Intheswamp
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Post by Intheswamp on Feb 16, 2016 12:00:07 GMT -5
Well, basically what the title says... Does quartzite saw ok?
Basically my self-collected stuff is quartzite, some sedimentary stuff that I'll test out, and rocks I have no idea what they are. I've got some other stuff that I've bought from some good folks here on the forum that will cut (agates, etc.,) but I'm curious about my local stuff.
I heard mention to look out for fractures and not to cut into a sharp/protruding(?) edge. Go slow, don't force anything. Keep the blade wet/oiled.
Any tips for a newbie going to crank up his mighty 6" or 7" saw later this spring??
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Post by johnjsgems on Feb 16, 2016 15:37:59 GMT -5
Nothing wasted but a little time. A few cuts will tell you if they are worth bothering with. Should be hard enough. Most quartzsites I have seen are pretty blah though. You need color or patterns or something of interest to end up with something pleasing to the eye.
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Intheswamp
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Member since September 2015
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Post by Intheswamp on Feb 16, 2016 18:37:18 GMT -5
Howdy John. Yep, I guess the proof is in the cutting, eh?  I want to learn to cut crosses from local rocks but basically all I'll have is quartzite...and the only good, non-fractured stuff looks like will come from cobbles. Thus I'm hoping that I can make mini-slabs from some of the smaller cobbles and then cut crosses from those. Some of the rocks I'm finding has some "plume-looking" stuff in them, others speckles and sparkles. Of course when I get them done folks around here might think just as you said..."blah".<sigh> Well, I've got a nice new blade for the Lortone (thanks for the help!)...just need to get things organized and give it a shot.  As for cutting into fractured rock...is there a danger there? To me? To the blade? |
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Post by mohs on Feb 16, 2016 18:51:28 GMT -5
good luck with that Ed
never really cut any quartzite
because it did look blah
I'm planning on taking the day off
and mess around on my re-furbished 6" trim saw
just bought a .012 Pro-Slicer & .025 Laptech blade
really just plan on cutting light stuff
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Intheswamp
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Member since September 2015
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Post by Intheswamp on Feb 16, 2016 18:57:14 GMT -5
Have fun with the blades! Hmm, I guess I'm calling what I'm talking about the right name. I'll have to get a few pictures of it up. |
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Post by mohs on Feb 16, 2016 19:44:24 GMT -5
well the quartzite I got
look like very compacted sugar grains
and just really dense
this piece is brownish
it sparkly glints in the light
I suppose a 1/4 thick slab would have some translucently charm
but to trying bring up shine on it would
tough--- but smooth it would get
& as a heart half it may have possibilities
the piece I have is huge
but as leave rites they are everywhere
so I could get a small piece
& make a quartzite heart
why not...
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Fossilman
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 17, 2016 13:31:37 GMT -5
If not fracked a bunch,I always throw a rock in the saw....The first cut will not tell a lie...
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Intheswamp
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Post by Intheswamp on Feb 17, 2016 18:13:04 GMT -5
Ok, I'll refrain from cutting into heavily fractured ones. Ones with a fracture or two should be ok? I'm thinking of like cutting some fractured ends off or something of that sort...an amputation of the fractured area.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Feb 17, 2016 18:42:16 GMT -5
The saw cuts it a lot faster than hard agate Ed. You can score it with the saw at the fracture and hit it.
Or use a flat head screw driver stuck in the saw notch and twist it. It will finish cracking in most cases. Saves fractures caused by hitting it.
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Intheswamp
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Post by Intheswamp on Feb 17, 2016 19:59:43 GMT -5
Thanks James! Good info!
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Post by johnjsgems on Feb 17, 2016 20:02:38 GMT -5
You won't hurt the saw or yourself cutting by hand. With power feed you don't want fractured rock breaking up in the vise.
