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2011
Posts: 19
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Post by shadowhound on Dec 18, 2011 13:16:04 GMT -5
hey guys new to carving but been having a lot of help from a really nice lass on here frogandbare anyway first tool im buying is a dremel tool with a flex shaft. finding a cheap water tile saw is hard in the UK does anyone have any spare they don't use anymore ?
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Dec 18, 2011 13:19:14 GMT -5
I think shipping will make it a bit prohibitive in cost and turn it into a cheap expensive saw, unless you can find a member closer to you that has one to sell
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shadowhound
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2011
Posts: 19
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Post by shadowhound on Dec 18, 2011 14:15:37 GMT -5
true shame rock carving isent done as much in the UK as it is over in the USA, Canada  |
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 18, 2011 14:21:29 GMT -5
Are you guys 230/50hz? If so you will need to specify that when shopping.
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shadowhound
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2011
Posts: 19
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Post by shadowhound on Dec 18, 2011 15:29:29 GMT -5
do american items have diffrent volts to the UK ?
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 18, 2011 15:45:49 GMT -5
Most smaller items are 115 volt, 60 hz. Larger 230 volt, 60 hz. Canada is same. Most of the rest of world is 230 volt, 50 hz. Plug styles vary too from orient to Europe.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2011 19:18:43 GMT -5
Just a thought. To get started it would not be that hard to buy slabs and have them sent to you. There are probably a hundred people on here that would do that and you would have hundreds of choices of types of stone. I think that KK works with only a dremel and no saw and he turns out some fantastic carvings.
Jim
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 18, 2011 21:58:14 GMT -5
Buying slabs are the cheapest way too. You can pick a nice slab to buy rather than slabbing up a lot of rocks to get the really nice slab. With the Dremel you can use diamond discs to precut shapes from the slabs.
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sampson
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2011
Posts: 222
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Post by sampson on Dec 19, 2011 0:26:56 GMT -5
I agree with the others here. While it is nice to have a tile saw it isn't necessary as long as you can find some nice slabs to work with. Buy a package of diamond burrs and start carving, lets see what you can come up with. The biggest suggestion i can make is to be patient. Let the diamond do the cutting and keep the water flowing. If you are gentle with your bits and burrs they will last a long time but if you push it too much you can burn them out pretty quick.
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shadowhound
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2011
Posts: 19
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Post by shadowhound on Dec 19, 2011 16:49:15 GMT -5
thanks for the advice im picking up the dremel with the flex shaft this sat from machine mart  im really looking forward to getting started by the way why are slabs on ebay that come from america so expensive ? |
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jason12x12
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2011
Posts: 798
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Post by jason12x12 on Dec 20, 2011 11:51:57 GMT -5
were addicted to rock, and will pay premium for the good stuff... "as I rub my nose with my rock snot stained twitchy fingers"
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Dec 23, 2011 17:43:24 GMT -5
Ebay has extremely high fees relative to the cost of the item. Also it is better for eBay seller/compliance related reasons to offer "free shipping" which means that you have to open the bidding at least high enough to cover shipping costs as well. Unless you're a money launderer, you can't take 99 cents for a slab that costs you $6 to ship and then ebay plus Paypal fees on top of that. So the prices quickly spiral out of control. If you would just drive over to my house and pick out the rocks you want, I for one would give you a great deal and I think I speak for a lot of people here...!!!
There are other UK members, why not try to arrange for a get-together or rock swap? If you can cut out the eBay middle man, for sure, you will save a lot of $. Good luck!!!
Most of my rock swaps have been done online or at my house...but maybe in the future I will think about posting where I will be if anyone wants to get together for swaps. Something to think about for the New Year.
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im really looking forward to getting started by the way why are slabs on ebay that come from america so expensive ?
