The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
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Post by The Dad_Ohs on Feb 27, 2014 22:07:03 GMT -5
You can try using a slab grabber but without a guide if you have a steady hand.... you can make marks , say every 1/4 inch from the blade edge back towards the side of the saw you are holding the material on, this way you can adjust your cut for a specific thickness.... if this makes any sense. I took the vise off my 10 inch lortone trim saw because it didn't have as much side to side movement as I would prefer. I wound up holding rocks on my hand and with a piece of 2x4 that stopped 1/4 inch from the blade I used that as a guide and hand fed rocks to be slabbed thru the saw. Hope some of this helps.
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vugs
starting to spend too much on rocks
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Rockbiter
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Post by vugs on Feb 27, 2014 22:57:24 GMT -5
Mel, i overlooked the crossfeed. but, i just stumbled across this. it's the vice from the Barranca BD-7.. www.barrancadiamond.com/lap/acc_bd7_vise.htmli didnt think it was available seperately. i'll have to give them a call and see how much it is since i couldn't find the price on their site. doesnt look like it would be too hard to mount to the average 7" tile saw but judging by the price of the BD-7 they may be charging and arm and a leg for that vice. and, i do plan to upgrade to a lapidary blade fairly quickly. The Dad_Ohs, that definitely makes sense. marking the tabletop with some guides and hand feeding with a slab grabber would be ok with me also. i like to tinker so i'd like to see if i can rig up an adjustable vice but thanks for giving me a plan B.
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rocpup
spending too much on rocks
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Pink Limb Iris
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Post by rocpup on Mar 3, 2014 10:40:38 GMT -5
Vugs I have seen countless people setting on the side lines because they believe they can not afford the high price of lapidary equipment. I am a cheapo because I can not afford the so called good stuff. I love my hobby and the only way I get to do it look around and hope I can find a cheapo way. An example is I can not afford $100 for saw oil to fill my 14 inch saws, I now go to the local auto transmission shop and they give me used oil. It is not what I prefer but it keeps me in the hobby. I bought a 4 inch tile saw years ago for less than $50. Over the years I have installed many $4 blades on it found at swap meets. For trimming preforms it is great. I would much rather see someone get into low price piece of equipment and get their hands into it than just setting on the sidelines wishing. Don
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vugs
starting to spend too much on rocks
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Rockbiter
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Post by vugs on Mar 3, 2014 11:34:10 GMT -5
thanks Don. i have read alot of people saying that the small tile saws have performed well for them and have been reliable so that is good enough for me to go ahead and pull the trigger on one.
im hoping my small tile saw with an MK-303 blade and some gem lube type of additive i will get comparible cuts to the non "cheapo" stuff.
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
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Post by Mark K on Mar 3, 2014 17:40:39 GMT -5
Vugs I have seen countless people setting on the side lines because they believe they can not afford the high price of lapidary equipment. I am a cheapo because I can not afford the so called good stuff. I love my hobby and the only way I get to do it look around and hope I can find a cheapo way. An example is I can not afford $100 for saw oil to fill my 14 inch saws, I now go to the local auto transmission shop and they give me used oil. It is not what I prefer but it keeps me in the hobby. I bought a 4 inch tile saw years ago for less than $50. Over the years I have installed many $4 blades on it found at swap meets. For trimming preforms it is great. I would much rather see someone get into low price piece of equipment and get their hands into it than just setting on the sidelines wishing. Don You have a very good point. However if an item/tool requires odd ball components and it costs 1/2 or 1/3 or what ever compared to another similar item/tool. It will be worthless when the manufacturer changes the future items/tools to use a slightly different component and stops making the old style. I believe Harbor Freight has this type of proprietary components. They are not the only ones. Anything from China should be viewed with extreme suspicion.
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Post by Pat on Mar 3, 2014 18:26:04 GMT -5
I wound up holding rocks on my hand and with a piece of 2x4 that stopped 1/4 inch from the blade I used that as a guide and hand fed rocks to be slabbed thru the saw. Hope some of this helps. I have a Plasplug 4" tile saw. It does the job well. $7 used I have a used MK 101 10" tile saw that also works well. I am going to modify this one a little. Mario, Interesting, that you use a spacer (the 2 x 4"). That sounds just like what I am working on. I had purchased the vise for the MK, but didn't like it at all, even after we made the hole longer. So I bought a 2" -3" high long piece of aluminum to glue onto the sides of the saw to act as a stop. For spacers, I will use bricks and other things between the brick and the wall. A friend does this with great success. I can see that this will be a great improvement. I like your idea of marking the rock first. When I get it all set up, I'll post a photo in a separate thread.
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carloscinco
fully equipped rock polisher
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Member since July 2008
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Post by carloscinco on Mar 3, 2014 19:49:32 GMT -5
I bought a Buffalo brand tile saw for under 80 bucks at Home Depot recently and it works pretty good.
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The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
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Take me to your Labradorite!!
