jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,562
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Post by jamesp on Jan 6, 2014 23:52:13 GMT -5
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Post by iant on Jan 7, 2014 2:30:41 GMT -5
Makes total sense!
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Mattatya
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2012
Posts: 452
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Post by Mattatya on Jan 7, 2014 3:15:05 GMT -5
I do that quit a bit myself with an old 6in 100 grit green wheel (Takes forever though).
I read on here or on the Web about combining 5 diamond bit masonry saw blades on your pulley shaft. He said the diamond is set deeper in a blade over diamond plated grinding wheel and lasts longer. It cost less and is great for pre-shaping rough for tumbling.
I'll have to track down the site address again and post link.
Cheers, Matt
Sent from my SPH-D710 using proboards
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,562
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Post by jamesp on Jan 7, 2014 6:40:21 GMT -5
The diamonds are the way to go Matt. Never tried the sandwiched blades. But have good results with the little 4 inch diamond cup. You do need something with sintered diamonds since it wears them fast. I think the 4 inch wheel has a 3/4" wide surface and the diamond impregnated material is 5 mm thick. What has happened is a saddle has worn into the diamond impregnated material and it grinds a rounded corner on the stone.
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grayfingers
Cave Dweller
Member since November 2007
Posts: 4,575
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Post by grayfingers on Jan 7, 2014 9:30:59 GMT -5
Yup, I pre-grind too. (on tile saw) Especially useful for not tumbling off nice features, as less material is removed in the rotary.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,562
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Post by jamesp on Jan 7, 2014 12:31:25 GMT -5
Yup, I pre-grind too. (on tile saw) Especially useful for not tumbling off nice features, as less material is removed in the rotary. Bill carved this by holding a tile saw against Stone Mountain And after he finished
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 7, 2014 13:37:13 GMT -5
Ah stone mountain. I have some very fond memories of that place (and the laser show) from my youth...
I have an air angle grinder and saw the 4" diamond wheel/disk at Harbor Freight and thought of you.
how do you hold the stones while grinding? In your hand?
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Post by pghram on Jan 7, 2014 13:55:40 GMT -5
2 hrs work to save 6 weeks of grinding is a good investment.
Rich
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,562
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Post by jamesp on Jan 7, 2014 14:44:08 GMT -5
Ah stone mountain. I have some very fond memories of that place (and the laser show) from my youth... I have an air angle grinder and saw the 4" diamond wheel/disk at Harbor Freight and thought of you. how do you hold the stones while grinding? In your hand? You got Georgia blood so i know you recognized that little carving. Yes John, i use my fingers. It is tricky holding smaller stones. I do clamp the grinder so i can concentrate on my finger tips. I wish it turned slower. I hold them in a fashion that they can just fly away against a wall if they get out of my grip. It is boring and monotonous but gives great results.
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 7, 2014 15:06:02 GMT -5
a moment to wax nostalgic if you please... My wife and I met over a summer break when I was in High School. She lived in Colorado and I in Georgia. We corresponded for my senior year and then she graduated the week before I did, and came to Georgia to be at my graduation. We had an amazing week during her visit, and one of the nights we went to the laser show at Stone Mountain. The air was heavy with humidity but it didn't rain that night, and I'll always remember the smell of the air sweetened with white pine, honeysuckle and the green grass. I'd always loved going to Stone Mountain but that memory will be forever sealed in my mind. 3 weeks later I left Georgia on my own and never went back (other than a wedding and a HS reunion), and 20 years later we're married with 4 kids, all because of Stone Mountain (not really because of Stone Mountain but that was a nice memory)
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jan 7, 2014 15:06:11 GMT -5
James, I notice you do not show the backs of your hands/fingernails in the photos. I had wondered about what John asked - hand held. You are much braver than me.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,562
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Post by jamesp on Jan 7, 2014 15:53:32 GMT -5
James, I notice you do not show the backs of your hands/fingernails in the photos. I had wondered about what John asked - hand held. You are much braver than me. It used to get me more burned fingers till i learned to let go . They are roundish stones and never break when they get fired into the abyss. But cabs are too small. Larger rocks are no problem. It never drew blood but it gives the thinnest skin you ever want to have:) Often time i just hold it against it and let it fly instead of trying to pull it away. Look Mom, got all my fingers...
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carloscinco
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,639
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Post by carloscinco on Jan 7, 2014 18:24:53 GMT -5
Pre-grinding is the way to go for all the reasons you mentioned. Shape control and time savings in the coarse stage. I use a 7" concrete saw blade on my tile saw and shape along the side of the diamond band. I usually get about 3-4 hours of cutting and shaping out of one 8 dollar blade.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,562
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Post by jamesp on Jan 7, 2014 21:00:04 GMT -5
Your tumbles made me do it Carlos. This i learned from you and thanks.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,562
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Post by jamesp on Jan 8, 2014 2:15:51 GMT -5
a moment to wax nostalgic if you please... My wife and I met over a summer break when I was in High School. She lived in Colorado and I in Georgia. We corresponded for my senior year and then she graduated the week before I did, and came to Georgia to be at my graduation. We had an amazing week during her visit, and one of the nights we went to the laser show at Stone Mountain. The air was heavy with humidity but it didn't rain that night, and I'll always remember the smell of the air sweetened with white pine, honeysuckle and the green grass. I'd always loved going to Stone Mountain but that memory will be forever sealed in my mind. 3 weeks later I left Georgia on my own and never went back (other than a wedding and a HS reunion), and 20 years later we're married with 4 kids, all because of Stone Mountain (not really because of Stone Mountain but that was a nice memory) Nice to know. Darn right, woman will do stuff like that to you John. Lucky you. That was a big leap. Alll the way to Colorado. You went from foot hills to the mighty rockies. And we got to beware of smells. They have a powerful force so the experts say. A powerful sense. Looks like it did a number on you. Good for you John Herchenx.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,562
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Post by jamesp on Jan 8, 2014 10:05:43 GMT -5
quote author=" pghram" source="/post/718522/thread" timestamp="1389120940"]2 hrs work to save 6 weeks of grinding is a good investment. Rich[/quote] It is a good investment in time and effort. Darn tumblers can cost in grit and electricity/wear and tear. I would say that that $30 wheel had ground 200 pounds of tumbles. I think it came from Harbor. Seen them for $15. Get coarse grit. I think it is 30/40 grit. You can tell it is aggressive by the abrasions. It may chip some materials. I actually like the chipping effect to round faster.
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