unclestu
Cave Dweller
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on Mar 14, 2014 22:13:22 GMT -5
Getting ready to get my first slab saw. The only saw I ever owned is my rock rascal trim saw. Used is not real option as I am located in the land which lapidary forgot, NJ. LOL As most of my material will be obtained through the mail as much as I would love to have an 18" saw the size of the rough material will be limited. I am considering the BD Highland 14" the Lortone Panther 14" or a Covington 16". The Bd is a little more money than the other two but I seem to recaall some members not being very happy with the Covington or Lortone for one reason or another. Of the three choices that I mentioned which would you recommend for hobbiest. If you have any other choices please let me know.. As far as power feed I think the BD has power feed as does the Panther. The Covington it is an option. Which is better power or gravity feed? Thanks for your feedback. Stu www.kingsleynorth.com/skshop/product.php?id=46601&catID=630www.kingsleynorth.com/skshop/product.php?id=99668&catID=630www.kingsleynorth.com/skshop/product.php?id=47405&catID=630
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Post by jakesrocks on Mar 14, 2014 22:27:24 GMT -5
The DB is probably the best of the 3, but you'll be limited in the size of rough you can cut.
I have the 16" Covington with power feed. The only problems I've had were the POS Covington blade that comes with the saw, and the arbor pulley coming loose. After changing to a 303S blade I cured the cutting problem. After chasing the lower pulley down the driveway a couple times, I took it off, removed the set screw, cleaned everything real good, put a dab of non hardening LockTite on the set screw and put the pulley back on. Haven't had to chase it since. They sell a stand for the Covington, and also a set of locking wheels for it, which makes it easy to move around.
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Post by Rockoonz on Mar 14, 2014 23:09:54 GMT -5
I vote DB as well. If for any reason you decide on the Lortone you will want to remove the feed motor and switch to the slower feed motor for a LS12, the one it comes with is too fast for normal use. I know nothing about the Covington, but if everything you're cutting is fist sized or a tad bigger 14 is all you need anyway. I would buy it from www.jsgemslapidary.com though, nothing wrong with KN but they have enough money and it ships from CA either way.
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Post by Rockoonz on Mar 14, 2014 23:14:31 GMT -5
IMO power feed is better than gravity unless you use a 10 inch trim/slab saw.
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Mar 15, 2014 0:29:04 GMT -5
Congratulations preemptively on your purchase Stu! I can't add anything useful to the discussion but I'm excited for you!
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unclestu
Cave Dweller
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on Mar 15, 2014 0:30:02 GMT -5
Thanks for the feedback guys. I sort of like the DB and I can't recall ever reading a negative about it though I pobably can pick up a 16" Covington with the power feed and stand for about the same price as the 14"BD What size rock could you cut on a 16" Covington? Is it generally 1/2 the size of the blade? 16" blade = 8" rock? Thanks Stu
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Mar 15, 2014 1:25:01 GMT -5
I know on my 12" there is a {i don't know the correct term, it is a washer-like plate inside the nut on the end of the arbor that holds the blade on} that loses an inch or so, then the vice is slightly above that. Assuming this is consistent with most designs, I'd divide the diameter by 2 then subtract 1"-1.25" - maybe more on larger blades. So I can realistically cut 4.5"-5" thick on a 12" blade.
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lparker
fully equipped rock polisher
Still doing too much for being retired!
Member since March 2008
Posts: 1,202
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Post by lparker on Mar 15, 2014 8:26:09 GMT -5
Thanks for the feedback guys. I sort of like the DB and I can't recall ever reading a negative about it though I pobably can pick up a 16" Covington with the power feed and stand for about the same price as the 14"BD What size rock could you cut on a 16" Covington? Is it generally 1/2 the size of the blade? 16" blade = 8" rock? Thanks Stu Don't have one, but more like 6 - 6.5 - you have to allow for the washer. Lee #1
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Post by jakesrocks on Mar 15, 2014 8:36:52 GMT -5
On the 16" saw, no higher than 6". But it can be as wide as the vice will allow.
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Post by Rockoonz on Mar 15, 2014 10:16:34 GMT -5
As the guy who fixes the stuff that breaks in my clubs lapidary shop I say 1/3 of the blade diameter, but sometimes I go a little bigger at home if the rock isn't super hard or fractured. Given a choice between 16 and 14 I personally go 14 because the BD303 blade for 14 is a continuous blade and the 16 is segmented.
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unclestu
Cave Dweller
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on Mar 15, 2014 13:36:02 GMT -5
Ok I will let my inexperience show. What is the difference between a continuous blade and segmented. Stu
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Post by jakesrocks on Mar 15, 2014 14:17:42 GMT -5
Actually, the S in 303S stands for slotted. There's a slot between segments. Personally I like the slotted blade. The slots help to carry more oil to the cut, and rock snot out of the cut. I also get a very smooth cut with the slotted blade. If I'm cutting nodules, after grinding the little break out nub off, I can go straight to the 220 grit polishing disk and skip the course grind.
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 15, 2014 14:18:26 GMT -5
The segmented blade is basically the continuous rim with laser cuts making the rim split in segments for extra cooling. Same blade other than that and allthat series blades above 14" become 303S rather than 303C. The BD14" saw is much more heavy duty (will cost more to ship too) than the other two. Covington seems OK with the BD/MK blade they now use on it. Loose pulley set screws are common. I think BD14" says 5" maximum cut. All cast iron carriage parts are now plated so saw can be used with water if needed. Left hand vise bothers some people but not sure why. To secure a rock requires using both hands. Covington uses under sized flange washers which makes their advertised cut taller than it should be. Washer should be 1/6 blade diameter to properly support blade. Under sized flanges leads to many damaged blades. BD14 is on sale through April 1st so think fast if you are leaning that way. And, thanks Lee.
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Post by Rockoonz on Mar 15, 2014 16:30:54 GMT -5
I did not know about the flange washers on Covington saws. That is a definite deal breaker for me, I had a 20 inch Hilquist with tiny flange washers, it just loved to dish blades. If the washer is small then the vice carriage rides low most likely so it's impractical to put on larger washers.
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