Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,504
|
Post by Sabre52 on Nov 21, 2016 12:49:34 GMT -5
Howdy folks, Been cutting a few agates from the junk pile just to see what's inside. Kind of a waste of saw time but who knows what you'll get. Anyway, the pics....Mel Montana type Rio...ehhh  Green one and another ehh moss. These green ones are seldom any good unless more agate than moss. This one is pitted and too dense.  Only decent one from the day, dense moss that is more jasper  |
|
|
|
Post by johnjsgems on Nov 21, 2016 13:14:51 GMT -5
Are you collecting these yourself? The moss looks a little like a piece I collected at Stillwell Ranch.
|
|
Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,504
|
Post by Sabre52 on Nov 21, 2016 14:05:58 GMT -5
John, A neighbor of mine manages a big ranch on the Rio grande at Carrizo Springs, TX and he brings by a few buckets full of agate every few weeks for me to sell for his kids (I get a little cut of the agate too). So, I don't collect it myself. I do though have access to a rock yard with Rio gravels and I do collect there myself. Same stuff except from Eagle Pass, TX. These cuts come from both sources...Mel
PS: Really been getting wear out of those blades you sold me. Both types were really nice blades but I wrecked the first one when a dang piece of pet wood moved in the vice, Down to about 1/4 inch of diamond on the last one so you'll be hearing from me again soon.
|
|
|
|
Post by captbob on Nov 21, 2016 14:08:38 GMT -5
What blade are you using Mel? I have that 10" Raytech I'm fixin' up and will probably get a new blade to go with it.
|
|
Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723 
|
Post by Fossilman on Nov 21, 2016 14:55:33 GMT -5
Great tumble material,either way,so it doesn't get sent back to the junk pile.....
|
|
|
|
Post by johnjsgems on Nov 21, 2016 16:24:31 GMT -5
I sell blades to DOT Texas for a core saw. They cut concrete cores and every blade they tried didn't work well. I told them they needed to talk to a rockhound. Their concrete aggregate is all Rio Grande agates so the standard blades won't work well. I'll never forget the time we pulled into a Walmart in our travels in Marble Falls. All the gravel around the parking lot trees were Rio agates and pet wood. Too many people around but I was tempted. I think I sold Mel a 301 and 303C but it has been quite a while back.
|
|
Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,504
|
Post by Sabre52 on Nov 21, 2016 16:59:36 GMT -5
I think you are dead on John. t was the thicker 303 continuous rim and the real good notched rim 301. Both are excellent blades and real workhorses. Using the continuous rim now and the only difference I've really noticed is I think it actually cuts hard material a bit better and has to be dressed less often. And, John's prices are a lot cheaper than the other dealers I've dealt with too.
I know what you mean about the landscaping too. Rio gravel all over town and some are really loaded with good agate too. I've asked a couple of times but have been turned down so maybe it's best just to sneak out a rock now and then *L*......Mel
|
|
|
|
Post by 1dave on Nov 21, 2016 21:58:10 GMT -5
Drop a pencil, hankie . . .
What else can you do with IRRESISTIBLE ?
|
|
Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,504
|
Post by Sabre52 on Nov 21, 2016 22:39:21 GMT -5
Bob, I think the blade I'm running now is the BD303C .050 but I might be mistaken and it could be the .040. I usually get the thicker blade if I remember to. Excellent blade for sure. I still have some diamond left and I've cut hundreds of slabs with it. Cuts so smooth the slabs almost look lapped. Only problem I had was the blade was a bit big for the slot in my stupid Covington saw table top, so I had to take a file and cut the slot a bit longer...Mel
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
|
Post by jamesp on Nov 22, 2016 4:47:12 GMT -5
I think you are dead on John. t was the thicker 303 continuous rim and the real good notched rim 301. Both are excellent blades and real workhorses. Using the continuous rim now and the only difference I've really noticed is I think it actually cuts hard material a bit better and has to be dressed less often. And, John's prices are a lot cheaper than the other dealers I've dealt with too. I know what you mean about the landscaping too. Rio gravel all over town and some are really loaded with good agate too. I've asked a couple of times but have been turned down so maybe it's best just to sneak out a rock now and then *L*......Mel Get a cell phone out and walk around like you are looking at it. No one will think you are looking past it at the rocks. Sawing those little morsels is life at it's best. |
|
|
|
Post by johnjsgems on Nov 22, 2016 12:20:21 GMT -5
Or walk your dog with a bag in your hand. Scoop up agates instead. Most of the gravel used here for concrete is granite and out here in the desert for driveways is a very poor quality rhyolite looking stuff from Newberry Mountain.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2016 20:39:17 GMT -5
Or walk your dog with a bag in your hand. Scoop up agates instead. Most of the gravel used here for concrete is granite and out here in the desert for driveways is a very poor quality rhyolite looking stuff from Newberry Mountain. Brubaker-Mann sells some andesite gravels in Victorville area. At least I think it's their goods. |
|
|
|
Post by pghram on Dec 4, 2016 22:06:08 GMT -5
Very nice, I especially like the red/white moss & the last one. It has an interesting color combo.
Peace,
Rich
|
|
