MK-100

Update, bought the saw today, received notification that it was shipped today, to be delivered on Dec. 20th.

Those are nice saws, I use one just like that to do ceramic floors. Just remember to take your time cutting the rocks, don't force the table into the blade and your blade should last a long time. Oh, and post pics of the stuff that you cut up. ;D

Hey June, you're going to like that saw. I've been cutting rocks with one for about two and a half years now. I run the Hot Dog in plain water with a little borax added to improve the wetting action. My first Hot Dog lasted me about a year, and that was cutting a lot of rock. If you make a clamp/vise to hold the rock, it is quite simple to make it an automatic feed as well. I would recommend using a ten gallon water resevoir instead of the tray. The water will stay cooler, and the rock sediment can settle out so that you don't keep shooting it back onto the blade.

Ron

ps.
See this link:
forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?board=tips&action=display&thread=1104935860

Thanks for the info. I saw that thread when I was searching for the MK-101 and MK-100. couldn't really tell much difference and was trying to figure out if I really wanted to spend more money on a regular lapidary saw with auto feed. I have the Jorgonsen clamp already and I was looking at pictures to see if you could possibly fashion a self feeding device. I won't get to see the saw until after Christmas, but then I'll have 2 months to play before I have to go back to work! Will try and post pictures. I have lots of empty kitty litter buckets I've been saving. I just knew I would need them someday, my husband kept insisting I throw them out.

June

To make it auto-feed, you just need to put an eye-hook on the back of the table, and a small pulley on the frame on the back. Hook up a small steel cable, rope will work fine in a pinch, to the eye-hook, run the cable over the pulley and let it hang over the back edge. Attach a hook to the free end of the cable. You will have to experiment a little here, but by hanging different amounts of weight on the hook, you can change the feed rate. It's just a simple gravity feed system. I use some old steel dumbbell weights that I had laying around. Also, be sure to keep the guide rail lubed, and also the roller set on opposite side of the table. Need to maintain them to get consistent results.

Good luck!
Ron

ps.
My saw is all disassembled and put away for the winter or I'd take a photo for you.