droseraguy
Cave Dweller 
Member since April 2012
Posts: 426
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Post by droseraguy on Dec 3, 2013 14:50:34 GMT -5
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GeorgeStoneStore
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 168
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Post by GeorgeStoneStore on Dec 3, 2013 15:21:41 GMT -5
Hi
The 3,800 rpm very fast
Then the circumferential speed: 50 m / sec! brrrrrr 180km/h (112 mph)
Such speed dangerous! mineral burn , cracks, breakage
10 "blade max to 2200-2500 rpm
1400 - 1900 rpm for optimal
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Dec 3, 2013 17:37:16 GMT -5
I use one of those saws and I have had great results using water,RV antifreeze and borax. I paired it with the HarborFreight 10" diamond saw blade they also sell for something like $30 or $40. A bit wide but also nice and strong. And actually has lasted quite a long while. As long as you keep the lube running well it does a fine job. One tip, take and bore out the two water spray holes to the blade. They are made very small and not well aimed. The outer one slides out of the plastic frame. Also, you will want to work out some kind of vice. The sliding table is actually very smooth and accurate, but attaching a rock to it is a problem. I drilled through the table and made a clamp with long bolts coming up thru bottom. With care you get a very smooth cut.
Hope this helps. Good luck.
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barclay
has rocks in the head
Lowly Padawan of rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 510
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Post by barclay on Dec 3, 2013 20:02:15 GMT -5
I have a previous version of the Harbor Freight saw. It is very noisy. I rigged a pulley and some rope to act as a primitive feed mechanism. That way I don't vibrate the heck out of my fingers while doing a long cut. It has held up well. I didn't have good luck with the cheap $40 blades. I got a good blade from JS gems and I like it better.
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 3, 2013 20:59:58 GMT -5
My MK101 runs 3450. BD puts a 301 on the lapidary version. Works great but dulls blades pretty fast. If your saw is a belt drive you can pulley it down. On the old Harbor Freight saws (a copy of the MK101) you could swap the two pulleys and cut speed in half. I don't know about the belt guard and I can't tell you to not use the belt guard.
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LarryS
freely admits to licking rocks
SoCal desert rats
Member since August 2010
Posts: 781
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Post by LarryS on Dec 3, 2013 21:21:29 GMT -5
I've used BD's 10" porcelain blade that I bought from John. Works great, designed for 3800rpm & water. It's thick, .060 and the diamond matrix is about 3/8" tall, 50% more than the lapidary blades. Lots of diamond. Had to stop using it because neighbors were raising their eye bros on the noise. It cut through hard jasp/ag as good as any of the lapidary blades.
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Post by orrum on Dec 3, 2013 23:18:30 GMT -5
Hey Panamark how much borax do you use in the saw? Thanks, Bill
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droseraguy
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 426
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Post by droseraguy on Dec 4, 2013 9:26:34 GMT -5
Thanks for the advice guys. The way that the saw looks there are no belts which means that the bearings in the motor had better be accessable. Once it gets here I will post some pics. The steel/gravel toolshed will be clear of rodents and cats after the first cut according to Larry. I can live with that although my earplugs might not cut it....hmmm.
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LarryS
freely admits to licking rocks
SoCal desert rats
Member since August 2010
Posts: 781
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Post by LarryS on Dec 4, 2013 10:16:51 GMT -5
The porcelain blade is noisier than lapidary blades but not that bad. I'm just sawing where I'm not suppose to saw. So I have to be sneaky and quiet, under the radar. JSGems EZ Cut will work great in that saw.
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 4, 2013 10:56:45 GMT -5
Most tile saws are noisy due to higher speed motors. The blade choice won't make much difference as far as noise when added to the saw noise. Ear muffs are a good idea. The VA gave me hearing aids. You may not be so lucky so protect your hearing while you can.
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SJPatrick
starting to spend too much on rocks
2 1/2 years into rock hounding and I'm still a newbie!
Member since September 2013
Posts: 124 
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Post by SJPatrick on Dec 4, 2013 15:07:14 GMT -5
I bought this HF saw a few months back. I ran it with a Kobalt porcelain blade. It cut really well except I was getting scorch marks on the cut rocks. It wasn't providing enough water. Found and fixed a kinked hose. It helped. But the scorch marks, while less in number, continued. But as Mark mentioned the water spray holes weren't aimed well. I could re-aim one of the holes, but not the other. I returned it. Had I read his message at that time I might have tried to fix it as it did cut really well.
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Dec 10, 2013 7:52:08 GMT -5
Hey Panamark how much borax do you use in the saw? Thanks, Bill Bill, I fill the tray with 50/50 antifreeze to water. Then I put in about 1/2 cup borax. Not only does the borax REALLY help stop rust, but it also keeps bacterial from digesting the antifreeze so I can drain and reuse liquid over and over. That is a very noisy saw though, so hearing protection is a must. Good luck. |
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Post by orrum on Dec 10, 2013 8:30:03 GMT -5
Hey Panamark thanks I use antifreeze but any help is appreciated with rust and spray. I just read a thread that said tge grocery store had a product for dishwashers that would reduce surface tension which would reduce mist spray.
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droseraguy
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 426
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Post by droseraguy on Dec 10, 2013 11:04:20 GMT -5
Funny story about this saw. It came delivered via Fed Ex and the box although giant was beat to heck. What did they thing was in there rocks ? Anyway there ended up being a couple bolts missing so I called the number. "John" checked and they don't have replacement bolt bags so he asked if I could find them at the hardware store and they would send me a $10 gift card to cover the trouble. I have plenty laying around but that isn't the point. You get what you pay for which was not much in my case. Can't wait to see what other adventures are in store.
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carloscinco
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,639
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Post by carloscinco on Dec 26, 2013 10:45:57 GMT -5
How is it coming along with your new saw? I need to replace my 7" tile saw. The better than 3" depth of cut on your saw sounds great.
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Post by Pat on Sept 7, 2024 12:19:46 GMT -5
I’m considering getting a Harbor Freight 10” tile saw. It won’t get used a lot. Is this still a good idea. Thanks.
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,brazilians, some obsidian and labradorite, but mainly hard stuff. Anyone have one of these or a MK-101 or similar drop type saw ? Maybe I should stick to cutting the brazilians in my 12" Lortone.
,brazilians, some obsidian and labradorite, but mainly hard stuff. Anyone have one of these or a MK-101 or similar drop type saw ? Maybe I should stick to cutting the brazilians in my 12" Lortone.
