stillalive
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2011
Posts: 136
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Post by stillalive on Mar 31, 2012 5:54:33 GMT -5
Hello everyone.I have spent a lot of time on ebay over the last year or so,looking for a saw;-mainly for cutting some small Scottish agate nodules and pieces that I collected last year. Nothing larger than a 6"ever seems to appear in the uk,-until I spotted this one. . I hope you can all see these pics?It appears to be made by a company called "ezycut",at least that is what is written on the red bakelite adjusters.Googled but could only find wood-working machines with the same name,the company would appear to be Australian? Anybody seen one of these before?Unfortunately the blade was dished,but thanks to a really great RTH member,-Yorkshire Jack,I now have a brand new 8" BD 301 on the way(the red one) and at a very reasonable price too, thanks Jack you are a star! I'm looking for any help, suggestions on modifications,but particularly on how to use the vice?Two of us spent some amusing time trying to clamp any rock we could into the vice with no success at all yesterday ,but as an excuse we are total novices,the only saw I've used before is a direct drive Vitrex wet tile saw with a mk 303 7" blade in it-was happy-ish but it didn't feel like a real saw-if you know what I mean. Any help,advice info on the saw etc,would be very welcome.Thanks to all on the site for helping me to move forward with this hobby/obsession-makes me wish that the Brits hadn't fallen out of love with lapidary at some bygone time, perhaps ther e would be more of us involved if we didn't have to rely on importing just about everything! Thanks for looking,John.
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stillalive
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2011
Posts: 136
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Post by stillalive on Mar 31, 2012 5:56:46 GMT -5
Sorry looks like only one of my pics came through,so hopefully heres a couple more!
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 31, 2012 9:14:44 GMT -5
You probably need to make some thin wood jaws to put between the metal jaws and the rock. Thin plywood, hardwood, etc. Cut the same as the metal jaws and drill where the bolts are. On a hand feed saw it isn't as critical as a power feed. You will mainly use it to push a rock through and get a straight slab. Rocks are rarely cooperative (found square or rectangular). On a larger saw you would use wooden wedges to help grab the rock. Nice looking saw. Motor is very unusual from what we see here in USA.
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getyourbone
starting to shine!
Member since February 2010
Posts: 44
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Post by getyourbone on Mar 31, 2012 9:28:14 GMT -5
Looks a lot like the one we use at the club in phoenix but I am sure it is not same brand. the only thing I could find was the link below. one of the machines seems to be the same color as yours so I imagine it is the same brand? www.ebay.com.au/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&rt=nc&nma=true&item=170766407067&si=CMBnYMhy71kWl7iY0xvY9RjLBA8%253D&viewitem=&clk_rvr_id=328711497802&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc#ht_688wt_1140 On a little saw like that I don't think I personally would even use the vise. I am sure more experienced help will be along soon! Steve
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Post by jakesrocks on Mar 31, 2012 10:16:54 GMT -5
Looks like it would be pretty easy to rig a gravity feed for that one. Like John said, make wood jaws to better hold your rocks. Don
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 31, 2012 12:13:37 GMT -5
I've had two old Frantom 10" saws. Both manual feed. The vise would swing out of the way for trimming. It was extremely handy for slabbing to set the rock in the vise and secure enough for it to stay while gently pushing the vise through by hand. Much easier to get a straight slab than without a vise. Not as critical to get it really locked in like on a power feed saw since I would have both hands on it when cutting. Unlike power feed where the saw waits for you to leave the area to self destruct. On an 8" saw you will have a 2" or at most 2 1/2" cutting height so you will likely trim more than slab.
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cabjunky
has rocks in the head
Regency Rose Plume
Member since November 2008
Posts: 683
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Post by cabjunky on Mar 31, 2012 13:43:43 GMT -5
Nice find on the saw. It look like its in really good condition.
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Apr 3, 2012 3:11:21 GMT -5
Hi John, Pleased your getting going ok (eventualy ) the blade was just collecting Dust in my Workshop I dont use a vice on my 6" saw but I have a cover over the saw blade , if you tried cutting without a blade cover you would soon be drowned in oil, I even get plastered with oil spray with a cover John here is a RTH link to a "Rock Grabber" check this out there are some excelent Ideas here forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?board=hmequip&action=display&thread=22813I suppose you have a cover (Box ) that fits over the saw ? Hope you get it going quickly , Incidently I use a detergent oil out of the supermarkets the cheapest I can find NEVER run without oil even for 10 seconds it will kill the blade. Jack, Yorkshire uk
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kevin24018
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2012
Posts: 284
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Post by kevin24018 on Apr 4, 2012 8:38:22 GMT -5
Hi John, I suppose you have a cover (Box ) that fits over the saw ? Hope you get it going quickly , Incidently I use a detergent oil out of the supermarkets the cheapest I can find NEVER run without oil even for 10 seconds it will kill the blade. Jack, Yorkshire uk what is detergent oil? you can buy a "poster frame" pretty cheap, they are used to mount posters and are in with the picture frames. they are just 2 pieces of plexi glass or lexan, not sure which, anyway easy to cut and bend, makes great splash shields.
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stillalive
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2011
Posts: 136
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Post by stillalive on Apr 8, 2012 7:30:26 GMT -5
Hello again everyone and thanks for all of your comments and ideas so far,very helpful,-I am working on one or two of them at the moment and will let you all see how I progress,or don't, ,as the case may be!I have had a little clean up,literally a wipe down,as someone commented,it seems to be in really good condition-hopefully these pictures tell more of a story,John. Hope you can see the photos ok,and I welcome any comments and advice as always,thanks for looking,John.
