mikeinsjc
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 329
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Post by mikeinsjc on May 26, 2014 12:03:30 GMT -5
For years I have searched for a 24" Highland Park saw that wasn't hacked up or missing half the parts. Then, within 30 days I scored two of them. I am in the process of rebuilding them.
The two saws are slightly different. I cannot make out the model designations on the gear covers. Saw #1 has a two-piece lid holder-upper and the carriage moves on the square rails on roller bearings. Saw #2 has a one-piece lid holder and the carriage bears directly on the rails. Anyone have any idea what models these are and which came first? And would anyone know when Highland Park went out of business?
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ajrknapper
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2013
Posts: 16
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Post by ajrknapper on May 26, 2014 19:15:09 GMT -5
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Post by catmandewe on May 26, 2014 22:20:13 GMT -5
The round rails are the older models. They refined the design and went with square rails and the carriage rides on bearings for a smoother cut. Highland Park was sold to Contempo Lapidary in the mid 80's. Contempo Lapidary was bought out by Diamond Pacific in 1998. Diamond Pacific still has parts and molds to make more parts and they own the Highland Park name. If you have any questions on it you can call Diamond Pacific and they will help you with it if they can.
The link posted above takes you to a copy cat company. The new Highland Park Lapidary took some old machines and sent them to China to be reverse engineered, the machines are not the same quality as the old machines. If you call them you most likely wont get a return call unless they think you want to buy something.
Have fun with those cool saws! ..............Tony
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Post by Rockoonz on May 26, 2014 23:19:07 GMT -5
catmandewe Tony who carries the FranTom parts? I have a freind who will need a gear set for his screw feed soon.
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Post by catmandewe on May 27, 2014 17:50:28 GMT -5
catmandewe Tony who carries the FranTom parts? I have a freind who will need a gear set for his screw feed soon. Diamond Pacific has some of them but not all of them. They have a cargo container full of parts so you will just have to call them and see if they have it. I know they have about 4 or 5 different gear sets for older saws but I dont know for sure which ones. I do know that the Highland Park lapidary did take two old frantom saws apart and measure all the parts ( an 18" and a 24") but I don't know how far out they are going to be in getting new ones made and I don't know what the quality will be.
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europast
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2013
Posts: 118
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Post by europast on May 27, 2014 19:42:10 GMT -5
The round rail model is likely a Model U. Post a picture of the pulley side of the saw. I can compare it to the one I just bought.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,709
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Post by Fossilman on May 28, 2014 13:03:41 GMT -5
Have fun on the rebuild...Great scores...
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