Roger
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,487
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Post by Roger on Mar 20, 2013 8:51:34 GMT -5
I recently purchased a Lortone ST-10 saw from ebay. When it arrived, the thing was a mess. It had dried, very nasty "saw snot" all over the interior, around 1 1/2" thick on the bottom. The blade was embedded in it ~3/4" and it "stank". It was also arrived upside down with no packing material inside, so of course the Plexiglas lid was shattered. I didn't get photos before I started trying to clean it up, but I did once I had started on it. I have never tried to rebuild or refurbish anything before. Didn't think I could to be honest about it. Granted, the saw turned out to be something simple to work on, but I am still a little bit proud of myself lol I am building a new lid and need to finish replacing the switches, however, here is everything else. After the first round of cleaning and reassembly. When I finished the first round I figured I may as well give it one more shot and then repaint it. I had already come this far. Second & final cleaning. Disassembled. The hammer is to lightly tap in the hinge wire.. After cleaning, wire brushing, cleaning, degreasing, cleaning, two coats of primer and first coat of paint. After three coats paint and reassembled. Interior, after cleaning the innards several times with WD-40 and wire brushes. All that remains is replacing the switches and finishing the lid The photos will serve as a record that at least once, my saw was clean. I think the blade may still have some life in it. It seems to be straight with almost no wobble. I will try it out some common rock before trying it on anything nice. Thanks for looking and humoring this post lol Roger
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Post by deb193redux on Mar 20, 2013 9:54:55 GMT -5
the clean look is nice, and you now have a good "exploded" knowledge of the saw parts. very valuable.
there does look some life in blade, although a sintered blade will be nice to have before too long.
did you solve the shut-off switch issue?
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Roger
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,487
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Post by Roger on Mar 20, 2013 10:42:05 GMT -5
Not yet on the switch. Lortone is unresponsive. I am going to the hardware supply today to look for something. I am not sure how loose the switch needs to be for the shut off to work correctly though.
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Post by deb193redux on Mar 20, 2013 14:51:47 GMT -5
you want a switch that is more firmly two-position. once it goes to a certain point, it should snap all the way. The vise chain can tug pretty good, so do not worry too much about force required.
If the switch is too soft, it can shut off (open) when the toggle is mid-way, but it does not snap to the other side. As soon as you pull the vise back, releasing tension on the chain, the saw could turn on again and spray you with oil.
Just get a switch that is difficult to move half-way.
Did you try to call Lortone? I can usually get them to answer the phone after 9am PST.
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Post by catmandewe on Mar 20, 2013 16:13:40 GMT -5
Very nice job on the refurb!
Yeah I have had good luck calling them and ordering over the phone. I would give them a call. I can't tell from your pics if that is an old switch or a new one, if you can't find an old one I think I have an extra laying around somewhere.
Tony
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Mar 20, 2013 23:13:05 GMT -5
Nice restoration job Roger? These 10" Lortones were great saws! I wish they still made them. As for the powerfeed switch. If you can find one with the duck-bill shaped plastic switch, you can carefully drill a small hole through the plastic duck-bill to hook your powerfeed chain to. They look like this one: www.ardentdl.com/Auto-Switches/Toggle-Switches/TS897.html
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Post by roy on Mar 21, 2013 9:14:33 GMT -5
you can get the switches at any hardware store ! did you change the shaft bearings?
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 21, 2013 11:21:58 GMT -5
That is a sintered notch rim blade. It will cut until you wear through the notches. Depending on age either Star Diamond or Barranca if from Lortone. A little wobble won't hurt. Remember to only tighten enough so blade doesn't slip. Over tightening will cause wobble.
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Roger
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,487
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Post by Roger on Mar 21, 2013 16:05:13 GMT -5
Thanks all. I found duck bill switches on amazon for $4 ea, including shipping. The bearings are good, Should last me a while. I finished it all up last night. Insomnia, out can work for you... Once I get some oil, I will dress the blade and see how cuts.
Now all I need is a good polishing setup..
Thanks again everyone!
Roger
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robsrockshop
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2012
Posts: 715
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Post by robsrockshop on Mar 22, 2013 14:56:42 GMT -5
Nice!
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Roger
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,487
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Post by Roger on Mar 25, 2013 7:23:28 GMT -5
After I went to WallyWorld and picked up 20 bottles of "lubricating laxitive" - (strange looks, stranger questions & 3.7gals of mineral oil for $30.00) I fired up my saw for the first time yesterday. I admit I was nervous as heck lol. I started off with some mookaite - I was thinking softer material might be a better way to start off with an unknown, used blade. I made 5 cuts and they are in order in the photo below. The end cut (first cut) I wanted to see if I could take a thin section or if the slight wobble in the blade would break the material. It didn't After cutting these slabs I switched to a large Woodward Ranch agate my son and I had found on a recent trip there. I have another thread in this forum where I will post the results of those cuts. All in all, I am very happy with this saw and I cannot wait to see what is inside my other slabbing rough! Thank you everyone for all the help and advice getting me to this point. Daniel, without your encouragement and experience to help along the way, I would not be slabbing. Thank you! Roger
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Post by deb193redux on Mar 25, 2013 9:56:20 GMT -5
nice slices. are you using 4 or 5 turns of the crossfeed?
do you drop them in soapy water after? or take them right in for cleaning?
pretty good pics. what is you camera and light?
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Roger
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,487
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Post by Roger on Mar 25, 2013 13:05:21 GMT -5
5 turns on the crossfeed. 4 wasn't quite enough and 5 seemed to be about right. After slicing I didn't really clean them any, just soaked them in soapy water for 10-15 minutes then rinsed them off. Camera is an old canon sureshot I think. Lighting was fluorescent tubes
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garock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2006
Posts: 1,168
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Post by garock on Mar 25, 2013 15:07:44 GMT -5
I rebuilt my Lortone ST10. Purchased thur the local rock club sale. Bearing were bad and alot of mis-alignment. Took days to "cypher" as jethro bodene says and days to get it cutting correct. It works good. I got it for 125 dollars and bearing were about10 or 15 dollars. I am going to upgrade the electrials alittle. I have a few old type programmable controllers and and the handheld programmer. When the last two plants I worked at, the equipment was outdated but not the electricals. I saved most of the electricals and have some nice oil tight switches. The control switches can operate from 12v dc current thru the controller and the motor will be controled by the 120 vac outputs. Only need one output for the ac. I have been worried about the pull switch making after it is tripped and coming back on spraying oil everywhere. If I write the program correctly I will not have to worry about that. I have two oil tight switches and will use one to stop the saw at the usual spot and the other as a "dead man's" limit switch. to restart just push a button. Also put a cover switch on the lid to stop the saw also. Been "ciphering" about this for a little while. Have the lid switch and saw travel switches set up like an "emergency stop" I also have a current sensing relay and may set up on the motor in case it gets into a bind and stalls, then it would stop the saw. Just "THANKING" !
Still Digging in the Georgia Dirt - - and THANKING in Georgia !!! Frankie
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