sheltie
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since January 2012
Posts: 982
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Post by sheltie on Nov 30, 2012 15:07:36 GMT -5
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2012 15:23:00 GMT -5
My concern with slabs is that the pads might catch or wear on the edges of slabs. Still, if you glued a bunch of slabs of similar thickness to a piece of plywood, spaced closely together, it might be a great way to do lots of slabs at one time. Haven't tried it myself, but I also have wondered how it would work, after watching the granite counter people use them. That looks like a great price, btw.
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Post by johnjsgems on Nov 30, 2012 16:21:59 GMT -5
I've used the Barranca wet polisher for years. Slabs are pretty easy to do. I put a slight bevel on the edges before using the pads. Much faster than a vibe lap although it is hands on.
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sheltie
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since January 2012
Posts: 982
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Post by sheltie on Nov 30, 2012 16:53:03 GMT -5
John,
How and what do you attach the slabs to while you are polishing them?
Denny
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Post by johnjsgems on Nov 30, 2012 17:20:09 GMT -5
I use a rubber warehouse mat under them. The kind you buy at Home Depot by the foot that has holes in it. Slabs stay in place easier than non-flat stuff.
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riverbendlapidary
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2006
Posts: 1,058
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Post by riverbendlapidary on Nov 30, 2012 20:44:42 GMT -5
looks like it would work. would be great for those pieces of wood that don't fit on the lap. I wonder about electrocution hazard with that water hookup though... might make the work more exiciting!
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Post by johnjsgems on Nov 30, 2012 20:51:30 GMT -5
I use a GFCI adapter that came with mine. The current model has one built into the cord. I have not had an issue yet.
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jspencer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2011
Posts: 929
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Post by jspencer on Nov 30, 2012 22:57:58 GMT -5
I see one of those in my future. I don`t have the patience to sit and go through the steps with a regular lap and don`t want the mess of a vibrating lap. I have used small wet units before with 4" discs doing concrete countertops. This is a lot cheaper than the units I used.
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Post by deb193redux on Nov 30, 2012 23:34:47 GMT -5
likely it has lower quality abrasive pads then the similar MK unit. But, you can get better pads when those wear out.
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sheltie
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since January 2012
Posts: 982
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Post by sheltie on Dec 1, 2012 9:09:30 GMT -5
I use a rubber warehouse mat under them. The kind you buy at Home Depot by the foot that has holes in it. Slabs stay in place easier than non-flat stuff. John, I'm having a hard time imagining how this thing works. Is there some sort of adaptor that goes on a sink faucet, or do you have to use a garden hose? If it's as messy as everyone says, where does one physically do the work? In a sink? Where? Part of the problem of being located in an area where do one does this sort of thing is that you have to rely on forums such as this for info. I'm a better learner when I can see what to do, but this is my only alternative right now. Denny
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 1, 2012 9:29:08 GMT -5
It has a hose adapter. I demonstrated at many shows using a submersible pump in a bucket. Most people use too much water so then they are very messy. I use a "demo box" which is just a metal box with 6" sides and a drain hole. I place it on a shop mate (saw horse kind of thing). It has plexi glass sides on three sides but I don't use those at home. Before I started demonstrating I used a "mud pan" from Home depot. It is a $5 black plastic tub. I put a drain in and used it on a small piece of plywood on saw horses. The BD kit includes two grinder heads and a set (10) very expensive pads made for hard rock and a felt polish pad and rubber holder. They have an MK counter top version with cheap counter top pads for less. Counter pads usually stop at 3000. BD pads go to 13000. The BD pads are hand made using Canadian Balsam resin and will outlast the counter top pads many times over. They are very expensive ($40 list ea.) but on sale every winter so I sell them for considerably less. I've seen counter top pads as cheap as 3 for $15 with a rubber holder. Come to Quarzsite this January and you can try mine. I plan on demoing them next show.
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Post by catmandewe on Dec 1, 2012 9:42:21 GMT -5
I have one that I use in the back yard on the picnic table, it hooks up to the garden hose, I only use it when it is really hot.
Tony
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 1, 2012 15:00:15 GMT -5
You really need some kind of containment pan 6" high or so. Then you only get wet if you tilt the grinder. I refinished some granite counters I salvaged and really got soaked. No way to contain slabs when they are 3' by 5'. When I demoed them at indoor shows I got a very small amount on floor near my feet from tilting the unit and drips from my hands. The grinder heads last longer with a good water flow but the resin pads only need to be damp enough to prevent dust.
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sheltie
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since January 2012
Posts: 982
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Post by sheltie on Dec 1, 2012 15:59:21 GMT -5
John, I'll be sure to stop by your site at Quartzsite and look forward to meeting you. Tony will probably be glad to get rid of me by that time. Denny
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 1, 2012 17:31:41 GMT -5
You buy a load of Tony's rock and come see me for a polisher. At least a view of one.
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sheltie
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since January 2012
Posts: 982
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Post by sheltie on Dec 1, 2012 19:13:11 GMT -5
Sounds like a plan everyone can live with!
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