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Post by roswelljero on Feb 20, 2013 1:51:33 GMT -5
First off... I know almost nothing about saws! I bought a used HP E-4 gravity feed saw. The first time I tried it, the rock crawled up the blade. I lightened the feed weight. It did it again so I weighted down the vise carriage. It cut for a while then the blade got bound in the cut and the motor stopped. It did this twice even though I lightened the feed weight more. I figured the blade was dull (it took hours to cut a 3" rock) so I bought a new blade. It cut great at first, then about half way through the rock, it started climbing the blade again. So I just stopped trying. The old blade was worn more on one side. So I think the vise carriage is feeding the rock at a slight angle; it does seem a little loose. :help: Later, jeri
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blackout5783
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 248
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Post by blackout5783 on Feb 20, 2013 2:20:24 GMT -5
Try this: put a sharpie in the vise with the tip just touching the front of the blade. Slide the carriage all the way to the back and check the line the sharpie made on the blade. It should be a straight, solid line. If there's a gap in the line towards the back of the blade, then the carriage is feeding away from the blade. On the other hand, if the sharpie jams into the blade as you get closer to the back and the line gets fatter, then the carriage is feeding towards the blade. I hope I got that right Hopefully someone with more experience will chime in!
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riverbendlapidary
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2006
Posts: 1,058
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Post by riverbendlapidary on Feb 20, 2013 12:30:17 GMT -5
are you using oil or water?
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Post by roswelljero on Feb 20, 2013 13:08:52 GMT -5
Water.
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Post by catmandewe on Feb 20, 2013 13:21:54 GMT -5
sounds like your blade is dulling, get a sharpening stone or a fire brick and make some cuts to sharpen your blade back up.
Tony
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Post by johnjsgems on Feb 20, 2013 14:56:59 GMT -5
I think Tony is right about a dull blade. Use less weight not more. If it isn't cutting adding more pressure will likely dull the blade more. With a dressed blade try hand feeding and see if it cuts OK. Listen to how the saw cuts when gently pushing through by hand. Use the minimum amount of weight to push the rock through duplicating the hand feed sound. If it binds midway through by hand then do check carriage alignment but I don't think that saw will have an adjustment. Check to see if the carriage rod and bushings are in good shape. If worn enough they can cause vise to move out of alignment. I purchased both round stock and bronze bushings for an old Frantom at Ace Hardware. It was in such bad shape the vise would bind instead of slide.
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unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
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Post by unclesoska on Feb 20, 2013 16:47:21 GMT -5
I too have a E4 with the same issues. In my case, the vise uses the side edge of the table as a cutting guide, and upon close inspection, it turns out that the egde has a slight "bow" or warpage that prevents the vise from traveling in a straight line. The rock starts off cutting fine, but soon starts to bind against the blade. Also wears blade unevenly. I gave up on gravity feed due to this problem, now just hand feed very slow and gently, but it's brutal doing it this way. Hope this helps!
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Post by roswelljero on Feb 20, 2013 17:30:50 GMT -5
Thanks gang! After reading your posts, I think it's either bad bushings or the rod that the vise carriage uses as a guide. (I've already tried a new blade.) I'll let you know if I solve the problem.
Later, jeri
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