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Post by The Dad_Ohs on Mar 5, 2014 19:55:25 GMT -5
Vugs I have seen countless people setting on the side lines because they believe they can not afford the high price of lapidary equipment. I am a cheapo because I can not afford the so called good stuff. I love my hobby and the only way I get to do it look around and hope I can find a cheapo way. An example is I can not afford $100 for saw oil to fill my 14 inch saws, Don $100 for oil !!! ![???](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png) ? WOW !! thats a lot to spend for oil.... you must have 1 heck of a large sump for your blade.... I get mineral oil, and some here have used Baby Oil, Mineral with soft squishy smell!!, and no one is paying that much unless they are buying it by the 55 gallon drum. How much are you using in your saw Don?
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The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
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Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
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Post by The Dad_Ohs on Mar 5, 2014 19:59:42 GMT -5
I wound up holding rocks on my hand and with a piece of 2x4 that stopped 1/4 inch from the blade I used that as a guide and hand fed rocks to be slabbed thru the saw. Hope some of this helps. I have a Plasplug 4" tile saw. It does the job well. $7 used I have a used MK 101 10" tile saw that also works well. I am going to modify this one a little. Mario, Interesting, that you use a spacer (the 2 x 4"). That sounds just like what I am working on. I had purchased the vise for the MK, but didn't like it at all, even after we made the hole longer. So I bought a 2" -3" high long piece of aluminum to glue onto the sides of the saw to act as a stop. For spacers, I will use bricks and other things between the brick and the wall. A friend does this with great success. I can see that this will be a great improvement. I like your idea of marking the rock first. When I get it all set up, I'll post a photo in a separate thread. If you have a large enough flat space to make the marks on you can use a squeeze clamps (2) to hold you guide in place while you make your cut, as long as you don't over tighten and break/crack the plastic. this would allow max flexibility with the surface and the lines would allow you to quickly setup for a given thickness. I plan to have a new box built for my 10 inch saw and use a similar approach so I can quickly change widths as needed.
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rocpup
spending too much on rocks
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Pink Limb Iris
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Post by rocpup on Mar 5, 2014 23:46:45 GMT -5
Vugs I have seen countless people setting on the side lines because they believe they can not afford the high price of lapidary equipment. I am a cheapo because I can not afford the so called good stuff. I love my hobby and the only way I get to do it look around and hope I can find a cheapo way. An example is I can not afford $100 for saw oil to fill my 14 inch saws, Don $100 for oil !!! ![???](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png) ? WOW !! thats a lot to spend for oil.... you must have 1 heck of a large sump for your blade.... I get mineral oil, and some here have used Baby Oil, Mineral with soft squishy smell!!, and no one is paying that much unless they are buying it by the 55 gallon drum. How much are you using in your saw Don? The last 5 gal pale of Pella Oil A was $84. My old 14 inch HP uses a full five gal. I have seen mineral oil sell for $20 a gal. Used automatic transmission oil I am getting is free and works very well. Don
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Post by Rockoonz on Mar 6, 2014 1:00:42 GMT -5
The last 5 gal pale of Pella Oil A was $84. My old 14 inch HP uses a full five gal. I have seen mineral oil sell for $20 a gal. Used automatic transmission oil I am getting is free and works very well. Don Atf has friction modifiers in it, zinc based. Used ATF will likely have even more zinc in it. Zinc is highly toxic, not a good way to save money, though I suppose a shorter life does cut costs.
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rocpup
spending too much on rocks
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Post by rocpup on Mar 6, 2014 7:02:54 GMT -5
The last 5 gal pale of Pella Oil A was $84. My old 14 inch HP uses a full five gal. I have seen mineral oil sell for $20 a gal. Used automatic transmission oil I am getting is free and works very well. Don Atf has friction modifiers in it, zinc based. Used ATF will likely have even more zinc in it. Zinc is highly toxic, not a good way to save money, though I suppose a shorter life does cut costs. And You are the Judge?
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
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Post by Mark K on Mar 6, 2014 9:54:43 GMT -5
Apparently trying to help anyone on this thread is only going to get one criticized like before.
Rockoonz, you did the right thing in warning him about the danger of what he was doing. You did your part, now just let him kill himself and any others who breathe the mist.
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The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
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Take me to your Labradorite!!
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Post by The Dad_Ohs on Mar 6, 2014 16:15:04 GMT -5
$100 for oil !!! ![???](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png) ? WOW !! thats a lot to spend for oil.... you must have 1 heck of a large sump for your blade.... I get mineral oil, and some here have used Baby Oil, Mineral with soft squishy smell!!, and no one is paying that much unless they are buying it by the 55 gallon drum. How much are you using in your saw Don? The last 5 gal pale of Pella Oil A was $84. My old 14 inch HP uses a full five gal. I have seen mineral oil sell for $20 a gal. Used automatic transmission oil I am getting is free and works very well. Don hmm, my 18 inch Lortone only uses 3 1/2 gallons to cover the blade 1/2 inch... either you have, 1) A huge sump area (large and deep), which is probably the case 2) A blade smaller than what should be in there, If there is more than 4 inches between the top & bottom of the blade, get a bigger blade and really cut some Biguns'!! LOL 3) Too much oil. (Not that I am saying that you would knowingly put in too much oil, I have heard others say they use that much oil but on large bladed saws.) In my opinion if you need that much oil to run the 14 inch saw, it's time to start adding bricks to the saw box. But that is just my opinion, for what its worth. I just don't understand the need for 5 gallons of oil on a 14 inch saw, but that's just me I guess.
