|
Post by icancarryonemorerock on Sept 15, 2020 21:17:36 GMT -5
My husband just finished a 32 x 14 leanto on his pole barn for me to set up my rock shop/ jewelry studio. I have a Hi-Tech Diamond 6 inch trim saw and a slanted flat lap. Now I really want a 12” saw for cutting slabs. What I’m really not sure about is water cooling vs oil and power feed vs weight or gravity. I am new to slabbing and would certainly not be cutting everyday as this is a passion not a career. Would the water need to be drained after every use? How often would I need to change oil? And can you use water in any saw if you add something like Gem Lube or only in aluminum saws? Are more expensive saws really better? I know I should invest in the best blade, but is Lortone as good as Covington or Barranca? Feeling overwhelmed by this high dollar decision, but really anxious to start cutting - especially after spending a week hunting rocks at Lake Superior!! 😆 any and all advise would be greatly appreciated!
|
|
|
Post by stardiamond on Sept 15, 2020 22:53:38 GMT -5
Others will weigh in on this. Oil, auto-feed and a good blade. I have never changed oil. Scooped out the muck and topped off. I bought a 16 inch Covington in 2007 and didn't unpack it until I retired in 2014. I used my 8 inch Genie trim saw attachment with water and an additive to hand slab small rough. Slabbing with water and hand feed wears out blades. My opinion is that the first slab saw should be big enough to cut the size of rough you favor. A smaller saw costs less, the blades cost less and it wastes less material because of a narrower thickness (kerf). I replaced my 16 inch blade with a 14 inch for that reason. A 12 inch is a good size.
Buying a used saw that works is a good place to start. The issue with used is shipping and ideally the saw will be local so it can be picked up.
|
|
|
Post by icancarryonemorerock on Sept 16, 2020 7:53:33 GMT -5
Thank you, star diamond! That sounds like solid advise. I would love to find a used saw locally, but there don’t seem to be many lapidary enthusiasts in this neck of the woods. Or if there are, they aren’t letting go of any saws it seems. Thanks, again!
|
|
QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,605
|
Post by QuailRiver on Sept 16, 2020 22:39:45 GMT -5
Thank you, star diamond! That sounds like solid advise. I would love to find a used saw locally, but there don’t seem to be many lapidary enthusiasts in this neck of the woods. Or if there are, they aren’t letting go of any saws it seems. Thanks, again! Which "neck of the woods" are you located in? Larry C.
|
|
|
Post by icancarryonemorerock on Sept 18, 2020 8:32:47 GMT -5
Hocking Hills area. About 50 miles south of Columbus, Ohio.
|
|
victor1941
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2011
Posts: 1,958
|
Post by victor1941 on Sept 18, 2020 8:49:44 GMT -5
I use a 14" Covington ,auto feed, Barranca blade and mineral oil from San Juan in Calif. Wear a mask so you don't breath the mist as none of these oil mist are good for the lungs.
|
|
|
Post by icancarryonemorerock on Sept 18, 2020 8:58:45 GMT -5
Thanks, Victor 1941. I had no idea a mask would be required since there is a hood.
|
|
|
Post by aDave on Sept 18, 2020 12:17:26 GMT -5
Thanks, Victor 1941. I had no idea a mask would be required since there is a hood. I don't own a saw, but it's my understanding the mist stays suspended in air inside of the hood for a period of time. Opening the hood too soon will release it which necessitates the wearing of a mask. What that amount of time is? I don't know. ETA: I think there are additives to help reduce misting, or at least I seem to recall that. Once you go past 10" in blade size, oil is the recommended lubricant/coolant. If you are not against shopping used, send a PM to catmandewe (Tony). He's in Idaho, but he ships, and he'll give you very good advice.
|
|
agatemaggot
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2006
Posts: 2,195
|
Post by agatemaggot on Sept 18, 2020 13:40:13 GMT -5
I think the product you need to stop misting is sold in auto supply stores and is called no smoke or something similar .
|
|
victor1941
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2011
Posts: 1,958
|
Post by victor1941 on Sept 18, 2020 13:49:24 GMT -5
Icancarryonemorerock, I open the hood immediately after cutting and recommended the mask if you happen to use the same procedure. I don't use an anti-misting agent. I don't have a safety issue with animal grade mineral oil temporarily on my hands but have respiratory problems and choose not to breathe the mist.
|
|
QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,605
|
Post by QuailRiver on Sept 18, 2020 14:07:46 GMT -5
Hocking Hills area. About 50 miles south of Columbus, Ohio. Actually Ohio is, or at least was, one of the more lapidary hobbyist prevalent states east of the Mississippi River. In part due to the large source of the colorful, cabbing grade Ohio Flint in Flint Ridge, OH. I've seen lots of lapidary equipment for sale in Ohio and have traveled there a few times myself from NC to buy from old collections. Keep an eye on Craigslist and your local auction ads. As for which size saw/saws to purchase, I have 10, 12, 14, 18, and 20 inch diameter blade slab saws and by far the 14" and 18" get the most use in my shop. The 10" and 12" get the least use. Being in the southeastern US we don't have a lot of the nice big chunks of Petrified wood, or boulders of Nephrite that are found native to the west coast states. It's too expensive to have the large stuff shipped these days, and not a lot of rough dealers are willing to transport the large materials cross-country for the rock & gem shows. So 18" to 20" is about as large of a saw as I ever have need for and they are sufficient for slabbing most of the cabbing grade agates and jaspers. Larry C.
|
|
|
Post by joshuamcduffie on Sept 18, 2020 14:21:52 GMT -5
Hocking Hills area. About 50 miles south of Columbus, Ohio. Actually Ohio is, or at least was, one of the more lapidary hobbyist prevalent states east of the Mississippi River. In part due to the large source of the colorful, cabbing grade Ohio Flint in Flint Ridge, OH. I've seen lots of lapidary equipment for sale in Ohio and have traveled there a few times myself from NC to buy from old collections. Keep an eye on Craigslist and your local auction ads. As for which size saw/saws to purchase, I have 10, 12, 14, 18, and 20 inch diameter blade slab saws and by far the 14" and 18" get the most use in my shop. The 10" and 12" get the least use. Being in the southeastern US we don't have a lot of the nice big chunks of Petrified wood, or boulders of Nephrite that are found native to the west coast states. It's too expensive to have the large stuff shipped these days, and not a lot of rough dealers are willing to transport the large materials cross-country for the rock & gem shows. So 18" to 20" is about as large of a saw as I ever have need for and they are sufficient for slabbing most of the cabbing grade agates and jaspers. Larry C. Larry C QuailRiver, Where in NC are you? I'm just down the road in Columbia, SC.
|
|