stillalive
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2011
Posts: 136
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Post by stillalive on Apr 12, 2012 15:56:58 GMT -5
Jack thanks again-you are always there-I think we should rename you "Saint Jack" ;D. Please everyone excuse my rants concerning the state of lapidary here in the uk-this mainly applies to supplies of simple things,that I feel sure most of our American brothers and sisters don't have to deal with? Perhaps there is somewhere on the site that details the individual parts,and names of saws? As Jack has pretty much summed things up for this country,ie;-most small businesses that may have previously manufactured items for lapidary use -they hardly exist now,anywhere in the uk! PLEASE=nobody mention Beach lapidary,after promises galore,and not a few dollars/pounds spent on calls to the managing director -I ended up with -absolutely zero,-I will never use this company or tell anyone else to in the future,but on that note-would really like to hear of other peoples experiences with them-I have one of their 5lb tumblers(purchased on ebay-and yet to be used!) all of their machines come as standard with a 5 year warranty-so they must have had faith in their own products once upon a time-sorry a bit off track there -but I feel just indicates the hassle we Brits have to go through to even consider getting into this very addictive hobby(for me it's becoming a way of life,as opposed to a hobby),you Yankees should try living here! I feel certain that most of you wouldn't swap this place for yours,but if you ARE considering it,when you get back from your psychiatrist,give me a call-I'll be here waiting;..............as we used to say " you lucky********, ;D, thanks for your attention-if you do know where I can find some collars/flanges for my little saw,please sing out-just maybe,I am not the only person seeking these elusive little buggers . Thanks all,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 12, 2012 21:25:12 GMT -5
Stillalive, Don't think for a minute that you folks are the only ones having problems finding simple things. I spend hours hunting for things that not long ago were available locally. Seems that if a Co. doesn't sell a bazillion units a month of something, they no longer stock it. Larry
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rockdude
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2008
Posts: 187
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Post by rockdude on Apr 13, 2012 5:44:36 GMT -5
Yup, if they can't sell a bunch, it's no longer important to please the individual customer. Shame really, I had thought the downturn in the economy would improve customer service everywhere. Shows what an old fool I am, lol.
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Apr 17, 2012 3:28:07 GMT -5
Soon be back to the pioneering days , and "make it yourself"
Jack Yorkshire uk
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jspencer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2011
Posts: 929
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Post by jspencer on Apr 17, 2012 22:23:19 GMT -5
I had to locate what I too called a flange washer for my 10" saw with 5/8 arbor. I ended up going to a Harbor Freight store and talking the guy out of the one on the floor model demo saw. I had one guy at a fastener store tell me they were called bell washers. And most any automotive oil is a detergent oil made to loosen any gunky buildup in engines. Non-detergebt oil is what is recommended for lawnmowers. It is not common here for many uses.
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 17, 2012 23:06:59 GMT -5
Jack, if it wouldn't cost more to send them than they're worth, I have several spare flange washers.
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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 26, 2012 18:13:33 GMT -5
Hi all,- just had to say a huge thanks to Don,(Jakesrocks),for not only putting me in touch with some flange/collars(can't we all agree on a universal word/words for all this stuff??!),......but actually locating/ordering/forwarding to me in the uk,----not one,but two sets of what I need ;D! I am as we say in England,-"totally gobsmacked",-the story doesn't end there though,he won't take any money from me , We have agreed that in return,I shall send him some "local rock",guess that would be brick,-red or yellow Don?I'll give it some treatment before I pack it,or would you prefer it original? On a slightly,saner note?,not once,but twice now,-people from this community(RTH),have rescued me-which is great ;D,because,------- I just bought this,when it arrives next tuesday(yeh-april fools -bring it on![img src="[/img]) i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee434/stillalive1/saw2.jpg"] She's a 12" slab saw of unknown make /origin,having spoken to the owner,I know that the blade is nearly new,and that it has had little use. Comes with some fresh oil and 15 kilos of rocks (5 each of Dulcote agate nodules/Tisbury coral(also called starred agate)/Libyan petrified wood-blue and purple-collected by seller some time ago-sounds great! In about 3 years of searching England (I won't call it the uk-because it isn't),this is the first slab-saw I have ever seen for sale, period. I shall continue this lapidary adventure soon,my thanks to all rock-people,all around the world,-without you all -it would still be a dream-you inspire everyone,long may it shine! John
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 26, 2012 18:52:25 GMT -5
Hey John, that second saw looks like a real find. Not often that you see one with a chain vise. Should be great for clamping odd shaped rocks. The blade looks like it has lots of life left in it. Save the yellow bricks. They should be useful for dressing the blade when it starts to dull.
