zapins
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 116 
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Post by zapins on Apr 28, 2016 19:36:00 GMT -5
What is the benefit of building your own slab saw over a masonry saw or chop saw with the right blade installed?
They seem to do basically the same thing?
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Post by johnjsgems on Apr 29, 2016 7:56:44 GMT -5
Masonry and tile saws generally work well with right blade. Usually more powerful and faster arbor speeds. Aggressive cutting but faster blade dulling requiring more blade dressing. No auto feed availability but I guess you could set up a gravity feed system. I use a 4" tile saw for trimming and an MK101 10" tile saw for most cutting. My new 10" drop saw turns 3200 rpm so similar fast cutting. I have picked up several "conventional" trim saws with the thought of keeping them but found them too gutless compared to tile saws. Tim the Toolman Taylor syndrome. Ideally, if you could find a good used large block saw and pulley speed down you would have an economical saw.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723
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Post by Fossilman on Apr 29, 2016 12:33:09 GMT -5
With a slab saw,you get more control on your cutting and a much smoother cut too,less noise and better equipment...
Blades also last longer,than the blades on a tile saw...
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Post by Rockoonz on Apr 30, 2016 0:02:44 GMT -5
I think the answer to the question is pay now or pay a lot more later. I pass on hacked out slabs, never worth the effort to grind deep saw marks off.
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mikeinsjc
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 329
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Post by mikeinsjc on May 14, 2016 23:35:24 GMT -5
I have never understood the appeal of masonry saws for lapidary work. They are a cheap way to hack up a rock, but they are not practical for cutting large or hard materials you intend to polish later. I would never hand feed a larger hard piece into a blade, after seeing what a rock coming loose in a vise can do to a blade. Plus, why would anyone want to take the time to hand feed a piece when you can set and forget a lapidary saw and end up with a quality cut? I know a ton of serious lapidaries, guys who make their living at it, and have never seen a tile saw in their shops.
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grayfingers
Cave Dweller
Member since November 2007
Posts: 4,575
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Post by grayfingers on May 15, 2016 7:29:50 GMT -5
I think it has to do with price and space mostly. I would love to own a slab saw. For folks who are not well-heeled and/or have space limitations a tile saw is the only option to allow them to enjoy lapidary. After a bit of practice, a 7" tile saw can produce a slab from rocks up to 3" in diameter. Using a good blade like 'Hot Dog' I would not call my slabs "hacked". Standing behind the saw keeps one dry, and if a rock pinches and ejects, (rarely) it flies away from the operator. For the most part, I only cut Montana agate and petwood.
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Post by Garage Rocker on May 15, 2016 8:06:49 GMT -5
HaHa! You just described my Friday night, grayfingers , down to the Hot Dog blade.
forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/74923/friday-date
I just got into lapidary as a hobby around Christmas, so a tile saw seemed the most reasonable option to be able to do more than just tumble rocks. Those saws with the word lapidary in the name are rather pricey. I assume my inventory of equipment will grow if my passion for the hobby persists through the years. The things I'm making are for my enjoyment, not merchandise, so it's ok if what I'm cutting isn't perfect. I'm having fun practicing. |
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Post by johnjsgems on May 16, 2016 11:10:57 GMT -5
My MK101 tile saw with a 301 lapidary blade will cut up to 4" hard agates with a very nice smooth cut. They have a vise option I keep buying but always sell before I get to try it. On the sliding tray 101 a good tip is to place the rock on a thin piece of foam packing. Keeps it from rocking and 3200 rpm arbor powered by 1 1/2 hp motor cuts very quickly. Anybody using a low cost tile saw with standard tile blade would be standing there a long time and getting a rough looking cut. For precision slabs a slab saw is of course the better option.
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vwfence
has rocks in the head
Member since January 2013
Posts: 567
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Post by vwfence on May 17, 2016 11:03:59 GMT -5
A good tile saw with a sliding table can be rigged with a vice or a clamp system and using a blade like a 101 make very good cuts . I did rig one up to cut by its self using a weight on a cable but i sold it before i ran it more than a couple cuts
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Post by johnjsgems on May 17, 2016 20:54:30 GMT -5
Mine with a 301 blade cuts so fast I don't think I would bother with a feed. I dull blades really fast though.
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