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Post by sophia13 on Aug 27, 2018 17:28:19 GMT -5
How does everyone gauge cutting depth when purting rocks in the vice. I've done a couple and getting thickness and consistently even cuts is a work in progress. Any tips are appreciated. Learning and having fun.  |
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Post by woodman on Aug 27, 2018 17:46:32 GMT -5
Install the rock leaving exposed enough material to make several cuts, make the first on and then crank out the carriage to give you slab of the thickness you want, then repeat until you can longer get a slab. count the number of time you turn the handle and do the same each time and you will uniform thickness slabs.
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Post by Peruano on Aug 27, 2018 18:49:16 GMT -5
Or get technical and determine the number of threads per inch on your cross feed screw of the vice.
If its 20 threads per inch, and you want 1/4" slabs do 5 turns of the crank. Of if its 16, well you get the picture. I have two saws that I trust the vice cross feed on, and one I have to use 5 1/2 turns and one I just use 5 turns. There must be a thread difference but I have not tried to measure it. But the one that takes 5.5 turns to get the thickness I prefer is my old HP (which should be like yours). I'm just cutting to what feels good and acknowledging that thicker is better than too thin.
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zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
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Post by zarguy on Aug 27, 2018 18:54:54 GMT -5
Or get technical and determine the number of threads per inch on your cross feed screw of the vice. If its 20 threads per inch, and you want 1/4" slabs do 5 turns of the crank. Of if its 16, well you get the picture. I have two saws that I trust the vice cross feed on, and one I have to use 5 1/2 turns and one I just use 5 turns. There must be a thread difference but I have not tried to measure it. But the one that takes 5.5 turns to get the thickness I prefer is my old HP (which should be like yours). I'm just cutting to what feels good and acknowledging that thicker is better than too thin. A thicker blade with the same number of threads on the crossfeed requires more turns to make up for slab thickness lost to the thicker blade. To answer sophia13 , I crank 5 times for approx. 1/4" slab on my HP 14". Lynn |
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Post by beefjello on Aug 27, 2018 19:57:46 GMT -5
Or get technical and determine the number of threads per inch on your cross feed screw of the vice. If its 20 threads per inch, and you want 1/4" slabs do 5 turns of the crank. Of if its 16, well you get the picture. I have two saws that I trust the vice cross feed on, and one I have to use 5 1/2 turns and one I just use 5 turns. There must be a thread difference but I have not tried to measure it. But the one that takes 5.5 turns to get the thickness I prefer is my old HP (which should be like yours). I'm just cutting to what feels good and acknowledging that thicker is better than too thin. A thicker blade with the same number of threads on the crossfeed requires more turns to make up for slab thickness lost to the thicker blade. To answer sophia13 , I crank 5 times for approx. 1/4" slab on my HP 14". Lynn Funny, 5 cranks on my HP 18" and 5 and a quarter on my LS 12 for the same results*. * with a small undocumented uncertainty of course |
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Post by sophia13 on Aug 28, 2018 17:23:06 GMT -5
Or get technical and determine the number of threads per inch on your cross feed screw of the vice. If its 20 threads per inch, and you want 1/4" slabs do 5 turns of the crank. Of if its 16, well you get the picture. I have two saws that I trust the vice cross feed on, and one I have to use 5 1/2 turns and one I just use 5 turns. There must be a thread difference but I have not tried to measure it. But the one that takes 5.5 turns to get the thickness I prefer is my old HP (which should be like yours). I'm just cutting to what feels good and acknowledging that thicker is better than too thin. Ever have an issue of the saw stopping mid cut of a rock? Wondering if my feed screew or jaws may be worn out? Just reset and screw is turning but sled not moving and jaw is closed. Sorry for all the?s. Just got saw and it's not working now. Just a bit bummed. I'm not too tech savvy.....but learning:) Thanks all |
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Post by woodman on Aug 28, 2018 20:43:41 GMT -5
Check the jaws for wear, may be worn out. pictures of jaws will help.
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Post by sophia13 on Aug 29, 2018 7:51:51 GMT -5
Found the two screws that are on front of plate that holds jaws loose again. Tightened them and now the jaws tightened without play and the saw cut through. |
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723 
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Post by Fossilman on Aug 29, 2018 9:36:02 GMT -5
Also when you think your saw is getting dull, just start cutting some Obsidian, it will dress the blade up a bit (opens things up)....
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Post by greig on Aug 30, 2018 13:34:47 GMT -5
Also when you think your saw is getting dull, just start cutting some Obsidian, it will dress the blade up a bit (opens things up).... With a tile saw, I have used an old brick. It seems to clean up the blade's diamonds pretty good. I used to replace my blades frequently before I learned this trick. |
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