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Post by sheltie on Jan 28, 2012 11:18:57 GMT -5
I'm debating which to buy, a vibrating lap or a high speed sander for slabs. What are the pros and cons of both and which would you recommend? Costs are generally a little higher for the laps than the sander, but not much.
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Post by johnjsgems on Jan 28, 2012 16:24:13 GMT -5
The high speed sanders are much faster but look downright dangerous to me. The chance of launching rocks would be pretty great. They would also get very hot. A really good dust removal system and a respirator would be in order. Vibe laps are pretty easy to use but results are hit or miss.
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jan 28, 2012 21:09:45 GMT -5
I don't have any experience with either, but it seems like the vibrating laps require some babysitting. There are people here who get good results with both.
Chuck
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mystickoi
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2010
Posts: 211
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Post by mystickoi on Jan 28, 2012 23:22:57 GMT -5
Hi Sheltie,
I've been wondering the same thing. When I was in Quartzsite last week, I saw one of the vendors using a grinder/polisher and thought that looked like the way to go. His display pieces looked really good! Faster, and something that is more "hands on" as opposed to the babysitting efforts. I've not done much research on the various models out there, and so would be interested in any feedback on various brands that people have used.
Bill
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Post by roy on Jan 29, 2012 1:52:56 GMT -5
i have a high speed sander got it from the richardson rock ranch a few years a go it work good but there is a learning curve to it , there not to spendy i want to get a bull wheel in the future those are very spendy
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Post by jakesrocks on Jan 29, 2012 10:15:54 GMT -5
I have a 24" HP Vibro Lap that I haven't used for years. I'd trade it in a heartbeat for an old 24" spinning lap in comparable shape. The old spinning laps were more labor intensive, but worked much faster than vibra laps do.
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Post by johnjsgems on Jan 29, 2012 11:39:21 GMT -5
I agree with Don. I also use the Barranca wet polisher that was demonstrated at the PwoWow. Works great.
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Post by bobby1 on Jan 29, 2012 11:53:09 GMT -5
The Richardson's Ranch high speed sander does have a significant learning curve, especially getting the semicircular sand marks out. I use a 3" wide by 8" diameter expando with S/C belts, but I am looking at the 4"wide by 10" diameter Bull wheels for even larger cabs and slabs, but................almost $400 for the wheel is a bit pricy for me so far.
Bob
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Post by Rockoonz on Feb 2, 2012 0:53:09 GMT -5
The way I was taught to use a HS sander is this:
Use a regular grinder or flat lap to remove the "nubbin" from the saw and put a slight chamfer around the edge so a sharp edge won't scrape all the grit from the sanding discs.
Start with 60 or 100 grit and sand until the saw marks are gone.
Switch to 220, turn the rock 1/4 turn so you sand at right angle to the coarse grit and sand till the coarse grit marks are gone
Switch to 600 and turn the stone1/4 turn again to remove the marks from the 220
Polish
Always use eye protection, dust collection and a respirator mask. keep skin away from the edge of the sanding discs, they will cut you big time,
Lee
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sticksinstones
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2012
Posts: 117
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Post by sticksinstones on Feb 19, 2012 0:50:37 GMT -5
I have a 20" vibrating lap I'll sell cheap. It's a nice sturdy upright but I don't know if the motor is any good any more (pan is in great shape and that's where the money is at in these). It's just been sitting outside for 3 or more years now.
That said, I'd advise a good 8" diameter expando-drum with belts as the best way to learn to get good results really fast. I use Bull wheels, but they are a bit touchier and not a good starter wheel. I prefer the wheels for flat surfaces over the Richardson's circular sander only because I felt I had more control over what point was being sanded with the drum than I did the disc - and paper is faster/easier to change. I know people who eventually master the disc sander (I had the Richardson's as my first sander) but I wasn't one of them. If you think about it, the outside edge of the disc is moving MUCH faster over the stone than the inner portion is - that detail alone makes it hard to get uniform results. A drum is easier to keep a plane with in my opinion and allows me to sand the entire stone in a single direction, which I then rotate 90 degrees for the next grit stage so that I can easily see when I'm done.
You will actually spend as much hands on time with a vibrating lap - don't let the many hours you aren't touching it fool you into thinking you touched the rocks less to finish them! More importantly, the results are easier to manage. I actually mastered the vibro-laps and had 6 of the 27" ones in production for a while, but I switched to sanding drums and increased my productivity a lot, not to mention my results.
I cheat a little though - I built several four foot diameter steel rotating laps that I use to lap the stone flat (removing all saw marks, sealing glue, etc.) before I sand. It speeds sanding dramatically. After sanding you go straight to the polisher and you're done. I can finish something like a thunderegg half in less than 2 minutes of total sanding time. I'd spend that much time cleaning it between stages of the vibrating lap - but I do wear a dust respirator type mask and ear protection (Bull wheels are LOUD!)
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rockhound97058
freely admits to licking rocks
Thundereggs - Oregons Official State Rock!
Member since January 2006
Posts: 760
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Post by rockhound97058 on Feb 19, 2012 2:01:59 GMT -5
I personally use a combination of all machines. After cutting, I use a HP vibra-lap with 120/220 grit to flatten out the stones. I then use a Richardson's hi-speed sander for my initial sanding, followed by a expando drum for my final sanding. I then use a lortone vibra-lap for most all the polishing, unless I have a special piece to work or need it quickly so I hand polish using a leather wheel.
If I do large flats I strictly use a vibra-lap and or a rocipro lap for everything and never touch it by hand other than to move it on and off the lap plate.
The Richardsons Hi-Speed sander can be intimidating for a newbie. They can and will draw blood sometime in your hobby. I avoid certain stones such as hollow pockets. If it's small it's fair to work, but a large hollow center, forget it - As time goes on you'll get better, however hollows will rip the paper in a heartbeat. - Sheltie, if your wanting to do slabs only... I'd look into a expando drum set-up and not a high speed sander. I think a expando would be more "user friendly for you".
I really have been eyeballing the Bullwheel or Ultimate grinder... However I cannot choke down the $2000.00 price tag! That's crazy for a few piece of steel and a cheap electric motor. I plan to build my own, but at the same time, I still cannot choke down the 4-500.00 tag for a large expando drum. Any rate that my :2cents: for ya!
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Feb 19, 2012 10:15:16 GMT -5
why is this thread in the carving area?
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sticksinstones
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2012
Posts: 117
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Post by sticksinstones on Feb 19, 2012 13:38:06 GMT -5
why is this thread in the carving area? I'm new here and trying to figure the site out. Is there a forum focused more on specimen prep? |
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Feb 19, 2012 13:42:22 GMT -5
I would use the Lapidary Tips or the Specimens area.
Chuck
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shermlock
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2011
Posts: 612
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Post by shermlock on Feb 19, 2012 14:05:15 GMT -5
I'd love to see some pics of everybody's set-up.
Scott
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Feb 19, 2012 14:43:52 GMT -5
why is this thread in the carving area? I'm new here and trying to figure the site out. Is there a forum focused more on specimen prep? yep there are areas for just about everything to keep it from getting confusing general rocks, or specimen photos, or lapidary tips - your query would go in any one of those three  |
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Gotta lick those rocks to see if they shine!!