Don
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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 26, 2012 18:52:30 GMT -5
Ok-burning question-how much did I pay? £90,=approx $145,so comments very welcome,suggestions on mods,also very welcome,mostly would like to know some history,ie maker etc,any info,ideas very welcome. More photos will be posted after delivery,tues-fools day-we'll see who the fool is then I reckon ;D John
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 26, 2012 19:07:13 GMT -5
$145.00 sounds like you got a steal on that one. More pics might help to ID it, but it may be European made, and we won't know who made it.
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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 26, 2012 19:08:15 GMT -5
Hey Don, You Still awake?Yeh,I'm really happy,don't have to confine myself to smaller rocks now!Lots to learn,but I have the tools to begin with,and some great people to help me on my journey,many thanks-more to follow!John.
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 26, 2012 19:13:49 GMT -5
Still awake ? It's only 7:12 PM where I'm at. Must be after midnight in London.
Don
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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 26, 2012 19:17:46 GMT -5
More pics to follow-she arrives tuesday-so wednesday I will post some new pics-those ones are from the ebay add,I'm happy, bigger rocks -----LOOK OUT! Later,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 26, 2012 19:21:35 GMT -5
1.18 am here man,have to get up for my 12 yr old daughter-see you and thanks again,hope we can meet one day-John.
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 26, 2012 19:25:32 GMT -5
You never know. My ex was from just up the road from you. She was a Coventry girl. I spent 3-1/2 years stationed with the Navy in Holy Loch, Scotland. I'd love to get back over there to hunt for some of those Scottish agates.
Don
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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 26, 2012 21:28:47 GMT -5
Good to see you got resolution for your saw parts, and looks to me like you made quite a deal on the saw and rocks. Please do, post a pic. of the vise in use, I've never seen one like it. Larry L.
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 27, 2012 10:05:16 GMT -5
Hey John, I just got confirmation that the flange washers are on their way to me. I should get them on Monday, and will try to get them out to you on Tuesday. Don
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zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
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Post by zarguy on Apr 27, 2012 12:16:22 GMT -5
$145 is an excellent price. I guess the tradeoff of not having access to much used equipment is that there's not much competition once you do find something.
The color & the blade guard look like Raytech. You'll get bored feeding the stone with that hand crank. I'd replace it with a motorized feed or gravity feed. Perhaps a BBQ rotisserie motor would work. There's probably a thread on here that discusses the various feed rates of saws & rotisserie motors.
Lynn
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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 28, 2012 8:03:11 GMT -5
Don -thanks for the update,been busy shuffling things around to make space for the new saw,no easy task;-I have to let go of some computer stuff to make space. Perhaps I should explain,I live in a small flat on the 6th floor,no garage/workshop/garden,so everything has to be "in the house!",makes for some interesting moments I can tell you ;D. We wait patiently for a new place,but this is London and living space is at a premium,-another year should see us into a bigger place with garden etc,that is why I bought the saw now,to use when we are out of here. In the meantime she'll get a tidy up and replacement/mods where needed-the gravity feed is a must,so that will be one of the things I'll be looking at,-feel sure that once I know she runs ok I'll have to load her into a friends truck and test her in his garden-might require some free lubrication on his part,but I doubt I'll be able to resist for long! The chain vice is interesting,will be one of the first things I get to grips with,lol,-and Larry I'll have some more photos up around next wednesday, Don it's interesting that you were based in Scotland,I was in the armed forces(RAF),for over 5 years.I was never based in Scotland,but went rockhounding there last year-(Scottish agate in Location,location,location on this forum. Heading there again this summer,simply can't get enough of the country,the rocks,I highly recommend it to anyone.John.
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 28, 2012 8:14:39 GMT -5
John, there's no way that I could wait a year to play with a new toy. You have more patience than I do. When I was in Scotland, I had an Irish friend who worked on the North Sea oil rigs. On weekends we hiked all over the highlands looking for rocks. Beautiful country and rocks. Wish I could do it again. But at 70, I don't think my old legs could take climbing those hills.
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