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Mark K
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Post by Mark K on Mar 6, 2014 16:26:12 GMT -5
No, it is not just you, I agree whole-heartedly. I love putting stuff in the bottom of the saw to reduce the need for extra oil. That is merely wise advice in my opinion.
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rocpup
spending too much on rocks
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Pink Limb Iris
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Post by rocpup on Mar 6, 2014 16:36:39 GMT -5
The last 5 gal pale of Pella Oil A was $84. My old 14 inch HP uses a full five gal. I have seen mineral oil sell for $20 a gal. Used automatic transmission oil I am getting is free and works very well. Don hmm, my 18 inch Lortone only uses 3 1/2 gallons to cover the blade 1/2 inch... either you have, 1) A huge sump area (large and deep), which is probably the case 2) A blade smaller than what should be in there, If there is more than 4 inches between the top & bottom of the blade, get a bigger blade and really cut some Biguns'!! LOL 3) Too much oil. (Not that I am saying that you would knowingly put in too much oil, I have heard others say they use that much oil but on large bladed saws.) In my opinion if you need that much oil to run the 14 inch saw, it's time to start adding bricks to the saw box. But that is just my opinion, for what its worth. I just don't understand the need for 5 gallons of oil on a 14 inch saw, but that's just me I guess. I own two 14 INCH Highland Park saws and they both take five gallons to get 1/2 inch of oil up on the blade. In one way it is nice because it takes me a couple of years before I have to muck it out. Don
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rocpup
spending too much on rocks
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Pink Limb Iris
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Post by rocpup on Mar 6, 2014 17:02:26 GMT -5
Apparently trying to help anyone on this thread is only going to get one criticized like before. Rockoonz, you did the right thing in warning him about the danger of what he was doing. You did your part, now just let him kill himself and any others who breathe the mist. Well Son I will soon be 75 years old and a Rockhound for at least 60 of those years. Every aspect of our hobby "Maybe Hazardous to Your Health". From traveling, digging, cutting, grinding, polishing or metalsmithing and jewelry making has things involved that you need to take precautions for. If you do not know how , just maybe you should be asking questions instead of giving advise. Don
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Mark K
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Post by Mark K on Mar 6, 2014 17:29:38 GMT -5
Look at the reply you gave Rockoonz to his warning about the zinc in the oil. He honestly was trying to help and you were rude to him.
Hopefully if you are putting zinc into the air through misting and or particulates, you are not poisoning your grandchildren whom I hope you have and hope you involve in your hobby.
It does not matter if you are 175 years old. I am sure Rockoonz had nothing but the best of intentions when he said that. 75 is not that old, it is not like he was telling a 105 year old man to quit smoking, he is 105, what does he care? You are 75. You probably still have a good 15 years left. If you are dead, you can't pass on what you know to those who follow you.
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Post by Rockoonz on Mar 7, 2014 0:59:31 GMT -5
rocpup nothing personal meant by what I said, I'm not telling anyone here what to do but I have dealt with heavy metal poisoning and it ain't pretty. Kind of like having the flu on steroids, only it doesn't go away until you can flush the nasty stuff out with other nasty stuff, cause it doesn't just pass through you and out the other end like food poisoning. You can do whatever you want, Don, but I hope some young family doesn't read what you post and expose their young children to it.
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rocpup
spending too much on rocks
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Post by rocpup on Mar 7, 2014 9:02:57 GMT -5
rocpup nothing personal meant by what I said, I'm not telling anyone here what to do but I have dealt with heavy metal poisoning and it ain't pretty. Kind of like having the flu on steroids, only it doesn't go away until you can flush the nasty stuff out with other nasty stuff, cause it doesn't just pass through you and out the other end like food poisoning. You can do whatever you want, Don, but I hope some young family doesn't read what you post and expose their young children to it. I have been a millwright mechanic welder all my working years and am well aware of the hazards out there. Some maybe exaggerated some may not. I do see what you are saying and I should address that in the future. There is a PM function and maybe you should have used it and not go pubic. The saw is under cover out in the open. I see no mists coming from it. As with ALL of the oils I have used the lid is only opened after a few minutes when it stops. I see no mist coming from the saw as with most of the oils I have used. The slab is dropped into a very strong detergent. The saw is reset and I wash my hands. The oil saws I see in peoples closed garages and shops scares hell out of me but it is normal thing. How about no masks being used when grinding stones. The amount of heavy metals and chemicals that I have been exposed to over the years would have maybe killed me many times if I had not taken some precautions. If you are out to educate this hobby or the world that is fine but please do not do on my back. Don
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