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Post by frane on Jul 22, 2012 19:49:01 GMT -5
Texas flint, Porcelain jaspers, Brazillians and I always find any picture jasper is hard on my saws. Lots of backing up the cut and letting it start at it again to get through or it will cause the slab to try and ride up my blade.
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carleton
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2012
Posts: 277
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Post by carleton on Jul 23, 2012 1:34:37 GMT -5
Thanks for the further info everyone Carleton, If you trashed your blade that fast, you're probably trying to rush the cut. Remember, the blades aren't "cutting" the rock, they are slowly grinding and chewing their way thru. If you're having to push hard, you're trying to go too fast. That, and cutting a rough agate on a 6 inch trim saw is bad. a 6 inch Trim saw is for trimming thin slabs up to 1/4 inch plus or minus, and soft rocks up to MAYBE 1 inch only. anything else is sheer folly. (and gets expensive). We won't allow agates to be cut in our trim saws at all (except for 1/4 inch max slabs). All rock MUST go to the 10 inch slab/trim saw combo or even larger. And we have banned all asbestos bearing rock along with Jade in any saw. Are you sure your blade is trashed? Or could it simply need "cleaning and renewing"? If you've mushroomed the edge but there is still diamond underneath, try "refreshing" it with a brick or old 220 grit stone. You might be able to salvage it this way. But if the diamonds are completely gone from either side, it's now a target out on the shooting range. my 2 cents.. Phil I appreciate the reply Phil. I am pushing the material too fast, no doubt there. I do realize that the agate was excessive, maybe even too much for an "extreme" test. Trimming the 1/4" slabs seems to be just fine. I have never burned a blade out on 1/4" slabs yet, actually I normally slab at 3/8", so that's even better news. I guess I should exhibit more patients with the agates (when not purposely abusing a blade, lol). You mention "renewing", I assumed these were throw aways, but I would be willing to check that out, a "brick"? That's do-able Here is a pic of a blade I wore out beside a new one. Any thoughts? a close up,
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Post by phil on Jul 26, 2012 22:36:43 GMT -5
Shoot... both those blades are practically new. The one on the bottom you've just mushroomed the metal..... see it? Cut a brick or better yet, if you have an old or broken 220 grit carbide stone, cut about an inch and that should totally renew that blade. Then slow down and let the blade do the work.... Or... you could just send it to me.... <big grin>
Phil
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Post by jakesrocks on Jul 26, 2012 22:45:40 GMT -5
Obsidian also works good for dressing a blade. If you have some obsidian cabs waiting to be trimmed out, try 2 or 3.
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Post by johnjsgems on Jul 26, 2012 23:20:08 GMT -5
Since Mel answered exactly as I would he has to be right. Rhodonite (high manganese content) and any other metallic rock will glaze the best of blades. Hard agates will dull them. AZ wood is notorious for breaking in the vise and eating blades. Dressing sticks, fire bricks, concrete type fake bricks or any other abrasive material will dress open the blade, exposing new diamond and removing any glazing. If the blade is rounded on edge there is a blade message on the forum explaining tapping the edge flat.
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Post by johnjsgems on Jul 26, 2012 23:22:28 GMT -5
By the way, at the Madras show the BD dealer stalled his BD 10 saw cutting a piece of polka dot. They put a 301 blade on and sailed through it with no problem. For anyone cutting especially hard materials give the expensive 301's a try.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jul 27, 2012 10:43:10 GMT -5
I'm going to repost this question about my 10" MK303 saw blade in a more appropriate place - SLABS and SAWS. Jean
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