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 Mar 21, 2012 22:23:58 GMT -5
How many of you run Lortone Saws and have had good luck with them?
Reason I ask - Years ago I had a 18" Lortone saw and that was the biggest P.O.S. I ever owned. I could never get the thing to cut hard agates - Finally sold it off to a guy who wanted to re-build it. I swore I'd never own another Lortone saw...
Well............ This past weekend I ran to a buddies house as he changed his business plans and wanted to clear out all his equipment - I went ahead and purchased everything he owned, including a almost brand new Lortone 14" Panther saw. - Tonight I finally set it up and started cutting... First off the top clamp vise is a joke... however I cut 2 Thundereggs and it cut them fantastic.. Nice clean, smooth cut. I then found a small 3" brazil nodule and stuck that in - After a few minutes cutting my breaker in the shop tripped...I headed out opened the saw and everything was fine... so I release tension on the vise - re-started and watched it cut... Went for about a minute and completely seized up in the agate. I can't believe this saw won't cut a small agate! - It seems to me the electric feed motor on these saws are set way too fast.
Any one else experience this problem??
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Post by catmandewe on Mar 21, 2012 23:41:07 GMT -5
That is a common complaint with that saw. You can get a slower motor and change it out, but then it will cut everything slower, but it should be able to cut almost anything. I think the stock motor in it now is either a 5 or 6 rpm motor, you can get them 2, 3 or 4 rpm also, usually about 80 bucks each unless you can find one on ebay or something. Rotisserie motors will sometimes work and you can get those at around 4 rpm for less, but you usually have to fabricate a connector. I have some new Covington equipment that has the same problem also. I will never buy another one of those either unless it is one of the old ones.
Tony
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Post by roy on Mar 22, 2012 0:28:48 GMT -5
i have a 10 and a 12 i like them the will cut whatever i put in there all day long! i have often wondered about the 14 that the ad says it the fastest cutting saw !? i guess not this how i use the vise on those saws works really well for me
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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 Mar 22, 2012 1:08:13 GMT -5
Thanks for the note Tony - I'll check that out... Then again I might decide to sell the saw before that LOL. I already have a 16" Nelson, 18 Frantom and a 20 HP, don't really need a 14 :-) - However a slower motor would be nice, I typically run my other saws on the slowest setting just for blade life.
Roy - Thanks for the picture. I have never in my life used a top clamp vise, however something close to your design was actually the first thing I thought of the other day when I got the saw. Something to at least hold the rocks better.
What's that in the background? Trying to cut a obelisk? Cool looking stone :-D
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unclestu
Cave Dweller
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on Mar 22, 2012 8:26:18 GMT -5
Wow I was just drooling over the different saws in the catalog and put a check mark next to the pather. Glad it was done in pencil LOL So what would you guys recommend for a nube to get as a first slab saw? Stu
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Post by roy on Mar 22, 2012 8:59:16 GMT -5
stu find a older highland park or a lortone and fix it up ! jason not sure what the stone is got it in a trade , i have a nelson 12" i'am going to get rid of if you know anyone send them my way!
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Post by jakesrocks on Mar 22, 2012 10:11:12 GMT -5
A buddy of mine bought a 14" Lortone about 2 years ago and loves it. Says it's the smoothest cutting saw he's ever had. Don't know if he's tried cutting Brazilian agate on it yet, but that's some tough cutting material in the best of saws. Had the same problem with my 16" Covington with the stock Covington green blade. Changed over to a BD 303 S blade, and had no problems since.
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Post by jakesrocks on Mar 22, 2012 22:42:00 GMT -5
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rockhound97058
freely admits to licking rocks
Thundereggs - Oregons Official State Rock!
Member since January 2006
Posts: 760
|
Post by rockhound97058 on Mar 23, 2012 1:08:53 GMT -5
Thanks for the link - To be honest though, I really don't want to mess with the saw LOL - I might let someone else enjoy a new saw and stick to my antique rock eaters :-D
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