Fritz
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since May 2016
Posts: 77
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Post by Fritz on May 13, 2016 23:37:04 GMT -5
As far as the arbor bearings go all I did was check for play, and there is no noise or rough feel when when I spin it by hand with the belt off. I just eyeballed it and it seems to be true when I hold a straightedge next to it and spin. I did a little cutting with it today and changing out the pulley really helped. Pretty boring on the inside, as is most of the stuff I've found in WA.  |
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Fritz
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since May 2016
Posts: 77
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Post by Fritz on May 13, 2016 23:42:18 GMT -5
You want to locate the motor and mount the pulleys you plan to use, then measure for belt length, rather than fit everything to a specific belt. 3 screws hold the table, front ctr., back ctr. of table top, and in the middle on side of the tub opposite arbor. Cool, thanks. I wasn't sure if some lengths are easier to find than others. |
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Post by Peruano on May 16, 2016 8:16:42 GMT -5
Nice job. Sometimes fixing the equipment is almost as much fun as working on the rocks themselves. I'd go a bit further and fabricate a guard to cover the belt (at least closest to the arbor and cutting table). It is too easy to get occupied with the cutting and stick a finger in the wrong place and run it through the v-pulley (ouch). I always have trays and containers adjacent to my trim saw and hence an adjustment of the switch and power cable closer to the saw body would give more flat surfaces for "gasp" clutter. Tom
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Fritz
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since May 2016
Posts: 77
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Post by Fritz on May 17, 2016 18:27:00 GMT -5
I think I'm going to rig up a belt guard once I change out that heavy counter top base for something more compact and prolly drill a drain plug at that point. The more I use it the more I want to move that switch somewhere else. I always hear, or should I say read, that one should let the blade do the cutting and not to apply too much pressure. I find that the old blade I'm using (pics here: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/74828/diamond-blade-condition) doesn't cut much at all unless I use a fair amount of pressure on some of the agate I have. How long should it take with an 8" saw w/ 1725 motor to cut say 1 inch through 1" thick agate? Sometimes I really have to push to get it to cut. I'm using water and the blade has some run out that causes some vibration when cutting. Picking up a new blade tomorrow, yes! |
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Post by johnjsgems on May 17, 2016 20:52:48 GMT -5
It should cut pretty fast. Less than a minute I think but I'm used to 303 and 301 blades now. What blade are you getting?
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Fritz
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since May 2016
Posts: 77
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Post by Fritz on May 18, 2016 10:17:47 GMT -5
It should cut pretty fast. Less than a minute I think but I'm used to 303 and 301 blades now. What blade are you getting? A green notched or crimped blade from a guy I'm supposed to meet up with later today. It looks very similar to the mean green blade on your website. Getting it mainly as a guinea pig. I think the 301 that came with it must be dull then, it will only do it that quick if I'm really pushing to the boundary of seeing sparks. |
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Post by johnjsgems on May 18, 2016 12:13:25 GMT -5
Sparks when using water is pretty normal. If you learn the sound of your saw when cutting you can tell when cutting too fast. Listen for the motor sound to change or belt to start slipping.
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Fritz
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since May 2016
Posts: 77
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Post by Fritz on May 18, 2016 18:28:56 GMT -5
Wow what a difference a new blade made, night and day. Much better sounding as well. Got sick of the bolt holes that secure the top leaking like a sieve so I put some small squares of thin rubber from an old bicycle tube on the underside and then the nuts. No dripping after that. Tightened up the belt, again. That needs to be relocated and aligned better when I re-mount but it's cutting great now. Very happy.
Starting to get the hang of the vise but there is play unless I tighten up the guide screws to the point it's difficult to slide forward. Looks like part of the design and not from excessive wear.
EDIT: I unscrewed the switch box, re-positioned the cable clips, and hung it over the side, much better. Although now I'm grabbing the box itself so probably swap out the cheap metal one for a bell box.
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