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stillalive
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2011
Posts: 136
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Post by stillalive on Apr 8, 2012 7:34:27 GMT -5
There should have been comments for each of these,is there a reason why they don't from photobucket?Thanks,I have no idea if i can add comments to the pictures now or not?Any help appreciated.
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stillalive
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2011
Posts: 136
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Post by stillalive on Apr 8, 2012 8:04:30 GMT -5
Hi again!Sorry I lost the comments somewhere-or perhaps I should have imported the photos one at a time and commented etc after each one? Not really important ,most of them are self explanatory ;D. The pictures of the flanges might confuse without some explanation though ,so here goes;- As you may remember,I stated that the original blade was dished,but was lucky enough to get a replacement from Jack(yorkshire). The pictures of the blades were taken to indicate the difference between old and new(thickness etc). I originally said the blade was dished only after checking that the nut etc was tight and then rotating by hand,it clearly looked to have a kink/be out of alignment,and then.......,the 301 arrived from Jack,so to check, I fitted it on to the arbor,with the existing flanges,tightened,span by hand,and was shocked to see,.....you guessed,the same kink,at about the same degree of turn! Upon further inspection the flanges appear to have been filed in several places(inside and out),leading me to think that the original blade might not be "dished" after all? All and any thoughts on my thoughts very welcome ;D;-John.
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getyourbone
starting to shine!
Member since February 2010
Posts: 44
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Post by getyourbone on Apr 8, 2012 8:07:32 GMT -5
I Don't think that saw has seen a single rock much less sawed a single rock! Wow really nice!!!
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,352
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Post by quartz on Apr 8, 2012 9:10:10 GMT -5
I think of the hours I've spent cleaning used machines we've bought, and they don't look as good as yours with a "wipedown", lucky you. Saw collars [your word "flanges"] are fairly common in damaged condition in our experience, how, I don't know, but fixing them w/a file only makes it worse. They usually can be replaced easily, or someone with a lathe could make new ones, or even true up the ones you have by mounting them on a purpose-made mandrel.
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stillalive
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2011
Posts: 136
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Post by stillalive on Apr 8, 2012 9:42:00 GMT -5
Ah saw collars!why when we speak the same language is everything named differently?Are aluminium collars/flanges better than steel?The old cast/pressed aluminium ones (like mine?)look to have some variation;-I'd like something with a little more precision-thinking it would give everything a longer life? Haven't tracked any down in the uk at "5/8 yet,but feel sure they are out there. I,m hopeful that a new set is the key;-it's a cheap fix and could mean I now have 2 blades to play with ;D,and that makes me very happy indeed!John.
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Apr 9, 2012 1:54:23 GMT -5
Hi John
I Use detergent oil this is what garages put in a engine to clean it out they run for a while then take it out and put new oil in
Some RTH members use cooking oil try your local chippy but it smells a bit
Have a good day
Jack
PS Photos
on making a new thread I always set out the RTH thread Intro then 1double space,2 double space,3 double space -- - - - ect Then bring them across one by one to its pre aranged position , John
Yorkshire uk
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stillalive
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2011
Posts: 136
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Post by stillalive on Apr 9, 2012 17:03:07 GMT -5
Jack-thanks for the info on posting etc,-never understood the process really and can't wait for a simpler way to appear,-I would hazard a guess and say that I am not the only one ,but I suppose we all get there -with a little help from our friends! Which takes me right back to,.......you guessed correctly,saw collars/flanges,-apologies to whoever put me right earlier,but after several hours googling like a madman,-using every variation imaginable,I get nothing in the uk . I don't think I can describe how bloody difficult it is ,trying to find stuff in the uk,especially when I don't even know what to call whatever it is I am looking for;but I would add that on the Covington website,they too call them flanges,I could . Need a set for a 5/8" shaft,please point me in the right direction someone,I would really like to be able to use this saw,with parts that won't accelerate wear elsewhere?-Please help if you can,and I thank you all ;D.John.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,352
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Post by quartz on Apr 10, 2012 9:56:58 GMT -5
I'm sorry I apparently led you wrong about calling the saw collars/flanges as being "collars" as this may be a regional description only. I didn't mean to say that is the only proper name, it is a name or description used in this area, and may or may not be used elsewhere. About your dilemma, try an industrial supplier if possible, bench and pedestal grinders for grinding metal use the same type of flange/collar to support grinding wheels on their arbors.
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stillalive
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2011
Posts: 136
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Post by stillalive on Apr 10, 2012 11:47:23 GMT -5
Quartz-many thanks,I wasn't blaming you in any way my friend,feel sure that by the time I get around to actually using this saw I shall know each part of it by a variety of names ;D,really just lamenting the fact that I don't know what to call them here in the uk,so that I can order them!Not something I can recall experiencing before,lol,-a first time for everything,John.
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Apr 12, 2012 3:55:51 GMT -5
Hi John, These days over here (UK) with the Banks & Accountants running everything the smaller workshops have been forced out of business
I Have a friend a ex Agricultral egineer who helps me with Bushes,Flanges and collars ,
Have you any small engineering workshop around you? any Model Engineering group ? who would help ?
I have one saw that has a flange /collar bush on it ,
Keep me posted I Have sent you a PM with more information
Jack Yorkshire uk
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