rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Aug 10, 2004 3:07:14 GMT -5
Hi all,
I've seen mention of grinders for shaping rough stones recently, and I'm wondering if this refers to specialized grinders designed specifically for use with rock, or whether the simple and inexpensive bench grinders that are available in most hardware stores would suffice?
If people are referring to specialized grinders, do you know if there is any inherent risk in using "bench grinders" from hardware stores as a rock grinders? They seem fine for sharpening lawnmower blades and axes, but if I use the grindwheels for shaping rough stones from time to time, am I taking any undue safety risks?
Or is the problem just that bench-grinders aren't designed for grinding Mohs 7 quartz-material, and will wear out quickly as a result? If so, how quickly do they wear out when used as rock grinders? Thanks.
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Post by stoner on Aug 10, 2004 3:27:47 GMT -5
Hey Rollingstone. The main advantage of lapidary grinders is they are set up with wider wheels, a method of supplying water without splashing all over the place, and a tray to catch the water and recycle or remove it. The grinder I use has silicon carbide wheels, but someday I would like to replace them with diamond wheels. It also has 2 8x3" soft rubber drums for sanding belts and on the ends of the shafts there are flat discs for leather or felt polishing pads. You can use a bench grinder, but without a way to cool the rocks, it's not practical. As for safety, there's no difference between the two. You must always respect machinery, no matter what it happens to be.
Ed
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Post by sandsman1 on Aug 10, 2004 6:56:20 GMT -5
i think ed said it all the main thing is the water you can use reguler black wheels or get the green lapidary wheels or get diamond wheels but you have to have a water drip to cool the rock and to keep the dust down so you dont breath it all in ,,plus it keeps the wheel from loadin up,, and the way a lapidary grinder is set up the motor is well away from the water and wheels so your hair wont stand up hahaha
and i think it was doc that said never use the same wheels for metal and rock i forget why but i remember it wasnt safe
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Aug 10, 2004 8:52:14 GMT -5
Speaking of grinders, I won a Lortone SA 8 in an ebay auction late Sunday night! Doesn't have a motor, but comes with an expanding drum and sanding and polishing belt. I'm so excited!! I have been corresponding with the seller and he is really nice and helpful. Going to get a bunch of info together for me and send it with the arbor.
It needs at least a 1/3 HP motor and he said I might want to get a variable speed motor if I am going to be working with different rock hardness. Beings I don't know much about motors, except they make things go, anybody got any recommendations on a motor and where to get a good one CHEAP?
llana
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Post by sandsman1 on Aug 10, 2004 9:26:55 GMT -5
llana WTG ---you can get a single speed motor its cheaper the sa-8 has three pullys in the back dif sizes so you can speed up and slow down the wheels thats the same one i have
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Aug 10, 2004 13:14:41 GMT -5
Okay, thanks for the grinding wheel info. Looks like I can't get by with a just a cheapy bench grinder Too bad, I was looking for an easy way to take the "rind" off some Brazilian agate...guess I'll just have to do it the slow and tumbling way!
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on Aug 10, 2004 23:25:08 GMT -5
I use a 4" makita hand grinder with a tile blade in it to shape agates the only problem is that the tile blade puts some deep scratches in the stone that takes forever to tumble out I am watching for diamond wheel to take out the scratches out a little, do a little better job shaping and then tumble
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Post by cookie3rocks on Aug 10, 2004 23:31:14 GMT -5
A hand grinder is a good idea, Warren. And, like you say, a diamond wheel is the way to go. If youv'e allready broken it up, a dremel with a diamond bit may be enough.
cookie
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Aug 11, 2004 0:09:01 GMT -5
I have 30 diamond burrs in sizes from 40 to 1200 for my dremel, but when I grind rocks with it, I have better luck with a silicone carbide grinding wheel. I had my local Ace Hardware store order some for me. The SC grinding wheels seem to work faster and better than the diamond burrs. Or maybe I just think they do because I have used them more than the diamond burrs.
llana
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Aug 11, 2004 18:20:22 GMT -5
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