barclay
has rocks in the head
Lowly Padawan of rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 510
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Post by barclay on May 16, 2015 21:02:58 GMT -5
Today I went to the San Diego Gem & Mineral Society's annual silent auction for the first time. Rockpicker said it was not to be missed and that great deals on equipment could be had. When I arrived I saw this good sized rock grinding unit. It is a Highland Park Model A-50 and it looked to be in very good shape. They said it was in working order. It is mounted to its own metal table and the whole thing weighs about 100 lbs. The opening bid was $50 so at about 10:00 am I made my bid. Another person put in a bid at around 2:00 and when she saw me bid again and I told her I was going to use it to make knife handles she gave up. Another person put in a bid around 2:30, I immediately bid again since they said the end was near. He took two steps back, picked up the pencil to make another bid and the final whistle blew. I got the unit for a whopping $70. It is an older unit so I have not found another for sale, but similar units seem to go for around $1100. I plugged it in when I got home and it runs like a champ. The only thing I need to do is hook up the water and I am in business. I am thinking of using a 5-gal bucket with an aquarium pump and some kind of filter media to screen out the rock bits. I think this is a major steal!  |
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minerken
Cave Dweller 
Member since August 2013
Posts: 466 
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Post by minerken on May 16, 2015 21:40:38 GMT -5
that looks like a hell of a deal.
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Post by orrum on May 16, 2015 21:49:30 GMT -5
Got a pump up garden sprayer and hook it to your water lines. Two gallons of water last a good amount of time.
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Post by captbob on May 16, 2015 22:11:00 GMT -5
Here's one I picked up years ago. Missing the belt guard and I'm pretty sure I didn't get it for $70. Think I got mine for around the $250 range. Nice score! before  after  |
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Post by stardiamond on May 16, 2015 22:17:17 GMT -5
Deal of the decade. If it were mine, I would open up the front of the trays, to allow for insertion of removable plastic trays, reconfigure the wheels to an all diamond Genie/Titan and use a recirculating water system. I did that with my stardiamond machine about 10 years ago.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,359
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Post by quartz on May 16, 2015 22:37:19 GMT -5
Quite a deal, lucky you.
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barclay
has rocks in the head
Lowly Padawan of rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 510
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Post by barclay on May 16, 2015 22:50:33 GMT -5
Many good suggestions here. That is what I love about this place. I am not a big fan of SIC wheels. Diamond Pacific is only a couple of hrs from here.
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Post by snowmom on May 17, 2015 5:10:40 GMT -5
score! (so jealous!)
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Post by Peruano on May 17, 2015 8:04:22 GMT -5
Sweet. That right hand bay with two wheels far apart is nice, but it can be made to accommodate 3 wheels, with the addition of another valve hole for water there. JohnsGems can sell you the entire set of hard wheels and soft nova wheels and you are ready to go. I'd keep at least one of the expandos to give you the versatility of additional grits. Now you need more agates and wood for New Mexico. Let me know. Tom
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723
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Post by Fossilman on May 17, 2015 9:28:36 GMT -5
Hell of a deal-SCORE!!!
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kevintillotson
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2017
Posts: 1
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Post by kevintillotson on Oct 31, 2017 13:13:03 GMT -5
i just bought an OLD hp model a-50 (also a saw,and faceter) it needs some help i cant teach the golks at h.p. anyone have manusls or schematics. I really want to bring this back to life
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Post by Rockoonz on Oct 31, 2017 14:58:27 GMT -5
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Post by johnjsgems on Nov 1, 2017 11:24:05 GMT -5
Submersible pump is fine but splurge and buy two buckets. One for clean water, one for waste water.
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Nov 1, 2017 11:53:29 GMT -5
Great idea, John! johnjsgems I've only been using one. It never occurred to me to get a second bucket. LOL I have the same unit, paid $300 for it 10 years ago. I replaced the SiC wheels and the expanding drums were shot, so I replaced those, too. The only challenge now is that the belts are so tight on the expanding drums that it's hard to replace them (even with vaseline under the belt). FYI: the same unit is available on cigarbox for $1150 with motor and table. I use a 1/2 hp capacitor start motor on mind. Gets up to speed immediately. |
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