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Post by stardiamond on Jul 18, 2014 13:45:44 GMT -5
6 1/2 years ago, I bought new Covington 16" combo saw with stand, power drive and 5 gallons of oil. I never had time to use it. My little free time was spent cabbing. Now that I am done working, it was time to unpack it and get ready to set it up. That involved moving all the stuff that was stacked on top of it, clearing a place to set it up and removing all the packing material. Getting rid of all the packaging will involve a trip to the dump. I assumed that step one was putting together the stand. I had four legs, four sides and no assembly hardware. So much for slabbing this weekend. I called Covington and they are going to mail me the hardware. I got nothing done, but it doesn't feel like it.
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Post by deb193redux on Jul 18, 2014 14:03:36 GMT -5
I am glad you are rectifying this crime against nature. <grin>
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2014 15:12:06 GMT -5
This thread is SO me.
Maybe you too. How many of you have boxes of rocks you bought but have yet to open?? lol
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,487
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Post by Sabre52 on Jul 18, 2014 15:34:32 GMT -5
Ah Covington. I spent most my afternoon on the phone with ole Brian at customer service. The drive belt had a big crack in it. Needed a special wrench and instructions from Brian to get the bottom motor mount loose so I could get the new belt on. Then, when I had the new belt on, the drive pulley came loose. Was a bit of a job getting that lined up and tightened up too. Brian is very helpful and sympathetic as he has fingers too big for most the places you have to reach on that saw too. Bet you can't wait to get a cutting. Make sure and take pics for us to look at please....Mel
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jul 18, 2014 15:59:03 GMT -5
This thread is SO me. Maybe you too. How many of you have boxes of rocks you bought but have yet to open?? lol Guilty as charged.
Agree with Daniel, definitely a crime against nature. How on earth can someone let a brand new saw sit for 6 1/2 years unopened? (Don't answer that...)
Please, take lots and lots of pics, so I can live vicariously through you. 16" would be awesome, all I have use of is a 10 incher (snicker). Maybe some day.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,709
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Post by Fossilman on Jul 18, 2014 18:05:41 GMT -5
Congrads....
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Post by jakesrocks on Jul 18, 2014 19:02:12 GMT -5
Warning on the Covington 16" saw. Before you even try to use it, remove the set screw from each pulley and give them a light coating of non hardening Locktite. That is unless you like chasing pulleys all over the place. Covington's pulleys will come loose and fly off without the Locktite.
(I remember when mine looked that clean).
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Post by stardiamond on Jul 18, 2014 19:37:35 GMT -5
What compounds the crime is that I have rough that I have accumulated for over 10 years. It's been waiting for a saw. I don't have a rock garden. It would all fit in a wheelbarrow. For along time my wife was interested in rocks so she bought rough on ebay. About two years ago, I went through all my boxes to see what I had. There were some surprises. I sold some slab groupings and frb here and donated some rough to the local lapidary and mineral society. It was stuff that I would never slab. I can't remember exactly what it all is (other than I know what the rough is) , but it will keep the saw busy and I will post pictures.
Typically, I had an average of two hours of time a weekend and I preferred to use it creating cabs. Slabbing is more like opening Christmas presents. I used my 8" trim saw to slab small rough and gnaw of pieces off larger rough. This is not a good use of trim saw blades.
I have over sixty 8x12 Ryker boxes of cabs. An economic lesson I learned is that slabbing can increase the value or rough and cabbing can decrease the value of slabs. An interesting Morrisonite slabette may be worth more than the cab you cut from it so good material should be used wisely. On the other hand who wants to waste their time cabbing boring material. On the in between material, there is another issue; repeating the same cab. My program has always been, cab, slab,sell. I've never tied to sell cabs before so when I do I can replace what I've hopefully sold with a similar cab.
I'm looking forward to opening the Christmas presents.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jul 19, 2014 8:14:06 GMT -5
Like I said, I can totally relate! I have a brand spanking new vibe tumbler, picked up in Quartzsite four or five years ago, still in it's box, unused. I hope when I do get around to using it that everything works. I guess letting something sit like that kinda kills a one year warranty.
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Post by stardiamond on Jul 25, 2014 14:45:04 GMT -5
I got the hardware from Covington and put together the stand. Two issues arose; everyone has a bad back and lowering the saw into the stand might be difficult, the saw in the stand is pretty low and I would need to bend over quite a bit to work with it.
I have a full sized woodworking table. Only the Genie and a lot of junk is on it. I'm going to take everything off the table and put the saw on it. I'll complete assembly and then position the saw on the table where I want it and then put the Genie back on the table. The Genie base is also warped and I bought a replacement before I bought the saw. I never got around to replacing the base. Seems like a good time. The original base was pressed board and warped from the water from using the trim saw. The new base is plywood and I might elevate it a little bit off the table. I spent some time reading the Covington user manual and am gaining a little confidence. I really want to start slabbing.
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Post by DirtCleaner on Jul 25, 2014 20:14:13 GMT -5
Where there is a will there is a way. Or, find some neighbors, family, friends and get her going. Good luck.
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Post by johnjsgems on Jul 28, 2014 21:14:08 GMT -5
Once you securely clamp the rock and start the saw you have time to cab (or do other things) while the saw feeds.
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Post by stardiamond on Jul 29, 2014 13:57:48 GMT -5
Does anyone see a problem putting the saw on the bench? My star diamond machine has it's back to the bench and I was going to put the saw next to it and move the genie to the opposite corner of the table. I'm over six feet tall and the height on the table seems better than the height on the stand. I am concerned about contamination with cutting oil, more so with the Genie. I only use the genie for polishing (three polishing wheels and two pads) and trimming. Should I remove it from the table when the Covington is being used?
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The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
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Post by The Dad_Ohs on Jul 29, 2014 14:11:45 GMT -5
If you use an anti-misting additive with the oil it should not be a problem. If you wait 10-15 seconds after you shut off the saw to open the hood it should not be a problem. If you move the cabbing macine while you are cutting and put it back so you ca cab ... it will become a problem after a while! I am 6'1" myself and The bending can be a pain!! my trim saw , sitting on a bench, is too low for me so I am going to rebuild it into a taller unit.
My 18' saw is not too bad but since I cut some fairly large stuff in it, I don't want it too high or it will be a pain to load and I won't enjoy using it as much!! (something to consider when/if you raise up your 16' saw on the bench, higher than it would normally sit on the bench, is how easily can you load material into it that is near the capacity of the saw without having to strain!)
all in all good luck with it.... and I don't see a problem with it being near the saw.... I cab while I have material in my 18" all the time.
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Post by johnjsgems on Jul 29, 2014 16:28:02 GMT -5
You might consider adding casters to the stand. It would add height and make it easier to move around. You can always throw a tarp or something over the Genie if misting is a problem. Shouldn't be in an enclosed saw though.
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Post by Rockoonz on Jul 29, 2014 22:43:09 GMT -5
Yep, like John said get a set of locking casters that will lift it to the level you want. I run my saws all the way to the opposite end of the garage from the grinding and polishing, and as soon as I finish the shop building behind the house everything but the saws will move out there.
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