navyvet8192
starting to shine!
"Trying to see a gem through a mountain of rocks!"
Member since July 2014
Posts: 36
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Post by navyvet8192 on Sept 8, 2014 15:18:27 GMT -5
I just got a used saw over the weekend for what I considered a steal. ($200) It's a 10" gravity feed "Texas Rocks" saw. I say Texas Rocks because on the front cutting surface, there is an emblem of Texas with the word ROCKS in the middle of it. It's a much older saw, but the bearings, feed assembly, motor, and exterior are in pretty good shape. It had set for quite some time unused with oil in it that got contaminated with water, so I drained the oil and took it to where I drop off my used motor oil, then removed the motor and cutoff switch and took the mechanical parts to a car wash that has a hot water wash station and engine cleaner. I blasted all of the old rock snot, mold, and miscellaneous crap out of it. It's air dried for 2 days, and now I am ready to refill it. Since it's only a 10" saw, is mineral oil an acceptable lubricant for it, or should I try some water soluble cutting solution?
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Sept 8, 2014 15:20:17 GMT -5
congrats on your new toy. mineral gets my vote. I use it my 10" and 14" saw and have no complaints at all.
Chuck
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navyvet8192
starting to shine!
"Trying to see a gem through a mountain of rocks!"
Member since July 2014
Posts: 36
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Post by navyvet8192 on Sept 8, 2014 15:22:04 GMT -5
Thanks Chuck. 100% mineral oil right?
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polishedball
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2014
Posts: 89
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Post by polishedball on Sept 8, 2014 16:51:50 GMT -5
Yep, walmart is the cheapest if they have enough on the shelf in the pharmacy, dollar general is pretty close. Family farm and home and tsc have it in the gallon.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Sept 8, 2014 17:37:11 GMT -5
yep 100% I get mine at walmart but the price did go up recently. $1.98 per pint now. That's still only $16 per gallon and its real convenient for me without ordering online. Does your saw logo look like this? Chuck
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,709
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Post by Fossilman on Sept 8, 2014 19:54:00 GMT -5
Yuppers mineral oil! Congrads on the saw too...
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Post by jakesrocks on Sept 8, 2014 20:31:20 GMT -5
Rocks Lapidary made a whole line of lapidary equipment. Mostly high quality with heavy aluminum castings. I have hoods and bump wheels made by Rocks Lapidary. They even made hoods to fit the Poly arbors. They were a Texas company. Thus the outline of Texas in their logo. With a little TLC, the saw will probably outlast you.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Sept 8, 2014 21:10:37 GMT -5
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navyvet8192
starting to shine!
"Trying to see a gem through a mountain of rocks!"
Member since July 2014
Posts: 36
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Post by navyvet8192 on Sept 9, 2014 15:47:45 GMT -5
Yes Chuck, the logo looks almost exactly like that. The saw is a heavy cast aluminum (@ 60 - 70 lbs empty) and is built like a tank. I'll post some pics tonight when I get off work. I ordered 2 gallons of oil off of Amazon for $19 each. I'm dying to cut some stuff up with it, but dread cleaning it out again! The 30 something flat head screws that hold the top to the tank were a bear to deal with. Thanks for the congrats everyone, I do appreciate it. Should I try to rig up an oil pump for it, or let the blade lubricate from the reservoir like it is set up now?
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navyvet8192
starting to shine!
"Trying to see a gem through a mountain of rocks!"
Member since July 2014
Posts: 36
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Post by navyvet8192 on Sept 9, 2014 18:39:05 GMT -5
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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 Sept 9, 2014 19:01:42 GMT -5
Yea, nice saw. I was hoping to find one of these used but eventually ended up with another old saw because i got sick of waiting. Good score. Congrats. I've always liked the sliding table design on these.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Sept 9, 2014 19:18:58 GMT -5
wow. that's a neat saw. you really have to pay to get stuff built like that these days. Too bad about the clean outs requiring so many screws to be removed.
Chuck
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navyvet8192
starting to shine!
"Trying to see a gem through a mountain of rocks!"
Member since July 2014
Posts: 36
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Post by navyvet8192 on Sept 9, 2014 19:52:26 GMT -5
It's given me some great ideas on making a larger slab saw. I got a 2 rpm rotisserie drive motor 1/3 hp for the feed, but I want to use the same feed table design. The bolts are going to go in from the top on my build, and they'll only be 6 of them. My next door neighbor has a 1 hp 1800 rpm motor that needs a start cap replaced on, but it's free so I figure the $12 for the cap will be worth it. I want to do a 24" saw, but being new to doing my own slabbing, I don't want to get too crazy. LOL!
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,709
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Post by Fossilman on Sept 9, 2014 20:35:33 GMT -5
Liking the saw!
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navyvet8192
starting to shine!
"Trying to see a gem through a mountain of rocks!"
Member since July 2014
Posts: 36
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Post by navyvet8192 on Sept 10, 2014 4:58:15 GMT -5
Thanks all!
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Post by jakesrocks on Sept 10, 2014 10:12:17 GMT -5
Sweet looking new toy. The next time you take the top off, run a tap through the threaded holes to clean them out. Buy new screws, and give them a light coat of anti seize compound before putting them in. Any auto parts store should have the anti seize compound.
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navyvet8192
starting to shine!
"Trying to see a gem through a mountain of rocks!"
Member since July 2014
Posts: 36
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Post by navyvet8192 on Sept 10, 2014 10:59:34 GMT -5
Will do! I'm going to also use a side grinder and clean up the cutting table where it looks like it got cock-eyed and the blade cut into it at an angle. I appreciate the tip!
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Post by Peruano on Sept 10, 2014 11:48:53 GMT -5
Navy, That's sweet. You will get big arm muscles just lifting that top 20 times per day. There's nothing like solid, and it looks like you bought solid. Enjoy it. Now you will want a collection of slotted weights of different sizes to adjust the gravity pull. Tom
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navyvet8192
starting to shine!
"Trying to see a gem through a mountain of rocks!"
Member since July 2014
Posts: 36
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Post by navyvet8192 on Sept 10, 2014 18:21:59 GMT -5
Thanks Peruano. I got a few slotted plates today, a 1/2 lb and a 1 lb. I don't want to put too much extra weight on it, I don't bind up the blade.
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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 Sept 10, 2014 22:59:09 GMT -5
I think the term "robust" fits well. Nice looking saw.
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