fixfireleo
starting to shine!
Member since March 2014
Posts: 30
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Post by fixfireleo on Mar 25, 2014 15:00:33 GMT -5
there was a rocksaw and 6 wheel used grinder on e-bay that went for like $127 local pick up only about 8 hours away. stupid me didnt bid. now, i've seen the cost of similar new (about $1200) what's the best way for someone who particularly good at "making" tools to get into cutting rocks and grinding/polishing (with sander) without spending hundreds of dollars?? thanks for the advice!! (by the way, i'm assuming this is all you need to make cabs??)
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Post by 150FromFundy on Mar 25, 2014 16:40:48 GMT -5
In general, buy used and refurbish as necessary. However $127 for a 6 wheel grinder and a saw sounds a little too good to be true.
For the arbor grinder (cabbing machine), the value of the diamond wheels and belts can be substantial. There is a good chance that all the wheels were well worn and needed to be replaced. Check out the cost of replacement wheels before proceeding to know what you are in for. Wheels are 6" and 8" in diameter. The metal ones may cost up to $100 each. The coloured ones are typically a sanding belt on an expandable wheel or drum and are much more affordable to replace, but add up because there are usually four of them.
You also have to make sure that the irrigation system also works. This is typically a drip system, or a small reservoir and pump. If you are handy, this will be a small and affordable fix for you. Ditto for lighting.
After your initial purchase, finding affordable diamond disks and belts will be your only obstacle.
In terms of a small saw, a 7" wet tile saw is your most affordable start. You can slice small rocks up to 2.5" to 3", and trim the slices for making cabs. Under $100.
Big saws cost big bucks and the blades can cost several hundred dollars when it is time for a new one. They also require oil as a coolant/lubricant which adds a whole new complexity when managing waste oil.
Darryl.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,352
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Post by quartz on Mar 25, 2014 21:33:50 GMT -5
Watch everything you can, Ebay, Craig's List, estate sales, etc. and tell people what you are looking for. The grapevine can produce some good finds. I found a 6-wheel arbor for a friend for $140, and another sale took $10 for one, granted the wheels were all junk. 150 said "buy used and refurbish as necessary", that's how we did it. The ability to do your own resto will pay big dividends. Figure on wheels, bands, and blades will be the biggest expense. Be both diligent and patient.
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 26, 2014 11:31:35 GMT -5
Lowest cost used cab machine would be a two wheel arbor with one 80 or 100 grit grinding wheel and an expanding drum with belts. For new the Ameritool or High Tech flat cabbers are the best bet for complete ready to play with units.
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Post by mohs on Mar 26, 2014 13:10:17 GMT -5
I agree with above A green S/C wheel is an inexpensive alternative and you'll keeping using it as you progress in better wheels maybe you could find a used one at a machine shop
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Post by gingerkid on Mar 26, 2014 13:54:37 GMT -5
Excellent suggestions from members! Not sure what your lapidary equipment budget allows, but the Graves CabMate is a versatile and quality machine. I found one used on eBay a couple of years ago that was still under warranty and came with accessories.
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fixfireleo
starting to shine!
Member since March 2014
Posts: 30
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Post by fixfireleo on Mar 26, 2014 15:54:22 GMT -5
thanks. how much are we talking on the "graves cabmate" that you bought used and the "green s/c wheel" (used or new?) also, once i get them, is it fairly easy to figure out what to do or does it really take a long time to be decent?
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Post by gingerkid on Mar 26, 2014 16:30:41 GMT -5
fixfireleo, a new Graves CabMate will cost around $625 - that's the lowest price I can find for the all diamond package unit. It may not be a good choice though if you plan on producing lots of cabs at a time since you have to make a lot of 'set-up' changes. For example, changing from the using the diamond blade for trimming materials to using the wheels. Graves recently came out with a cabbing unit that does not have a saw called the 6 Wheeler that has an overhead water system that is reasonably priced. I like johnjsgems idea of using a 2-wheel arbor with grinding wheels and an expanding drum, and then maybe you could purchase a tile saw, such as a Workforce tile saw.
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Post by deb193redux on Mar 26, 2014 22:28:45 GMT -5
you can rig a wheel or lap disc on a motor for under $50 and tile saws can be under $100 - but that is very limited. and water all over the place. getting better/multiple wheels, splash guards, drip lines, ... etc, adds cost. SiC grind wheel and SiC belts can lower cost compared to diamond, but diamond is generally worth the cost. you also need some sort of polish pad.
to get some grinding and polishing solution together, buying used equipment, replacing some wheel or belts, can be done for just a few hundred, but it takes a great used bargain. just not realistic to think you do it for under $200.
you can look for plans to make a flat lap unit. tile saw and a home made flat lap grinder would be cheapest. but you still need to have 4-5 different grit plated and a polish pad.
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Post by mohs on Mar 27, 2014 10:00:25 GMT -5
I was suggesting getting a used S/C wheel for free from a friendly machine shop. It’s been know to happen. Machine shop use them to rough grind carbide.
