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Post by stardiamond on Mar 26, 2015 18:55:16 GMT -5
Haven't done any cabbing for more than 5 months. I could start again now that it is warm, but I have some equipment projects first.
1. Tomorrow I'm going to swap out the wheels on my 8" stardiamond cabber. This is a big deal not like changing the wheels on a Genie. The hole on my new 8" hard wheel is slightly too small and I was unable to get it to the end of the arbor. I used some emery cloth to make it bigger, but if that doesn't work I need to buy a sanding drum for my drill. I'll post pictures later of the wheel changing process. 2. I bought a plywood replacement base for my genie many years ago. The original one is badly warped but still usable. 3. I still haven't set up my Covington slab saw and other than it being pretty heavy to lift on to the table, I have some apprehension on the set up because the instructions seem to assume that you already know what you are doing. 4. Start slabbing and cabbing. I could go right to cabbing, but I've cut so many cabs over the years, I don't want to start repeating what I've done. I'd rather do some slabbing of rough that I've accumulated over the years. I've never used a bigger slab saw before and am concerned about damaging it and ruining expensive rough.
I retired last year but I had a big backlog of projects around the house and retirement related things to keep me busy. I felt bad about tackling the lapidary projects first.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,623
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Post by QuailRiver on Mar 26, 2015 21:43:50 GMT -5
Haven't done any cabbing for more than 5 months. I could start again now that it is warm, but I have some equipment projects first. 1. Tomorrow I'm going to swap out the wheels on my 8" stardiamond cabber. This is a big deal not like changing the wheels on a Genie. The hole on my new 8" hard wheel is slightly too small and I was unable to get it to the end of the arbor. I used some emery cloth to make it bigger, but if that doesn't work I need to buy a sanding drum for my drill. I'll post pictures later of the wheel changing process. ... I've run into this problem before with the center hole on Asian made wheels being too small. The emery wheel or sand paper methods of enlarging them runs the risk of getting the hole a little off center which will make the wheel unbalanced and cause vibration when running. I found that using a threading tap the size of the arbor diameter to thread the inside of the wheel arbor hole (from both directions) usually takes out enough material to make the wheel fit. Larry C.
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Post by snowmom on Mar 27, 2015 5:19:59 GMT -5
No guilt! Retirement is about play too, now you will have time for both! (newly retired myself)
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,685
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Post by Fossilman on Mar 27, 2015 9:17:48 GMT -5
Yes,time to GIT R DONE!!!! No guilt after retirement...
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Post by stardiamond on Mar 27, 2015 12:40:21 GMT -5
Haven't done any cabbing for more than 5 months. I could start again now that it is warm, but I have some equipment projects first. 1. Tomorrow I'm going to swap out the wheels on my 8" stardiamond cabber. This is a big deal not like changing the wheels on a Genie. The hole on my new 8" hard wheel is slightly too small and I was unable to get it to the end of the arbor. I used some emery cloth to make it bigger, but if that doesn't work I need to buy a sanding drum for my drill. I'll post pictures later of the wheel changing process. ... I've run into this problem before with the center hole on Asian made wheels being too small. The emery wheel or sand paper methods of enlarging them runs the risk of getting the hole a little off center which will make the wheel unbalanced and cause vibration when running. I found that using a threading tap the size of the arbor diameter to thread the inside of the wheel arbor hole (from both directions) usually takes out enough material to make the wheel fit. Larry C. The wheel was purchased from jadecarver years ago. I went to a lapidary show where he was there looking for a replacement. He recommended emery cloth. I coiled a piece of cloth and rotated it in the hole. If that doesn't work I could get this: www.amazon.com/2pc-DIAMOND-HOLE-SAW-DRILL/dp/B000TYIWUW/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1427477582&sr=8-11&keywords=1%22+drill+bit opinion? I was at a hardware store looking for a 1" bit and they were expensive. My next choice would be finding a machine shop to do it or just buying another wheel and dealing with this one later.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,623
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Post by QuailRiver on Mar 27, 2015 13:42:38 GMT -5
Then IMO JadeCarver gave you bad advice and is probably just a dealer and not a "user" of his products (and by the way I've liked the few JadeCarver products I've purchased). But Unless you have a metal lathe with a centering chuck, or have a centering vise and a drill press that you can use to center and steadily hold the wheel exactly on-center with your drill bit while you drill then it will be difficult to keep the drill bit centered - which is the same problem with trying to hand sand the inside of the hole larger - keeping the hole centered. The reason the threading tap works better is that it has a long taper on the end so it automatically centers itself when inserting it into the arbor hole. I'm not making this stuff up, I've been down this road before. Larry C.
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Post by stardiamond on Mar 27, 2015 14:30:09 GMT -5
I heeded your advice and found a machine shop that would do it for probably $50. I would need to bring it in. I ordered another wheel from jadecarver, one with a plastic center like a galaxy. The last wheel I bought from recently at a rock show is the same. I haven't tried to mount it yet. If the new wheel doesn't fit it will be returned. I can always use the steel centered wheel later and have it fixed professionally if my minor sanding didn't fix it.
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Mar 29, 2015 12:49:10 GMT -5
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Post by stardiamond on Mar 29, 2015 15:33:23 GMT -5
The wheel I sanded wasn't even close to fitting. I swapped out my wheels. 1. Unplug. 2.Remove 4 bolts. 3. Loosen belt. 4. Replace wheels making sure all the spacers line up so bearings are aligned. The new 80 grit plstic centered wheel was not cooperative, but I ws able to twist it on. The 220 wheel went on easily. 5. Replace belt. 6. Bold down top. 7. Plug in and test wheels rotating properly.
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Post by stardiamond on Apr 10, 2015 13:52:57 GMT -5
Replaced the warped genie base today. Not too bad. Two bolts and the accessories snap in. The lamp required a little persuasion.
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