julieooly
Cave Dweller 
Member since October 2018
Posts: 721 
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Post by julieooly on Mar 10, 2020 18:44:16 GMT -5
Ok so my Lortone Combo is just a dinosaur and it's just incredibly difficult to clean. I'm looking for a trim saw with a nice wide deck that runs on water and can be cleaned up in a snap so I can drain it each time I use it, or at least every couple of days to prevent the blade from rusting. I really don't care too much if it's 6 or 7 or however many inches except for the fact I have a half used 6" blade on the Lortone and a brand new on on the shelf. What do you experts recommend? I've only looked at MLS so far and am loving the look of the 6" Hi-Tech Diamond that is designed to run on water and "takes 2-3 minutes" to clean up. Here's a link lapidarysupplies.com/catalog_pages_2019/page_22.pdfAny pros or cons to this and what else is a better deal and why? This one is $500.00 Julie |
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Post by stardiamond on Mar 10, 2020 18:56:42 GMT -5
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Mar 10, 2020 20:20:39 GMT -5
You could always hold out for a used one.
Any objections to a unit with a separate motor and drive belt? Or to a 10", where you'd want to use oil?
I ask only because I've found the 10" saws to be really useful.
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Post by rmf on Mar 10, 2020 21:02:53 GMT -5
I personally like a Lortone 6" or 8" trim saw or any trim saw with a large tank and a big table. Big tables are better for big slabs. Large tanks hold enough oil I don't have to clean them as often. I also use a .012 thick blade for expensive stuff (opals, turquoise, lapis).
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Mar 10, 2020 21:22:45 GMT -5
Sorry - I remembered the comment about easy cleanup after I had posted and logged off.
We have an old Raytech 6" that I really like. The table is large enough, and it has a removable sump liner for easy cleanup. Swing the hinged table up and lift the sump liner out to dump it. I like it well enough that I recently bought a replacement liner from Sante Fe Jeweler's Supply.
Don't see a lot of old Raytechs available, but it's my favorite 6" saw.
EDIT - Okay, so I went shopping. Here ya' go... .
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julieooly
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2018
Posts: 721
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Post by julieooly on Mar 11, 2020 5:08:54 GMT -5
Thank you!!! This IS a great deal. I’m going to order this one. I cut so much Fordite and that stuff is just nasty. I really hate cutting oil but will say that the Slick Cut by MLS is an awesome oil and has zero odor for those of you who might be looking for something to try. I was wanting to try thinner blades as I have only worked with a 032. What a great deal thank you so much!!! |
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Post by Peruano on Mar 11, 2020 8:08:01 GMT -5
Am I correct that direct drive saws often run at high speeds than belt driven ones? One reason for that it that spinning thin blades at higher speeds allows them to spin truer (i.e. less wobble). In the hands of an experienced cutter with expensive material the High Tech is a good saw. Its light enough to pick up and dump out or easy to bail dry enough for a few days of disuse. I seem to recall that it is a bit under powered (i.e. easy to bog down if you crowd it). Nothing here should dissuade you but its a matter of your style in "driving": your saw. I would not want the High Tech as my only saw. A 6 or 10" Raytech is a good first saw for anyone.
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rockstock
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2019
Posts: 472
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Post by rockstock on Mar 11, 2020 15:49:58 GMT -5
I just ordered the 6" Hi-tech too. Don't want to try to trim with the overhead tile saw, figured this would be better to get me going.
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wpotterw
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2016
Posts: 446 
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Post by wpotterw on Mar 11, 2020 15:51:02 GMT -5
I have a diamond pacific wizard that I got on ebay for $250 several years ago. It doesn't have a vice, but it is a workhorse. This one is listed a bit high though. I think you can get one for about $750... www.diamondpacific.net/wizard_trim_saw.html |
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rixrocks
having dreams about rocks
Member since September 2019
Posts: 51
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Post by rixrocks on Mar 13, 2020 8:40:02 GMT -5
I use the Ameritool trim saw. It's a snap to clean out, it runs much quieter than my tile saw and even though the tile saw holds a 7 inch blade, it doesn't cut any bigger of a rock than the 4 inch blade in the Ameritool. That's because the blades sits so deep under the table surface of the tile saw. Also, you can put a 5 inch blade on the Ameritool to cut a little deeper.
I have to say, I wasn't happy at first. The thin standard blades would bend so much I had difficulty cutting and they seemed to go bad after about 15 cabs or so. I ordered a 301 to put on it and it was better but I still wasn't happy until I started using the Ameritool's sintered blades. That's the ticket!
Oh yeah, the Ameritool saw is so much quieter than my tile saw also. The neighbors are happier.
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