Buying a new one is not all that bad and they last a long time. I bought mine in 2009. Still as a lot of grind left in it!
6” x 1” wheels cost about 40 bucks. They basically come in two grit ranges. Course grit (100) & fine grit (220) Used for rough doming the rock. Fast & efficient
Its about best abrasive budget grind I know. That, with a expando rubber wheel, S/C sand paper, a piece of leather with cerium oxide for a buff, and your in the rock grinding biz. On about as much of budget as I know.
Drip systems are cheap. 5-dollar aquarium pump from H.F., tubing, and a brass pit valve is my method. About 20 dollars total.
As far as the machine goes? Well I tried various things in the beginning to grind on a budget. But quickly got serious. So I laid out $250.00 for a 8” Lortone cabber. (that minus the motor. Which was 180 bucks for that). I had a used motor lying around. I ran it until the windings toasted. Then I ran it some more ha ha
Buying a good cabbing machine up front was a good decision. Still running strong…. although the bearings are starting to clang…after five years…mostly.
The Ameritool flat lap is sweet clean beginning setup
Anyway others have much better advice. But I do grind at rock bottom.. Good grinding Ed
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lennyb0b
off to a rocking start
Master Crafter of Homemade Lapidary equipment!
Member since March 2014
Posts: 17
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Post by lennyb0b on Mar 27, 2014 10:10:40 GMT -5
Hey Leo, I am a newbie also and on a strict budget. I am disabled and working with homemade equipment. I am definitely willing to share my equipment ideas with you.....and provide a few hearty laffs for the forum. I found 50mm diamond cut-off wheels (Chinese, of course) on eBay, it was 10 wheels and two little arbors for about $15.00usd. (eBay and Harbor Freight will be your BESTEST friends until you get your finances in order!) I went to Harbor Freight and found some neat little diamond (3 in the set) wheels with one 1/8" arbor and one 1/4" arbor for $10.00(one looks like a miniature cabbing wheel and cuts like a scalded Beaver, the next one looks like a Glass Tile Grinder Burr and the third one is "V" shaped with the point of the "V" on the outside circumference of the wheel). I drilled out the center hole to 5/32" in some of my 50mm disks and attached it to the "Beaver wheel" which acts somewhat like a "Flat Master Lap" and gives some backing to the 50mm disk. I will send pics to show you this. I chucked it in a 3/8" drill with a $19.95 Router Speed Control Unit (Harbor Freight) and I was preforming cabs. Chunked 'em in my HF 3a knock of and now have BEEUTIFUL Pendants to sell. I ain't gonna get rich by NO means but I CAN have fun and help fund my neat little hobby! Gotta go take some pics, brb
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Post by mohs on Mar 27, 2014 10:20:10 GMT -5
Right on brb! that is good grinding! a person kind of forgets all the inexpensive alternatives ways to shine a stone rock on!
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fixfireleo
starting to shine!
Member since March 2014
Posts: 30
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Post by fixfireleo on Mar 27, 2014 16:45:39 GMT -5
can i make a suggestion? one of you guys needs to make and SELL a "how to" DVD. all these terms are going kinda over my head and i cant really picture what you are talking about. i'm sure there are books but a "DVD FOR DUMMIES" would be amazing and worth buying for a complete beginner like me. i know how to tumble and collect and that's about it. one thing i DONT want to do, is invest in a bunch of equipment i never use like the really NICE sluice i bought 4 years ago that is still unopened in the box.
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lennyb0b
off to a rocking start
Master Crafter of Homemade Lapidary equipment!
Member since March 2014
Posts: 17
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Post by lennyb0b on Mar 27, 2014 17:02:45 GMT -5
Weeelllllll, I'm an ugly little Rock Troll so I don't wanna scare nobody by putting out a dvd.......hmmmm, maybe you got an adea thyere Leo. BTW, explain your handle please. Its interesting! I also took a bunch of photo's today and am uploading to Photobucket right now. I will post them as soon as I get 'em uploaded. Ina meantime....Grind 'em before you tumble them for now. It's called preforming. be sure and get crevices and pits ( as much as you can) off of the stone. A dremel and some diamond burrs ($19.95 at Harbor Freight, HF for short) and some water. A cardboard box to use as a mini grinding booth so you keep mama happy and you are in business. Keep your stones wet by just repeatedly dunking them in water. Doing everything the TROLL way is NOT rocket science. It's cheap, not too terribly dangerous, (Invest in safety GLASSES AND A FACE SHIELD!!!!!!!!!!!)and a lot of fun! It's also sweet satisfaction to show someone what you made them beautiful rocks on! Patience fellow grasshopper....More to come!!!!
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fixfireleo
starting to shine!
Member since March 2014
Posts: 30
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Post by fixfireleo on Mar 28, 2014 17:13:48 GMT -5
my handle is one i've always used on-line. Leo is a masculine, fixed, fire sign. hence, FixFireLeo.
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