billdean
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2020
Posts: 153 
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Post by billdean on May 9, 2020 20:23:48 GMT -5
I have been reading some old threads on the rock rascal mostly after purchasing one and the blade not lasting very long. I have been finding out the RR should not be used the way I have been using it. I have been cutting fist sized rocks into slabs, although not very many. People were talking about using a Workforce 7" unit from I believe Home Depot for slabbing and using the RR for just trimming. Seeing Home Depot does not seem to carry the workforce any more, is there another unit people are recommending? Or has peoples opinion of the RR changed any as far as using it to slab with? I would appreciate peoples thoughts and opinions on where I may go from here to continue cutting slabs without spending a lot of money on an actual slab saw. I am just a hobbyist.
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Post by stardiamond on May 9, 2020 21:48:29 GMT -5
There seems to be a lot of choices for tile saws on Amazon. For larger pieces of rough, rotate the rock against the blade. For any slabbing get a good blade. With any blade, slabbing with a trim saw wears out blades. I used my trim saw to slab small rough for many years
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inbtb
Cave Dweller 
Member since May 2016
Posts: 351
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Post by inbtb on May 9, 2020 21:56:43 GMT -5
Hello. Are you using the rock clamp with your RR? I cut slabs with my RR but they do need some grinding on my flat lap to get rid of saw blade grooves. Go slow and you should be able to get passable slabs. Just about any tile saw you can find should work, tile saw blades are a little more expensive.
Good luck.
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inbtb
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2016
Posts: 351
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Post by inbtb on May 9, 2020 22:00:48 GMT -5
Check Craigslist for tile saws there are a few listed in Central MI.
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billdean
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2020
Posts: 153
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Post by billdean on May 9, 2020 22:54:30 GMT -5
I am not using a rock clamp with my rock rascal. I guess you would say I am just free handing it. I have check Craigslist and Amazon and there are a lot of choices. I thought maybe someone here would have narrowed the search down by now. I have ordered a 303 and a 301 diamond blade from the rock shed. Hopefully a good blade with help. I am just starting to try and make a few cab. I guess there is no reason to buy another saw if people are using their RR to cut slabs with. I see there is a big difference between the RPM's of a tile saw and the RR model T. Would a guy be better off changing the motor out to one of the faster RPM ones?
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Post by taylor on May 10, 2020 0:42:26 GMT -5
There are folks here who love their tile saws and do amazing things with them. I am not one of them. Didn't like the high speed, or the noise, or the quality of the cut, even with a lapidary blade. Made about two dozen cuts, let the saw sit on the shelf for 6 months, then got rid of it.
We had a Rock Rascal and a have Beacon Star 6" saw. A friend wanted a saw, picked the RR--we didn't need two. A clamp will help you control your cut. Don't push too hard--let the diamonds do their job. We have several saws, but occasionally I want to cut something small (up to fist size) and I don't want to wait for and/or mess with a larger saw. The Rock Rascal works nicely, makes decent cuts, and is reasonably easy to clean up.
Typically more speed equals more heat equals less diamond life.
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on May 10, 2020 9:32:04 GMT -5
Yeah, the RR can be used for slicing up smaller rough.
For ours I made a "fence" by covering a block of wood with sheet metal. Put it in the vise and squared it up with the blade.
Better for odd-shaped rocks than trying to fit them in the vise jaws, and can slice the whole chunk that way. Same thickness for every slab - no mucking about with the "cross-feed".
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