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Post by jakesrocks on Sept 16, 2013 23:43:51 GMT -5
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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 28, 2013 21:36:55 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. Last week I missed out on a small power hacksaw on craigslist but when I checked on Friday I found another one for sale in my area. It takes 12" hacksaw blades. I grabbed it along with a 1/3rd horsepower motor. I think it only has a 4" blade stroke. How big of a rock do you think it will cut? I can use it to cut angle iron and tubing for my other projects but I'm wondering if I can rig up a water or oil bath or drip feed and get a diamond blade for it. I think it's from the 40's or 50's.
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Post by jakesrocks on Sept 28, 2013 21:59:51 GMT -5
How wide will the vise open ? That will be the size rock you can cut. Can't remember the names of the companies, but there are a few who make diamond segments to braze onto flat blades. Just use a blade made for that saw. Grind the teeth off and braze diamond segments in their place. If you set the saw up over a sump of some sort, and use a electric oil pump, you can easily direct oil to the blade with copper tubing.
The older cast iron Craftsman tools were well made. You should be able to get many years pf use out of that thing.
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Post by Rockoonz on Sept 29, 2013 10:16:21 GMT -5
Looks like the depth of the C-frame that holds the blade will be the biggest limiting factor with a power hack saw. If a person is able to fabricate a frame and just use the drive setup from a power hack saw it would cut decent sized rocks, the vice would have to be rebuilt to hold rocks more securely anyway. If your goal is to make rocks into blocks for sphere preforms or to fit into a smaller saw for slabs this might be a good choice. If you're looking to slab, not so good as the vice will have no cross feed. If you want sphere preforms why not just use core drills?
Lee
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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 29, 2013 13:24:30 GMT -5
I think my goal would be to cut down big rocks so that it will fit into my 10" slab saw. I just measured the frame and it will cut a maximum 4.5" deep and 5" long with some messing around with the vise. The machine has a 5" blade stroke. I found a lot of carbide grit hacksaw blades which are pretty cheap. I'll buy a couple and see how they do. I do need to get rid of the rust which hopefully is just on the surface and then paint it with something that will protect it from the coolant drip feed. Mineral oil is probably better but it will get messy so I'm hoping to use water. Whatever I do, I'll need to make it convertible because I definitely want to use it to cut metal parts. I don't have a metal bandsaw or chopsaw so this machine will come in handy. Here's a couple of DIY power hacksaw plans that I came across. They should be good for conversion to lapidary use. You can even use a vice with a cross feed from a drill press or mill. www.vintageprojects.com/machine-shop/power-hacksaw-plans.htmlJustin
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2013 13:37:25 GMT -5
If it takes a 12 inch blade and has a 4 in stroke the max you will be able to cut is 8 inches. If you subtract the part of the blade that is held in the saw it will be less. I am not sure where they measure the blade from. I think on a hand hack saw they measure from hole to hole.
If it is made for cutting steel it will lift on the return stroke so if you could remove that it would cut twice as fast because it will be cutting both directions. Jim
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Post by jakesrocks on Sept 29, 2013 14:59:28 GMT -5
Jim, I have to partially disagree with your last statement. The lifting of the blade on the return stroke is to allow the cut to be flushed out with cutting oil, as well as preventing dulling of the saw teeth. While a diamond blade may cut faster using both directions, the flushing of the cut would make those expensive diamond segments last longer.
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Post by jakesrocks on Sept 29, 2013 15:04:57 GMT -5
Justin, a lapidary drag saw is basically an oversized power hacksaw. They used them for cutting huge pet wood rounds. A friend and I were working on plans for a trailer mounted, gas powered drag saw which could be used in the field and towed behind an ATV.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2013 17:13:38 GMT -5
I do agree with you Don. If it is not lifted it will not be able to push out the cut material. Fingers in motion before I had my brain in gear. It would be the same for steel and rock unless you had a fire hose stuck in there. lol We ran them with a white cutting liquid that we added to water. Man, that stuff would get to stinking pretty bad if it was not changed once in a while. Jim
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Post by jakesrocks on Sept 29, 2013 17:41:32 GMT -5
Used that same stuff in a lapidary saw. Works pretty good, but the rock dust stays in solution. After a couple days of cuttin, it gets like molasses. Still have a brand new 5 gal pail of the mix in the basement.
