Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2013 17:23:08 GMT -5
Been looking at Lap, equipment online, I sure cant afford a $500+ saw, What can I get by with to cut rocks, and grind the edges? I've got several bench grinders. Does it take a special grinding wheel?
I've seen some mention of tile saws from Lowes or Home Depot. How well do they work?
I appreciate any advise thank you folks
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Post by Peruano on Mar 3, 2013 19:24:05 GMT -5
Daniel62, I'll let others talk about tile saws (although (I've heard good things if you don't expect to do too much). I functioned for several months by adapting an old Grainger bench grinder with a standard carborundum wheel to work on softer stuff and even some agates by using a drip water system (gallon jub with drip tube onto stone) and a plastic tray underneath to catch water and grindings. Only precautions were to keep water off of motor, and to spin excess water off of wheel and not let the wheel sit with water dripping on it without spinning (apparently wheels can become waterlogged and disintegrate upon beginning the spin). Some folks say to never stand in line with a wheel when it first begins to spin. Water controls temp, water controls dust, water washes the sediment off of your wheel. It would be best (they say) to have a wheel spinning at 1725 rather than 3000 plus but if the wheel is rated for those rpms, it should be ok. Go slow, be cautious with eyes and respiration, and use common sense and you should be OK without being totally professional. Don't be afraid to associate with experienced folks in your neighborhood. Most are quite willing to share their experience. Tom '
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,547
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Post by tkvancil on Mar 3, 2013 19:54:06 GMT -5
I bought a 7 inch tile saw to cut my rocks. Works surprisingly well and the $18.00 blades last pretty good too. The cutting depth is pretty shallow so that to me is the major drawback with affordability being the major plus.
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jspencer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2011
Posts: 929
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Post by jspencer on Mar 3, 2013 22:50:53 GMT -5
A tile saw is a good way to start out with a tiny budget like I did. I kept my eyes and ears open and landed a 14" Slab saw with brand new blade for $140. I`ve used it for a couple of years now with same blade doing fine. You should be able to find a tile saw on Craigslist for $25-$40. People buy them, use them one time and sell them after a long time in their garage. Then go to Harbor Freight and buy some cheap diamond grinding wheels that fit in a drill and grind a little with them. On my bench grinders right side I removed the grinding wheel and replaced it with a 1/2" drill chuck from Home Depot with the same threads as the grinder shaft which was 1/2"-20tpi. I then inserted any diamond grinding tip I wanted or a small grinding wheel or drill bit. A water drip with a sponge added is easy to do.
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