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Post by Peruano on Feb 21, 2017 11:33:07 GMT -5
I've never heard anyone discuss the features of this Raytech slab saw, but it does seem to have some unique and desirable features that could be imitated in other saws. 1. Note the 3 faced vice. The top face ideally would grab a thunder egg better than two flat faces and keep it from riding up if things were not cutting as fast as needed. 2. The rotation of the saw blade is distinct from saws I've worked with. Again perhaps holding the rock tighter in the vice as designed. Comments anyone.   |
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Post by captbob on Feb 21, 2017 11:52:29 GMT -5
Vise is interesting, would like to see one in person.
Had this been an improvement over how most saws are built now, the design would have probably survived.
Same with the blade rotation cutting from the bottom. If it had been a good idea, it would have been copied.
Gotta give them credit for trying something different.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Feb 21, 2017 20:58:31 GMT -5
I've always wanted a Raytech 18" saw. There doesn't seem to be many of them around. Several years ago I found one at a business liquidation auction that had barely been used. The company bought it thinking that they could use it to cut short sections of PVC that they were using for some product that they were manufacturing. But it didn't cut PVC well so they rolled the saw to the back of their shop where it sat for years until the business closed. But right before the auction we had a serious family illness situation pop-up that caused me to miss the sale.
I talked to Rick Scott right after he bought the rights to produce and sale the Raytech saws from Lyman Industries and at the time he was kicking around the idea of resurrecting production on the Raytech 18". But don't know if he's still considering it or not.
Larry C.
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Post by Peruano on Feb 22, 2017 7:17:36 GMT -5
I saw one in action at a very early stage of my lapidary experience and didn't know enough to ask the questions I would pose now. It was owned and used frequently by a man who specialized in eggs (He had thousands of Dugway and Baker eggs) and my impression is that he felt that vice was perfect for holding the rounded eggs.
After discovering this photo spread, I've begun to admire the rather unusual spray guard both above, and to the side of the blade, but still with an option for observing the cut.
But. . . based on its lack of exposure, you are probably correct that they did not sell many of them.
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