DogStar
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2018
Posts: 15 
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Post by DogStar on Jan 21, 2018 7:43:40 GMT -5
I just got a saw, and am pretty scared to cut small rocks. That is until a book I was reading said its very hard to actually cut yourself on the saw blade. How true is this??
Thanks
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Post by captbob on Jan 21, 2018 7:48:38 GMT -5
I reckon anything is possible. people do some silly things. I've never had a problem and don't worry about it.
Around here we call it the 10% Rule.
If you are 10% smarter than whatever it is you are using then you should be okay!
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jan 21, 2018 8:12:22 GMT -5
I touch the moving blade on my trim saw with my fingertip all the time to show people it will not cut them. Our rock club was letting my kids hand cut rocks on the trim saw back when they were 12 years old. At that time I was not into rocks and thought it was crazy that they would let them do that until they touched the blade to show me it would not cut them. A rock saw blade is not really cutting through the rock it is grinding through it. A quick touch will not hurt just don't leave your finger against it.
Edit: I am talking about true lapidary trim saws that run at 1725 RPM. A lot of people cut rocks on tile saws that run at a much higher RPM and often with a thicker blade. I am unsure about touching those.
Chuck
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Post by rmf on Jan 21, 2018 8:19:09 GMT -5
DogStar Yes it is possible to cut yourself on a diamond saw blade. I know this from personal experience. It is not actually a cut as much as it is the grinding away of the flesh leaving a nice square notch where the blade was. As captbob says it is that 10% you have to look out for. For normal trim saw with a blade in the .025" thickness it is not so much of a problem and I would recommend that if you are afraid just turn on the saw and in a controlled manner with no stone put you finger gingerly against the diamond blade and you will see it is nearly impossible to cut yourself. The problem comes when you use a thinner blade (I use a .012" thick blade) and the rock breaks unexpectedly. I have on occasion run the blade between my thumb and my thumbnail. Not my favorite experience. That said I think that has happened 3 or 4 times in last 45 years.
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Post by orrum on Jan 21, 2018 8:32:31 GMT -5
Won't cut your fingers skin but will rip a fingernail up and into the quick! LOL. It grows back... What don't kill ya.....you know.
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DogStar
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2018
Posts: 15
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Post by DogStar on Jan 21, 2018 14:23:37 GMT -5
someone named Walt keeps on PMing me telling me that slotted blades will cut my finger off.... especially if it's at 3440 rpm, and its not safe to cut handheld at that speed. So tell me, what speed do you all cut at? Because I tried cutting at a slower speed and it took about a year to get through some opal. I just have the two blades that came with my saw, the Hi-Tech Diamond. When I used the red one all the red came off, the other one has been working pretty well.
and he also said to use a MK303... which has terrible reviews on Amazon, and I really dont want to use oil if I dont have to. Any suggestions on good blades I can use water with?
thanks
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jan 21, 2018 14:35:39 GMT -5
someone named Walt keeps on PMing me telling me that slotted blades will cut my finger off.... especially if it's at 3440 rpm, and its not safe to cut handheld at that speed. So tell me, what speed do you all cut at? Because I tried cutting at a slower speed and it took about a year to get through some opal. I just have the two blades that came with my saw, the Hi-Tech Diamond. When I used the red one all the red came off, the other one has been working pretty well. and he also said to use a MK303... which has terrible reviews on Amazon, and I really dont want to use oil if I dont have to. Any suggestions on good blades I can use water with? thanks Mk303 is a great trim saw blade. That's the only blades I use for trimming slabs and hand cutting nodules in half on my trim saw. Amazon reviews are not a very accurate measure. Get your reviews here. Iv'e never used a slotted blade on my trim saw and never cut at 3440 rpm so I can't help there. Chuck |
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Post by manofglass on Jan 21, 2018 14:38:42 GMT -5
I use the MK303 with water not oil
Works fine for me 1725 rpms
The blade lasts a long time to
Or try a dewalt blade I hear that blade cuts good
Walt
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DogStar
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2018
Posts: 15
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Post by DogStar on Jan 21, 2018 14:44:52 GMT -5
Amazon reviews are not a very accurate measure. Get your reviews here. Iv'e never used a slotted blade on my trim saw and never cut at 3440 rpm so I can't help there. Chuck that's why im asking here |
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DogStar
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2018
Posts: 15
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Post by DogStar on Jan 21, 2018 14:45:35 GMT -5
I use the MK303 with water not oil Works fine for me 1725 rpms The blade lasts a long time to Or try a dewalt blade I hear that blade cuts good Walt ok thanks!!! |
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Post by Pat on Jan 21, 2018 14:48:24 GMT -5
Don't push too hard, keep thumb and fingers out of the line of fire/cut. I've never cut myself on my saws ---- kitchen knives is a different story!
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Post by Rockoonz on Jan 21, 2018 23:34:48 GMT -5
I think that you pretty much have to faint and lay full body weight on a saw for awhile to get it to cut you. I imagine a slotted blade might cut faster, but to my knowledge only 14" and larger are segmented unless you use garbage tile saw blades.
I like the unlabeled 303 blades I get from an ebay seller, they work great in water with an additive. I have a 6" 301 I got from Johns gems to compare but I'm having trouble wearing the 303 out. The additive probably doubles the life of a blade compared to straight water, it's the stuff from Johnson bros.
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Don
Cave Dweller 
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
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Post by Don on Jan 21, 2018 23:58:19 GMT -5
I've never cut myself on a lapidary blade.
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Post by socalagatehound on Jan 22, 2018 1:28:14 GMT -5
I have cut myself on a super-thin blade once. It was almost out of diamond and I was pushing a slab through. It broke and I nicked my thumb. Nothing some peroxide and a bandaid couldn't handle.  That said, I have never had the urge to use that last diamond on the blade...LOL. Craig |
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723 
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Post by Fossilman on Jan 22, 2018 12:15:45 GMT -5
I have never been cut from my equipment, but those dang rocks (some)can lay you open, if your not careful...LOL
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2018 12:52:26 GMT -5
I have never been cut by a diamond blade nor a diamond wheel.
I will point out that when hand feeding a stone across a saw blade the area beneath the blade is a sincerely dangerous "pinch point". If your digit gets sucked under that blade while cutting you may regret it in a big way.
Keep your fingers on the sides of the blade. Never in front of.
ETA, I wonder why nobody ever discusses this eventuality?
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Nov 15, 2024 17:44:51 GMT -5
Nov 15, 2024 17:44:51 GMT -5
