juzwuz
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2010
Posts: 526
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Post by juzwuz on Sept 9, 2013 15:04:23 GMT -5
forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/post/314318Has anyone built their own diamond wire saw? I was thinking of something smaller than the one pictured in the link. I'd like to build something that could cut large rocks but could also be broken down and stored away. I just don't have room for a large saw (24") but I'd like to be able to cut sphere preforms that can't fit in my 10" slab saw. I'm just not quite sure where to start on a wire saw. Justin
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Post by jakesrocks on Sept 9, 2013 15:57:22 GMT -5
Unless you can keep the wire very tight. you probably won't get accurate cuts on larger pieces. You might instead look into a small drag saw. Something like a power hacksaw, but with diamond segments brazed to the blade. I think Harbor Freight sells a small version of the power hacksaw with oil feed. It would be easy to change over to water feed, or use cutting oil. They are messy to use, so you'd want a layer of oil dry under the saw.
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Post by deb193redux on Sept 9, 2013 16:00:44 GMT -5
I wonder if when reducing the scale, the corresponding reduction in wire diameter would make for a very fragile wire. The bands on 37" diamond bandsaws can be a bit prone to breaking. A reciprocating drag saw might be a better design. You are also interested in more than a cut if you want sphere preforms. You are talking about a series of cuts, and would need some sort of vise and/or indexing device that is not part of the example you show. Given the total design and development I think this could cost a lot. If there was a large saw solution that was collapsible, I think more folks would have done it by now. The problem is the tank. The design you link is not particularly dis-assembly friendly, but it does avoid the tank. The most portable idea may be core drilling. Some sphere makers preform by coring on x, y, z axis. If you rigged something like a large drill press and water feed for an 8" core drill, you could store that in a fairly small footprint. There would be some cost for the core drill, but just a few hundred. (see, www.ukam.com/webcatalog_drills_ordering.htm, although they only go upto about 6"). I see cheaper 8" ones on Amazon, but they are rated for concrete. There are some rated for critically hard concrete with reinforced steel, www.humboldtmfg.com/professional_drill_bit_for_concrete.html, but they cost a bit more. Still, you wont have to spend $100+ on 12 gallons of oil, or give up enough space to park a car. Richardson's rock ranch does all of their large sphere preform with core drills. They might sell you a core drill if yo inquired.
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Post by deb193redux on Sept 9, 2013 16:07:47 GMT -5
the power hacksaw idea is more or less the same as the drag saw I mentioned. Here is one DIY in action Here I am standing next to a big drag saw built for large rock, and you can see it is not as large as the big wire saw. IT did cost about $11k If you are going to make drag saw blades, you might consider making core drills from cast iron pipe and welding on diamond segments.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2013 15:27:17 GMT -5
jamesp - you could make that for free with all the stuff you already own! Justin, whatcha cutting?
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
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Post by jamesp on Sept 10, 2013 15:40:34 GMT -5
Me? And a bunch more
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Deleted
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Member since January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2013 15:40:58 GMT -5
the power hacksaw idea is more or less the same as the drag saw I mentioned. Here is one DIY in action Actually, that is a playlist of many saws. A really awesome resource! Thank you. Justin, put your build here!
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Post by jakesrocks on Sept 10, 2013 15:59:53 GMT -5
OK Jim, where in that pile is that 27 T Roadster I've been looking for ?
Got a tractor salvage yard about 2 miles east of me. Tons of cool parts. Bet I could piece a drag saw together out of salvage parts there. Just need to get a fresh tank of gas for my welder, and a few spools of wire.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
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Post by jamesp on Sept 10, 2013 18:46:34 GMT -5
I live out the woods on the industrial side of SW Atlanta Don. The industrial junkyard has for $1/pound-drills mills wrenches hammers rope tubing hose nuts/bolts steel cable grinding wheels sprockets pulleys galv plumbing fittings sockets screwdrivers crane straps chinese c-clamps extension cords most wire welding stingers ground clamps etc etc Red iron 40 cents a pound.
I buy in lots and stocked up the yard w/angle pipe h beam i beam flats etc. Stocked it 10 years ago and it was best thing i ever did. I hate wood. not really but i love steel
I am stick welder-steel only . you are hot dog welder-i am envious
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2013 19:18:01 GMT -5
Maybe we should have a drag saw build-off.
Pimp my drag saw!!!
Sorry Justin. If you are still on the path for a diamond wire saw, we haven't been much help.
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Post by pghram on Sept 11, 2013 10:21:42 GMT -5
I am also sorry Justin, but I just can't resist. James, have you ever thought of having "American Pickers" out to your place?
Rich
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2013 11:19:05 GMT -5
Rich;
James is the American Atlanta picker!
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Post by Woodyrock on Sept 13, 2013 1:39:17 GMT -5
I am in a slow process of building a drag saw, and was going to use diamond saw wire for the blade. Problem is it comes in 200 meter rolls, and is only $100.00 per meter. I tried to get a worn diamond saw wire, but the place I inquired at sends the worn ones back to the manufacture in China for recycling. I will probably use diamond braze on an old wood saw blade. BTW, South Fork Mining's wire saw is about as small as they come. The local guy near me has one that will cut a 10' X 10' X 10' cube, he says If I get the rock to him, he can cut it....$25.00 per square foot, with a minimum of $100.00. Woody
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2013 13:48:15 GMT -5
I am in a slow process of building a drag saw, and was going to use diamond saw wire for the blade. Problem is it comes in 200 meter rolls, and is only $100.00 per meter. I tried to get a worn diamond saw wire, but the place I inquired at sends the worn ones back to the manufacture in China for recycling. I will probably use diamond braze on an old wood saw blade. BTW, South Fork Mining's wire saw is about as small as they come. The local guy near me has one that will cut a 10' X 10' X 10' cube, he says If I get the rock to him, he can cut it....$25.00 per square foot, with a minimum of $100.00. Woody Woody, diamond segments are about $1 ea including postage. They can be mig welded to some mild steel bar stock. That is your blade. Cost? $40 for a 36" blade? The resource is very professional. I am only sharing privately. PM me for details.
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juzwuz
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2010
Posts: 526
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Post by juzwuz on Sept 15, 2013 13:04:02 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies! A diamond drag saw sounds interesting. I was looking at diamond saw wire for small silicon wafer cutting machines: lapidarytool.com/cart/index.php?_a=product&product_id=2094I'd like diamond wire around 3mm but haven't found any yet. The 0.75mm diameter wire is $55 for 84cm which isn't too long but it might be long enough for a small machine. I'm looking for something that can cut rocks up 10 inches without needing the room for a 24" or larger slab saw. How small can a drag saw be scaled? Is a 12 or 14 inch blade reasonable? Justin
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2013 14:41:42 GMT -5
84cm looped around two pulleys.
42cm is (half the total lenth) 16" minus the circumference of a pulley probably makes a 12" cutting area. Sounds perfect for 10" rocks.
Silicon boules for wafers are 20cm (8") or so in diameter.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2013 15:05:52 GMT -5
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Post by deb193redux on Sept 16, 2013 16:13:33 GMT -5
can't see this working. keen to hear report if you try.
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quartz
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breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
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Post by quartz on Sept 16, 2013 22:41:16 GMT -5
My favorite quote is by Thomas Edison: "To invent, you need ingenuity, and a pile of junk." Looks like JP fits that quite nicely.
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Post by jakesrocks on Sept 16, 2013 23:37:01 GMT -5
Look for a good used industrial power hacksaw. Easy to convert to drag saw use. Most have a hydraulic feed for blade pressure. But they may not cut 10" rocks. It would all depend on the length of the blade stroke.
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