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 Apr 8, 2014 19:52:01 GMT -5
As the title of this thread indicaates it looks like I am actually going to get my slab saw. I am going BD Highland 14. My question is which blade to get. Is this the right blade choice, 14" 301 Supreme notched rim diamond blade? Thanks for any and all advice. I am startting to really get excited about getting my first ever slab saw. Until now the only saw I ever owned was my 6" rock rascal trim saw. I have half of the garage all reaady for the new arrival. Stu
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Post by Peruano on Apr 9, 2014 7:36:14 GMT -5
You are in for a treat. Its your birthday and you have a garage full of presents that you will want to open for inspection. There is something mesmerizing about cutting those rocks open and every slab a new perspective (maybe better, maybe not). Careful with clamping the rocks in the vice and watch that feed speed and you should be fine with any good blade. Its bad rocks (fractures) and bad operator technique that ruin good blades. Congrats. Tom
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,709
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Post by Fossilman on Apr 9, 2014 10:23:29 GMT -5
You will be a cutting maniac for awhile,it's a blast!!!!!! Congrads on the new toy...
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Post by johnjsgems on Apr 9, 2014 11:10:31 GMT -5
It comes with a 301 and feed rate is not adjustable. It is a really nice saw.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Apr 9, 2014 14:01:10 GMT -5
Congratulations! I think you made a good choice of the available new 14" saws. If I had it to do over I would have bought the BD Highland 14" instead of the Lortone Panther. And Peruano is right, slabbing rocks is like opening presents. Sometimes you get really cool presents and sometimes you get, well...socks. Either way it's always exciting opening presents! Larry C.
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Post by Rockoonz on Apr 9, 2014 23:29:21 GMT -5
Congrats Stu, good choice.
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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 Apr 13, 2014 12:48:46 GMT -5
As I mentioned in the title of this thread, I am ready to get my slab saw. Having NEVER had a slab saw before and not having any experience with saws in general I really don't want to make the wrong choice. I see that the BD 14 does not have adjustable feed rate. It is pre set to 3/16" per minute. Is that something I should be concerned with or am I over thinking. I would think that it should be OK as this is not a low end type of saw. Also I realize that the saw needs yo be placed on something. Barraancas has a stand for the saw www.barrancadiamond.com/lap/acc_std_hp14.htmlDoes this stand look to be OK? I notice that on their larger saws they have locking casters. This stand does not. As the saw will weigh over 230 lbs does the saw need to be moved around when it comes time to clean it and change the oil? I just want to do this the right way the first time. Thanks for all of your help. Stu
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 13, 2014 13:39:33 GMT -5
Stu, Covington offers an optional wheel kit for their saws. You might want to contact Barranca. They may offer the same option. If not, have a local welding shop fabricate an angle iron frame for the stand legs to fit into with wheels attached to the bottom. Locking wheels on one end, and free wheeling on the other. You'll want to move the saw from time to time to clean around it, and to clean the end facing your wall.
A wheel kit will add a couple inches to the height of your saw. A small price to pay for the convenience of being able to easily move it.
I role my saw outside to use it, so I don't get oil mist all over the garage.
Congrats on the new toy. You're gonna love it.
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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 Apr 13, 2014 14:28:35 GMT -5
Thats a good idea Don, I was also thinking about making a wooden rolling cart/stand which could have a shelf under the saw to keep all of the saw maintenance related tools and grease. Any thought on the non adjustable cutting speed of 3/16" per minute?. Also do you think two or thee men can set this saw up on the stand without a fork lift? I think the saw itself wieghs 170 lbs. Stu
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 13, 2014 14:42:35 GMT -5
Stu, I unpacked and assembled my 16" saw in the bed of my pickup. I assembled the stand and wheel kit, and lifted the saw into the stand by myself. Of course my back hurt for a few days afterwards. Our roads were all mud from the spring thaw. The delivery truck refused to come out here, so I had to meet him in a parking lot and transfer the saw to my truck. No reason why 2 or 3 reasonably fit men can't lift your saw into the stand. As for the feed speed, check around for small gearhead motors with the same bolt pattern and same output shaft diameter, but slower output speed. There's an outfit in Nebraska that always has lots of small gearhead motors. www.surpluscenter.com/Electrical/AC-motors/ Their prices are pretty good, and shipping is quick.
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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 Apr 13, 2014 17:31:02 GMT -5
Thanks for the reply Don. LOL, about the fork lift, I was reading the unpacking instructions for the 24" model by mistake. They were talking fork lifts and floor jacks. For a moment I thought I was getting in over my head. I could just imagine my wife expression if I had to rent a fork lift to unpack my saw. LOL I feel like a first time father getting the nursery ready for the new arrival. I noticed another saw manufacturer that makes Highland Park "style" saws. Their 16" saw has adjustable feed rate and is about the same price as the BD 14 but I think it is made in China. www.hplapidary.com/p/965/highland-park-style-121416-inch-rock-slab-saw-model-16Stu
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vugs
starting to spend too much on rocks
Rockbiter
Member since February 2014
Posts: 225
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Post by vugs on Apr 13, 2014 19:43:29 GMT -5
those "Highand Park" style saws dont look too bad. i dont agree with ripping off the HP name and color scheme but they dont look bad. doesnt say what brand the motor is so i would guess its a chinese motor, which at those prices, is unacceptable. if the 10/12" saw was under $1000 i'd consider it.
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Post by johnjsgems on Apr 13, 2014 21:45:58 GMT -5
I would opt for the heavy duty wood table if it was me. I've carried many HP14's with one person assisting (I'm an old stud with heart disease and COPD) so don't worry too much. BD actually bought a Lortone Panther and used it for months before developing their much more heavy duty saw. Yes on the China Park using Chinese motor (BD has a Baldor) as well as all other components. They also were selling it without a blade although that has maybe changed now that they are selling Chinese blades as well.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Apr 14, 2014 22:58:44 GMT -5
I built the stands for my 14" and 12" saws out of 2x4s assembled with 2-1/2" long #10 wood screws. And then mounted them on the 5" swivel castors from Harbor Freight with 1-1/2" x 1/4" diameter Hex head wood bolts. Larry C.
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