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juzwuz
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2010
Posts: 526
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Post by juzwuz on Oct 2, 2013 0:48:51 GMT -5
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Post by rockpickerforever on Oct 2, 2013 9:27:43 GMT -5
I have never personally bought from this company (in China), but a lot of people I know purchase from them. www.richontools.com/They are reputable. Because of shipping, probably wouldn't be cost effective if you were only buying a few things. The diamond flexible polishing pads are what a lot of sphere makers are using these days. I didn't see any of the diamond coated hacksaw blades, though.
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Post by jakesrocks on Oct 2, 2013 10:02:52 GMT -5
Don't know about your machine, but most power hacksaws I've seen use a much heavier blade than standard hand held hacksaws. You'll probably need to get an industrial blade and braze your own diamond segments to it.
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juzwuz
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2010
Posts: 526
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Post by juzwuz on Oct 2, 2013 14:12:33 GMT -5
Lots of sellers of diamond bandsaw blades. I guess it might be kind of thin and wobbly but how about cutting the bandsaw blade apart, drilling a couple of holes and pinning it into the hacksaw frame. The hacksaw has a tension adjustment so I would have to play around with that. I think I might try the carbide grit hacksaw rods or blades first because they are fairly cheap. I don't know how to braze so I'll have to save that as another project. The barrancadiamond drag saw blades are kind of pricey (and much bigger than what I'm looking for): www.barrancadiamonddirect.com/Drag-Saw-Blades_c15.htm
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Post by jakesrocks on Oct 2, 2013 14:27:29 GMT -5
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juzwuz
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2010
Posts: 526
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Post by juzwuz on Oct 7, 2013 0:08:23 GMT -5
I was browsing craigslist again and came across a pretty good deal. I got 2 brand new power hacksaw blades for $25: And the guy threw in his power hacksaw with another blade: His uncle made it in the 1960's and it's built like a tank. I think I'll try to convert this one to a lapidary drag saw and keep the Craftsman as is.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 7, 2013 17:40:14 GMT -5
wait!!
Did you get this machine??!!
Looks like it is designed to take any thickness blade. This makes it easy to retrofit with diamnd segments welded to a steel bar.
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juzwuz
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2010
Posts: 526
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Post by juzwuz on Oct 7, 2013 19:17:38 GMT -5
I got the machine and 3 blades for $25. It uses two pins to hold the blade. I also ordered a diamond band saw blade on ebay for $23 which has 0.040" kerf diamond segments welded on. It might be too thin but I'm planning on cutting the blade into a 12" long section and drill a couple of holes and give it a try in the machine. I am definitely not saving any space with this machine but I think I got it for the right price.
Do you know anybody who can weld on diamond segments?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2013 14:16:58 GMT -5
Justin, I can weld them for you. It will get me off my @ss and get my welder setup and make a few projects $25 is theft. You should be ashamed of yourself! Make a donation to your favorite charity to alleviate guilt..... lol
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juzwuz
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2010
Posts: 526
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Post by juzwuz on Oct 11, 2013 22:21:15 GMT -5
Justin, I can weld them for you. It will get me off my @ss and get my welder setup and make a few projects $25 is theft. You should be ashamed of yourself! Make a donation to your favorite charity to alleviate guilt..... lol I might take you up on the offer for some welding. We can work out the appropriate trade (cash, cubes of rock, etc.). My diamond bandsaw blade came in the mail and this thing is huge (183 inches long). The diamond does not look very thick but it's worth a try:
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