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Intheswamp
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Post by Intheswamp on Feb 17, 2016 20:53:09 GMT -5
Thanks John, I think you just answered the question/concern that I had about cutting fractured rock. I appreciate that info! |
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Post by Peruano on Mar 30, 2016 7:34:39 GMT -5
If you have a fractured rock that you want to work, your best bet is to cut on top of (i.e. parallel to) the fracture. That will eliminate it and keep it from fracturing on you later and hence ruining your piece. If the fracture breaks while you are sawing, nothing lost. You will just have two pieces faster and you will have to decide if anything is salvageable from them. If you are wanting to make decent slabs out of cobble, I'd consider gluing them onto wooden stubs slightly larger than the cobble itself. Then you can slide them along the saw table and produce parallel sides on your slab easier than hand holding (obviously more important from a comfort perspective too if its a slow cut of a larger stone). Even if you are using a hand forced vice, the stub will clamp easier than a rounded stone, and result in better cuts. I cut a lot of small stone (from river rubble) and stub many irrespective of whether I'm using my slab saw (power feed) or trim saw (with or without vice). I'd say go for it. Some quartzites are attractive enough due to striping and colors. Tom
Oh, and did I say, I'd start with a cheap lapidary blade. If you use a thin kerf blade, before you are used to cutting, you may end up bending it or burning it up by going to fast or hard. Good luck.
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Intheswamp
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Post by Intheswamp on Mar 30, 2016 8:06:17 GMT -5
Thanks for that reply, Tom. Good information. My old Lortone LU6X combo unit has a small vice on it, but I'm figuring on using it for trimming/shaping work once I get some small slabs cut. I picked up the cheapest Harbor Freight when they had a sale going on...$40, and bought a good blade for it. The tile saw will be what I hopefully use to cut the small slabs with. It has a fence, but not having taken it out of the box yet I'm not sure how solid it is...probably not very solid knowing some of the HF quality on none solid-iron items. But, it'll let me play some. I will concentrate on making my first good cut, but I have been trying to figure out how to keep the thickness fairly consistent throughout subsequent cuts. What I'm thinking is to rest the stub against the fence and make the first cut. Then I'll take the slab that I cut off and slip it between the stub and the fence with the hope that it will be somewhat stable and give me the desired thickness for the following cut. That's a thought, anyhow,...how it will work out is yet to be seen. I guess I could just find/make some thin shims to slip between the stub and fence...this might be a better answer. So what you are saying is to cut parallel to the fracture...basically like I was positioning the edge of a chisel in the fracture/crack to break it apart? Cut directly on the fracture or cut slightly to the "good side" of the rock? Which glue do you use to hold the cobbles/rubble? As soon as the weather warms up a bit (thin blooded) I hope to get the tile saw up and cutting...will be a good way to stay cool in the heat/humidity of the south Alabama summer. |
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Post by mohs on Mar 30, 2016 9:37:13 GMT -5
Hi Ed Here are some pictures of my quartzite project inspired by this thread The large quartzite I never cut. Mentioned above  the area of Dutch’s Ditch that I t hounded a piece of quartzite for the heart project with Superstition Mountains in the background   The heart on the lap  the finished product  |
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Intheswamp
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Member since September 2015
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Post by Intheswamp on Mar 30, 2016 10:41:47 GMT -5
Nice. I don't think I'll get to where you're at anytime soon, but hopefully manage to create some decent slabs...then go from there! |
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Mar 31, 2016 10:01:56 GMT -5
Love that purple western quartzite mohs knoopman. |
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I want to learn to cut crosses from local rocks but basically all I'll have is quartzite...and the only good, non-fractured stuff looks like will come from cobbles. Thus I'm hoping that I can make mini-slabs from some of the smaller cobbles and then cut crosses from those. Some of the rocks I'm finding has some "plume-looking" stuff in them, others speckles and sparkles. Of course when I get them done folks around here might think just as you said..."blah".<sigh> Well, I've got a nice new blade for the Lortone (thanks for the help!)...just need to get things organized and give it a shot. 
